T
h e Wedding Issue
Shopping for the perfect wedding dress is often an
exhilarating adventure, but sitting with a local designer
as you describe exactly what you want and letting his
or her creativity flow onto the page and, eventually,
your body is an option brides are considering more
and more.
“Because I’m not a large company overseas
somewhere, you can call me when you need me,” said
Frances Lewis, who started Ann DeEvelyn Clothing
Co. in Jeffersonville in 2012. “I am available to you …
and I am the one who is responding to you. Because
we’re small and independent, I am the one dealing
directly with my client.”
Sure, you can purchase a beautiful gown
manufactured by a well-known company, but, Lewis
warned, “With a lot of the larger chains, what they
want is what they get. I can give them what they want
and what they need.”
Recently, Lewis worked with a client who was
adamant about wearing a navy dress down the aisle
but couldn’t find one she loved. “She was able to get
the dress of her dreams because she could work hand
in hand with me,” Lewis said.
The local fashion scene is “surprisingly larger than
we think it is,” she added. “There are times when I might
not be able to meet a client’s needs, and I can think
of people I can send her to. We have some extremely
talented people here. Our design scene is growing
exponentially, and I couldn’t be happier about it.”
So, what’s the first step? “Research the designer,”
advised Lewis. “Everyone has a specialty and a forte,
and you need to fall in love with their work. If you
don’t like their work, the chances are you won’t like
what they do for you.”
As evidenced by the photos in this pictorial – which
was shot by Erik Branch – it’s hard to imagine a bride
who wouldn’t love the looks Lewis has been creating.
“I wanted to have a touch of tradition and still have
something unique, something more expected. It’s a
blend of tradition and drama.”
Learn more about Frances Lewis and her designs at
www.ann-deevelyn.com. Contact photographer Erik
Branch at [email protected], 502.387.0158 or
ebranchphotography.photoshelter.com.
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EXTOL • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017