Joanna Bell | Bridal and Evening Wear Designer Dressmaker

Wedding, Prom and Evening Dresses

Bespoke designed and handmade bridal dresses, ball gowns and outfits for special occasions
About Joanna Bell

Custom Made Bridal Gowns and Bridesmaid Dresses

Wedding outfits and evening wear individually designed and handmade in the New Forest

There’s something truly special about a bespoke dress. It has a story even before it’s been worn and that’s why collaboration is at the heart of everything I do. For over 35 years in the vibrant dress design industry, I’ve created a diverse selection of bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, grooms woman’s outfits, groom’s waistcoats, mother-of-the-bride dresses, evening wear, prom dresses and outfits for other special occasions.

Dress alterations & bespoke gowns

Every aspect of your custom-made dress experience is bespoke. You will have the control and freedom to create something truly unique – choose the silhouette, the fabric, the colour, the embellishments and any additional details you want. Your one-off gown is tailored to your measurements, meaning it will fit you perfectly.

Creative, committed and hugely passionate about my craft, I work closely with each client from the very first sketch to the final fitting to bring each beautiful and unique outfit to life.

Bridal Gowns

Each gown is individually designed, with the fabric chosen to suit your style of dress, your figure and your personality. The style of wedding and venue is also a big consideration.

Bridesmaids & Pageboys

Wedding attendants want to play their part, whether as elegant maids of honour, young bridesmaids, sophisticated grooms woman or little flower girls and page boys!

Evening & Prom Dresses

Dresses and outfits for special occasions and events: I can help you balance “looking the part” whilst also “being yourself”, helping your personality to shine.

Special Occasion Outfits

A beautiful dress, suit or outfit, handmade to fit you perfectly, to suit your style, personality and the occasion. Bespoke made and alterations to existing favourites.

Joanna Bell - Bridal and Evening Wear Designer and Dressmaker

4.6

Based on 19 reviews

review us on

MsBrutus64

12:46 11 Jun 24

I certainly don't recommend Joanne Bell to anyone.I had the misfortune of trusting her and instructingher to sew for me, she agreed withwhat I requested to be done, but she ruined the material I brought to her and charged me extra for amending the mistakes she made.Joanne agrees with her clients but she ignores clients requests.Her greed and her arrogance speaks volumes about her. I reiterate that I do not recommend Joanne Bell as a seamstress.

Paul Watkins

21:17 10 Jun 24

My friend and I had a terrible and unpleasant experience with Joanne Bell. Unfortunately we requested her services as we needed to find someone to make costumes for us and when we explained so to Joanne, we expressed that the costumes were going to be used for a series of important events around the UK to raise awareness about a serious issue against animal cruelty and inform the public about certain products on sale in certain Chinese medicine shops and on-line which contain bear bile.We asked Joanne to add extra material around the neck area for one of the costumes and even showed her photos of example costumes, we verbally explained how we wanted the costumes to look and we even provided Joanne with the patterns for each costume with written instructions plus we provided her with the pattern for the extra material to be added around the neck area, we gave Joanne accurate measurements for each one and we bought expensive fabric material, elastics, zips and whatever was needed to make the costumes.Joanne gave us a price and although she charges high prices, we gave her the go ahead to make our costumes, Joanne agreed to all our requests and said that the costumes were going to be completed between 3 to 4 weeks.A few days later Joanne contacted us at a very unreasonable hour (3am) and asked us if we would like to go and try the costumes later that morning. Although we live a fair distance from where Joanne is based we travelled to her home, only to discover that she wasn't at home and had left a message with someone else saying that she had to go somewhere, this happened on several occasions and when we finally got a chance to see Joanne she had an arrogant attitude and said that she had to put the work on hold due to some other work.Eventually when the costumes were made we were shocked and disgusted as Joanne didn't use the individual patterns we provided her with, basically she just did what ever she wanted and sewed both of our costumes extremely large and she didn't add the extra piece of material to the costume that we specifically asked her to do and which she agreed to.When we raised these issues with her she even charged us extra to add the material to the neck of one of the costumes and she reluctantly shortened the arms and legs of both costumes. The costumes look ridiculously large and wide and they are actually hazardous making us trip over the extra wide material around the ankles.We were in shock but most unfortunately we had no choice but to accept the costumes and to pay the extra money she demanded as we needed to have the costumes ready for our important event the next day in London to raise awareness about bear bile farming the event was with Jill Robinson the founder of Animals Asia, the actor Peter Egan and Virginia McKenna actress and founder of the Born Free Foundation. Joanne didn't take us seriously and she lied to us and agreed to go ahead with making our costumes when in fact she was just going to ruin our costumes and to charge us her high fees plus extra for shortening both costumes and for adding the extra material to one of them which we previously requested and she agreed to do at no extra cost.We wonder why Joanne agreed to take the job when clearly she isn't competent, we feel as if when we mentioned bear bile farming and our cause she straight away discriminated against us and took a dislike to us and basically took her frustrations out on us.We certainly do not recommend Joanne Bell as a seamstress for any work or alterations needed.

Julia Harding

10:43 24 May 24

Jo altered my mother of the bride dress to fit me perfectly - took time to see the best way to approach the alteration. Would definitely recommend her ! Excellent service.

Dian Rogers

10:18 11 Feb 23

A wedding dress is a very personal. Whether you require something more traditional or a little different Jo is certainly the lady to help you create your vision.She has also done several alterations for me. I would highly recommend her

Kim Brosnan

19:48 21 Nov 22

Dave & I were extremely impressed and delighted with the alterations that Jo completed for my wedding dress and Daves groom shorts. Her recommendation on keeping the front shape of my dress by adjusting the height on the shoulders was perfect, it fitted like a dream. Thank you Jo for everything you did for us to make our Jamaican wedding day dream come true.

Lesley Cummings

12:49 20 Oct 22

Jo designed and made my wedding dress. She was very professional but very friendly and approachable from the outset. She listened carefully to what I wanted and also had some really good ideas which I would not have thought of but which would enhance the design. She discussed every stage of the design and making process so that I could approve it before she moved on. Jo was very diligent in the fitting of my dress to make sure that it fitted me perfectly and it looked absolutely stunning. I was absolutely delighted with the work she did and would highly recommend her.