Reviews

4.9
Based on 67 reviews
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J SB
19:37 24 Nov 24
I’ve had the privilege of working with Jim at Hoax Couture for my mother-of-the-bride dress, and I’m so ecstatic about the final product! When I first reached out to Chris, he was so transparent about the consultation process. During our first meeting, I saw how easy Jim was to work with - he walked me through the process from the fabric choices to the final fittings with patience and professionalism. He offered recommendations on what would look best based on my daughter’s specifications, and his expert craftsmanship led to my dream dress. I’m so incredibly grateful for his role in bringing my daughter’s wedding vision to life. Thank you Jim and Chris!
Abby Howard
13:01 18 Oct 24
The folks at Hoax Couture was incredible to work with and we couldn't have been happier with the end result! They made both my husband's tuxedo and my dress for our wedding, and they were exactly what we had hoped for. Our guests were complimenting their work all night. Thank you guys so much, the night wouldn't have been the same without you!
Karolina Ratajczyk
17:08 29 Sep 24
I couldn't be happier with the beautiful and unique wedding dress Jim made for me. 💜
Susan
15:57 16 Jul 24
Had my wedding dress made here and it was a wonderful experience. After shopping for a dress I realized quickly that I was not going to find what I wanted and it was going to be a lot of work and alterations if I purchased off the rack. When I reached out to Jim and Chris they replied quickly and professionally and it was easy for me to book a consult to discuss what I had in mind. Jim was so easy to work with and overall it was a stress free experience. It was also a lot of fun seeing the dress come to life over the course of my fitting appointments. In the nicest way, I hardly thought about the dress which gave me the time to focus on the rest of the wedding plans. Definitely recommend and will be back if I ever need a dress made again!
Nora Power
00:14 11 May 24
My daughter and I had a wonderful experience with Jim and Chris at Hoax. We were looking for dresses for my other daughter’s wedding and everything was fussy, heavy and needing major alterations to fit (I am short and round!). Jim is so kind and calm that the process was really enjoyable. We came away with two beautiful, simple but elegant dresses. Rest assured simple does not mean plain! Jim helped us choose beautiful fabrics, listened to our wish list and then he and Chris added special details to create interest without adding fussiness. I would never have chosen the fabric he guided us to on my own, but we both ended up with comfortable, light weight dresses in stunning materials. We are so happy with the results and looking forward to wearing our special dresses in a couple of weeks. Thank you Jim and Chris for such a memorable experience!
Síne McEllin
00:08 02 Aug 22
Last year, I reached out to Jim Searle at Hoax Couture with a drawing of a dress I had designed for my wedding. He was very responsive and communicative straight away. We chose fabric together and he worked with me for months to create the dress of my dreams. This time included overseeing the creation of custom embroidery, which was outsourced. The dress was tailored to perfection in the end and fit like a glove. I would highly recommend their services!
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All reviews are from verifiable clients – we would be happy to give you references.  In addition to private clients we also do custom designing and dressmaking and costume building for clients such as The National Ballet of Canada, The Ritz Carlton Toronto, Oliver and Bonacini Restaurants, The San Francisco Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet, the Joffery Ballet and BalletMet in Columbus Ohio.

ALSO…

From Facebook:

Kristen Loritz ★★★★

I’ve worked with Jim & Chris for several years as a former skater on the NEXXICE Senior synchronized skating team. The quality was always superb and that’s a real testament when you’re tasked with creating 20 identical dresses for an entire team! There was no question who I wanted to work with on my wedding dress, and it was such a pleasure to be part of the vision and planning process; we came down to a dress that was both comfortable, modern and elegant and I was absolutely thrilled with the result! Highly recommend HC for ANY fashion needs!!

Alicia Mae ★★★★★

Incredible team! Their ability to design structural modern couture is nothing short of brilliant. Jaw’s dropped at the masterpiece they made for my NYC wedding! Such a breath of fresh air to work with. Thank You!

Kesha Rachelle Frank ★★★★★

I found Hoax couture online, read some reviews and was impressed by their charity fundraising efforts. Jim and Chris responded to my initial inquiry very promptly and we got the ball rolling from there. I had a custom grown made for my wedding – I wanted grey velvet, slightly less traditional than the white gown so I could wear it again and again in the future. Every meeting with them was pleasant and professional. They did a wonderful job sourcing options for fabric I wanted and the final product was absolutely beautiful. I got so many compliments on my dress the night of our wedding. I’m so glad I chose Jim and Chris, if I ever had anything else I wanted made or that needed alternation, my first choice would be to return to them.
Thanks Jim and Chris!

From Yelp:

Note:  All yelp reviews are 100% verifiable and references are available

Sheeva J ★★★★★

 “I came to Hoax with a picture as my prom dress inspiration, and Jim brought it to life as perfectly as I could have imagined!”

Kit M: ★★★★★ 

“My experience with Hoax Couture was incredible from start to finish. I went to them for my custom wedding dress and I can say with confidence that there is no one else in the city of Toronto who could’ve done such a perfect job creating what I dreamed of.”

Holly S.: ★★★★★

“I just picked up 4 beautiful custom made linen shirts from Jim and Chris at Hoax Couture … The shirts are timeless and so flawlessly constructed  I’m sure i will still be wearing them when I’m 80.”

Gillian S.: ★★★★★

I contacted Jim at Hoax two months before a major event.  I only knew the type of fabric I wanted used for a new ball gown, and nothing more.  Timelines were tight, and expectations were high.  Jim set up a time to meet and we worked beautifully together to design the entire look.  The craftsmanship, quality and beauty of the finished product took my breath away.   It was an incredible pleasure to work with Jim … I look forward to more creations in the years to come!!

Maire L: ★★★★★

I brought a picture of ‘the dress’…a very complicated pattern,and they made it up perfectly.   Extremely skillful, great eyes for detail, and welcoming your input …  I never had a moment’s doubt,and they more than fulfilled my expectations.  Not only that,they work very efficiently and they are on time and they are really nice people as well.
I couldn’t recommend them more highly.

From NOW Magazine:

Winners – Fashion Designer of the year – 1999, 2001, 2002 (category no longer supported)

From Toronto Life:

 “Getting into the store itself feels like and illicit adventure: dial the studio’s number and someone will fetch you from the corner, leading you swiftly down a graffiti- splattered alley, through an unmarked door and up a narrow staircase until you reach a rooftop patio – the perfect setting for your two-on-one consultation with designers Jim Searle and Chris Tyrell.  Some of their recent bespoke confections include show-stoping reversible fox fur coats, Gucci-esque suits, wedding dresses and a slew of party frocks – from $750.”  Toronto Life Stylebook March 13, 2012

From www.n49.com

If I may, I might suggest that you consider HOAX Couture. My experience with them has been outstanding. It’s a cool place with a very interesting history. Chris & Jim are wonderful, down to earth, attentive, and attitude-free. And the first time I bought a dress from them (I fell in love with it in their window!), I had to do it on a layaway plan–& I was not for a moment made to feel like anything but a respected customer; they were happy to see me so happy when I stepped out of the fitting room looking like a princess. That’s what it’s all about..”  TEENATUNER Toronto

From USA Today:

Jim Searle and Chris Tyrell design unique clothing for discerning clients that include celebrities and society mavens, as well as people who just prefer to dress with a bit more pizzazz than you find off the rack. One-of-a-kind jackets, gowns, shirts, trousers and skirts for work, gala dinner parties, high school proms, weddings and even everyday wear. If you have a picture, they can make it, but they can also custom design items for you.