A Carlisle's bride models her custom-made Van Lear wedding gown on the fashion runway, just weeks after wearing it to her own wedding!         One-of-a-kind custom made Wedding Gowns Van Lear Bridal Couture   work with a widely acclaimed      nationally-advertised bridal designer create your dream gown at a price that may surprise you   In association with nationally-renowned wedding gown designer, Lora Van Lear, founder of Van Lear Bridals, Carlisle's of Pittsburgh offers you the exciting prospect of creating the dress of your dreams- one that you help design. Some brides dream of wearing a one-of-a-kind wedding gown designed especially for them. Others have a dream dress in mind, but can't find it on the rack at any of the stores. There are many reasons why women might consider a custom-made gown for their wedding day, but unfortunately, this option was simply beyond the budget of most women- that is, until now. Carlisle's and designer, Lora Van Lear, have teamed up to make custom-design both convenient and affordable. We can bring your wedding day dreams to life for much less than you might expect. About the Designer:  After designing wedding gowns for other labels for many years, Lora Van Lear opened her own New York design firm in 1984. Since the showing of her very first signature bridal collection in that year, her wedding gowns have been featured in all of the major bridal publications, and have graced the cover of Modern Bride Magazine. Over the years, the Van Lear name has become synonymous with dresses characterized by elegance, simplicity, quality and style. Carlisle's of Pittsburgh was one of the first bridal salons in the country to feature the Van Lear Collection, and over the ensuing years we have developed a close professional and personal relationship with Van Lear. Ms. Van Lear had been designing her own semi-annual collections for the national bridal markets for over 15 years when she decided to take a bold professional step, and return to her first love- creating personal one-of-a-kind gowns for individual brides. While the business scope of this change was significant, Van Lear Bridals had always specialized in customizing its styles for brides, and, as a result, had invested in computerized pattern-making equipment which was a perfect fit for this new business direction.  Typically, custom-gown designers open a small retail showroom, and spend a great deal of time and expense running the front end of the business. As a result, the price of each gown can become astronomical. However, to make her styles more affordable, and therefore more accessible to brides, Van Lear decided upon a different approach. She contacted a handful of her best and brightest bridal retailers to partner with her in creating custom-made Van Lear gowns through their stores. Naturally, Carlisle's of Pittsburgh was one of these select bridal stores. By offering this service through reputable and established retailers, Van Lear is able to create a custom gown for her customer for the same amount as one would have paid for a dress from one of her signature collections, i.e. with prices starting at about $1600. This is a fraction of the starting price charged by most custom-gown vendors, even local dress makers without established credentials or a national reputation. The Custom-Design Process: If you have reached the point of seriously considering a custom-designed wedding dress, the next step is to begin working with a Carlisle's bridal consultant to discuss your thoughts and give shape to your dreams. The two of you will work closely with Lora Van Lear to create an approved design sketch, which no doubt will become a cherished wedding keepsake. Your Carlisle's consultant will also show you the quality and workmanship that you can expect to find in your original Van Lear gown, and will assist you in selecting the fabrics, laces and trims that will be used on your gown. In addition, Ms. Van Lear makes personal appearances at Carlisle's several times per year to consult with brides who are having their gowns custom-made, or those who are considering this option. Once all of these details are in the hands of Van Lear Bridals, it becomes Lora's privilege to turn your dreams into an exquisite wedding gown. Unlike those who mass-produce their dresses, Van Lear's entire operation is geared to the individually hand-crafted gown. When it is completed, Van Lear will send your gown to Carlisle's for that  incredible moment when you first try-on your one-of-a-kind design .                     You owe it to yourself to consider the possibility of having a beautiful Van Lear gown created just for you. For more information about this exciting opportunity, please call Carlisle's, (412) 562-5800, and ask to speak with Jan Winner.