Yes, this is a fairytale.
DIFFA hosted their big annual black tie party this past weekend, and as always, the fashion is a leading part of the fun. I found my dress on Elements’ Instagram account. One look at this “princess Dracula” gown by Michelle Mason, and my heart was pounding out of my chest. So, last minute, as I do everything, I popped in the Lovers Lane shop and tried on the dress. I felt like Harry Potter holding the right wand. We were made to be together. Two problems: the silk skirt was too long and the corset needed to zip a little snugger. That’s when my favorite shopgirl, Stevie Moore, introduced me to Irina Zhuravsky, the “Miracle Seamstress,” one of the best kept secrets in the city. Google her, and you’ll come up with very little. Step into her studio at Elements (or, as Stevie calls it, her “alterations speakeasy”), and you’ll find a rack of designer gems (Haider Ackerman, Dries van Noten, Chanel, etc.) waiting to be enhanced by Irina’s magic hands.
Typically, you can expect a two-week wait to pick up your goods from Irina, but in my case, I had only four hours. When the planets align (and her schedule permits), Irina will do an expedited job for a fee, and I got lucky. She chopped the length and tucked the bodice until it fit like a glove, and I was able to pick it up an hour before the party. But she does more than dress jobs on the fly.
Stevie tells me Irina does it all: “all of our alterations, and she has plenty of men who get shirts tailored, teenagers getting jeans hemmed, she even has this homeade stain remover.” She’s trusted with the highest of couture by ladies who lunch and beloved by Dallas’ best designer boutiques, who also rely on Irina to modify on their most precious pieces.
Want to see the Miracle Seamstress yourself? Find her at Elements from 10 am to 6 pm, Tuesday through Thursday. Call ahead to make an appointment.
