The Story of Me and Holder Couture

Fashion Designed for You, Wherever You Are

I create luxury, bespoke gowns and custom fashion tailored precisely to your story, your body, and your lifestyle. With my tried and tested virtual fittings, I turn the traditional atelier experience on it's head. I take your measurements through online form and draft a pattern to fit you. I ensure that distance and mobility are never barriers to exceptional style.

Luxury Tailoring, Delivered to Your Door

High-end fashion shouldn't require a long trek into the city. For clients living in rural areas, traveling for multiple, meticulous dress fittings can be exhausting or impossible. Whether you are a busy teenager preparing for a milestone prom night or someone balancing a demanding schedule, I bring the luxury experience to you. From the first fabric swatch to the final stitch, your fittings take place in the comfort and privacy of your own home. I keep in touch with you, updating and answering any questions you have until the piece is in your hands. I ship all my items myself, worldwide, and I don't charge extra for it. All shipping costs are included in the item price.

Celebrating Every Body

True haute couture is not made for a standard mannequin; it is sculpted for real human lives. I specialize in complex, adaptive, and highly personalized pattern making. My passion is crafting breathtaking garments for individuals who are often overlooked by the mainstream fashion industry, including:

  • Post-Mastectomy & Breast Cancer Survivors: Designing beautiful, balanced silhouettes that accommodate prosthetics, asymmetry, or tissue sensitivity with total comfort.

  • Clients with Dwarfism: Creating perfectly proportioned, elegant garments that honor your frame without compromising on high-fashion design.

  • Transgender & Gender-Affirming Couture: Crafting structural pieces that align perfectly with your presentation, accentuating your favorite features with expert tailoring.

About Holder Jewellery

The jewellery on my website is designed and made by an independent jeweller based in New York. Their jewellery is simply stunning. I bought some cute sterling silver hoop earrings from them a few years back, and I wore them everywhere.

About the Designer

The Designer's Bio, Stella Richards.

I was brought up surrounded by theatre and stage. My Dad worked in the Nottingham Theatre Royal since I was a child, so I spent a lot of time there. My mum was an usherette when she was pregnant so I no doubt heard the sounds in the Theatre. I loved the decor and listening to my Dad playing piano.

I started my dressmaking journey learning from my mother and grandmother. My mother taught me everything from corsetry to costumes from 1400. My grandmother used to work for Courtaulds, a major British textile company founded in 1794. They manufactured clothes, she worked with the industrial sewing machines.

The Cinema moved into the Corner house in Nottingham whilst I was in College studying Sound Engineering, so me and my younger sister started going regularly.

Over the years I gained experience in fashion sketching, bespoke pattern drafting, high-end dressmaking and historical costume construction. My love of cinema and history and my background in art and design shaped my design venture.

I've had many customers praising my work and my customer service. Please take a look at what some of my customers have said.

See my reviews on Trustpilot

I design constantly, and sew for my online boutique in my days off work. 

I also research and make historical costumes and clothing inspired by TV, films, music videos and celebrities fashions, the evolution of a family project The Costume Portal which started over 20 years ago.

See my previous work here in the Project Gallery

Stella Richards, Nottinghamshire based fashion designer, dressmaker, founder and owner of Holder Boutique.

As a last note, you may be asking why my name is Stella Richards but my business is called Holder, Holder was my Father's name. There you have it,  a unique business with a unique family pride behind it. Happy browsing!

I view fashion as a form of personal empowerment. My mission is to ensure that when you step into one of my creations, you don't just look spectacular—you feel profoundly seen, comfortable, and confident.

Experience Bespoke Luxury

Every garment is hand-crafted using premium fabrics, meticulous structural inner-work, and a deep respect for the art of bespoke tailoring.

Let's collaborate on a piece designed exclusively for you.

[Click here to book your initial consultation]

"The color palette of Holder Couture is drawn directly from the grand auditorium of the Nottingham Theatre Royal—where the designer’s father spent a lifetime bringing stage, ballroom, and music to life. The deep jade green of the theater curtains, the warm cream of the historic architecture, and the flash of gold trim are woven into the very identity of each collection."