There are two ways to an evening gown at Catherine Colubriale Couture: a gown from the Evening Couture Collection made to order to your measurements in four to six weeks, or a bespoke gown designed with Catherine from $3,500, which takes six to twelve months. Both start with a consultation at our atelier in Dulwich Hill.
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Made to order or bespoke: which suits you?
The right choice depends mostly on how soon your event is and how much of the gown you want to shape yourself.
| Evening Couture Collection | Bespoke | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | Four to six weeks | Six to twelve months, confirmed at your consultation |
| Fit | Made to your measurements | Patterned to your body, refined over three to five fittings |
| Uniqueness | One of four gowns Catherine showed in New York | Designed for you alone from a blank page |
| Price | Quoted at your consultation | From $3,500 |
| Best for | A runway gown fitted to you, in weeks | A gown nobody else will ever wear, with every detail chosen |
If you are still weighing it up, our guide to custom versus ready-to-wear evening gowns goes through the trade-offs.
What if my event is soon?
Every gown is made to order or bespoke. The quickest route is the Evening Couture Collection, which takes four to six weeks. If your event is sooner than four to six weeks away, call the atelier on +61 2 9922 4193 to talk through your timing.
What is the Evening Couture Collection?
The Evening Couture Collection is the four evening looks Catherine showed at New York Fashion Week in September 2026. Each one is made to order to your measurements in four to six weeks, and quoted at your consultation.
- Look 2, Gold and amethyst: a gold-embroidered one-shoulder mini with a pleated amethyst drape and a sculpted bow.
- Look 4, Silver organza: a silver corset with a sheer organza skirt, a painterly gold hem and a sculpted ruffle.
- Look 6, Scarlet velvet: scarlet velvet with pearl-chain body jewellery and a thigh-high split.
- Look 8, The finale: a black Chantilly lace corset over a tiered silk dupion skirt, the gown that closed the show.
See all eight looks, bridal and evening, on our New York Fashion Week page.
What does a bespoke evening gown involve?
Bespoke evening couture is where Catherine’s love of colour, drama and detail shines brightest: elegant, sexy and made to be remembered. It begins with a private consultation, then a hand-drawn sketch, fabric chosen together, a toile cut to your measurements and three to five fittings. Bespoke evening gowns start from $3,500 and take six to twelve months. A simpler design may need less, but timing is always confirmed at your consultation.
Everything about the process, from fabrics to fittings, is on our custom made evening gowns page.
What occasion are you dressing for?
| Occasion | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Galas, charity balls, black tie and red carpet | Gala and red carpet gowns |
| School formals and Year 12 formals | Formal dresses and the school formal dress guide |
| Cocktail parties and milestone birthdays | Cocktail dresses |
| Engagement parties | What to wear to your engagement party |
| Wedding guests | Wedding guest dresses and the wedding guest dress code guide |
| Mothers of the bride and groom | Mother of the bride and groom gowns |
Where can I get help choosing a style, colour or fabric?
Our evening guides answer the questions we hear most in the atelier:
- Evening gown styles: silhouettes, necklines and lengths.
- Evening gown colours: choosing a colour that works for you and the event.
- Evening gown fabrics: velvet, silk, organza, lace and how each moves.
- Black tie evening gowns: what each dress code asks of you.
- How much an evening gown costs.
- Evening gown fittings and timeline: when to start for your date.
Why come to the atelier?
Catherine has been designing in Sydney for more than 30 years. Her travels through Italy, France, Lebanon, Hong Kong, Sweden, America and Canada taught her to embrace every culture, and the colours, textures and shapes she found there run through her evening work. Scarlet tulle, emerald silk, gold sequins. Couture is where colour comes alive.
She has dressed influencers and personalities including Jo Casamento, Marie Patani, Shelly Horton and Maria Venuti, and every gown is designed, cut and sewn in our Dulwich Hill atelier at 422 New Canterbury Road. We see clients by appointment, Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday 10am to 3pm. A private consultation is $150, credited in full to your gown. Read about Catherine on our About page, or book a consultation.
