With the spring wedding season underway, brides are heading to their final gown fittings—but it’s Mom who's usually the last member of the bridal party to outfit herself for the big day. Although buying off the rack is an option, working directly with a designer gives women the chance to have a one-of-a-kind garment fit just for them, as well as input into the design process. This is why women in the know turn to Denver’s own Brooks of Brooks Ltd., who's been designing custom mother-of-the-bride ensembles since the mid-1970s.

Walking into her LoDo atelier (or workshop), clients can see a wide variety of sample looks arranged around the space for inspiration. Trained at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Brooks works with luxurious, imported materials to create her gently draped and delicately detailed jackets, skirts, two-piece ensembles, and dresses. And in case there’s any question, all of her garments are produced entirely by hand, from pattern-making to sewing to her signature hand-embellished fabrics.

1616 14^th St., #1F, 303-573-3801 (by appointment only)