Our Community: Couture gown designer creates custom masks
Susanne LoPilato and her daughter have turned to making masks from custom dress remnants.
Why settle for boring designs?
I was so excited to get my face masks recently from long-time Treasure Coast custom dressmaker Susanne LoPilato! For the past few months, she and her daughter Petey have been making face masks, much the same way she makes her beautiful gowns and dresses—with attention to detail, quality materials and everything custom.
In normal times, Susanne is known for designing and constructing beautiful gowns out of custom fabrics. (Back in my days as a wedding photographer, we worked together on a wedding or two.) Susanne is an expert dressmaker with 45 years experience, specializing in bridal gowns, mother of the bride gowns, bridesmaid dresses, flower girl dresses, evening gowns, pageant gowns, formal dresses, prom dresses and Christening gowns.
Since the needs for face masks arose with the coronavirus, she has added these to her offerings.
“Everything is custom, sized to fit your face. I make something a little bit nicer,” said Susanne.
Through the years, when she made a custom piece, she would order two-three yards of extra fabric from the same dye-lot, just in case she needed it. Now she is dipping into those remnants to create masks unlike those you can get from the bulk suppliers. You can even bring her your favorite fabric, and she will create a truly custom work.
Masks are $15 for a basic style, $20 for one with a smiley face and $25 for Lilly Pulitzer fabric. You can choose from white, black or nude elastic.
She has patterns for children, teens and adults. You can tell her your measurement over the phone and pick up your custom masks a few days later. Home delivery is available if you are sticking around the house.
I ordered two—one is Lilly (from a “reclaimed” skirt) and the other is similar to the one she is wearing in the color photo above—black with blues, purples and golds. Love them! I like the special designer feel they project.
Check out La Petite Fleur and call Susanne at 772-334-1384 to order your beautiful, custom face masks.
Working together has given mother and daughter time together they didn’t expect.
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Susanne loves these art prints that used to be her grandma’s.
Click here to learn more about Diane Dultmeier’s community journalism.
To learn about my beautiful portrait artwork of the people you love, take a look around the Dultmeier Photography website. I would love to work with you if you like what you see!
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For 20+ years as a family portrait specialist on Florida’s Treasure Coast, I have been known for relaxed portrait sessions at locations around Stuart, Palm City, Hutchinson Island, Hobe Sound, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach and all areas in between. I am not like most photographers these days because I believe your family deserves to be celebrated each day, as part of your home decor. When you work with me, we will collaborate in creating Fine Art Portraits of your family, which will live on your walls or in a custom-designed album or folio box and be remembered as one of the best investments you have ever made. In addition to creating portraits for families, I create headshots and personal branding images for business use. To learn more, go the the Dultmeier Photography homepage.