Dressmaker: Fulfill Customer Briefs & Balance Budgets
Fulfill customer briefs in Dressmaker by matching three core criteria: occasion tags (opera, work, wedding, funeral), style attributes (cute, professional, elegant), and mandatory trim modifiers like lace. Never exceed the stated budget ceiling, as going over by even a single coin immediately fails the commission.
The Anatomy of a Client Commission
In Dressmaker, the lifeblood of your atelier is steady commission revenue. Clients arrive at your studio counter with unique requests ranging from simple daywear repairs to opulent ballgowns for high-society galas. Each commission is formalized on an order brief card.
Fulfilling orders with high appraisal ratings requires understanding how the game parses customer desires. It is not an arbitrary aesthetic judgment; it is a deterministic rules engine with strict pass/fail parameters.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ DRESSMAKER CLIENT ORDER CARD SCHEMA │
├─────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Brief Component │ Evaluation Engine Role │
├─────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Client Identity & Story │ Dictates dialogue branches and unlock paths │
│ Occasion Tag │ Mandates eligible garment silhouette types │
│ Style Attribute Targets │ Requires minimum score in Cute/Elegant/Work │
│ Specific Modifier Trims │ Requires explicit accessory tags (e.g. Lace) │
│ Budget Ceiling │ Absolute expenditure cap (hard fail if over) │
└─────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────┘
1. Occasion Tags & Silhouette Matching
The Occasion Tag forms the structural foundation of the order. Selecting an incompatible silhouette automatically disqualifies the garment from receiving higher than a 1-star review.
Common Occasions & Permitted Silhouettes
- Casual / Daywear: Requires relaxed lines. Loose A-line skirts, simple short sleeves, round necklines, and breathable natural textiles (cotton, linen). Avoid dramatic floor-length trains or metallic brocades.
- Workplace / Professional: Demands structure and modesty. Knee-length pencil or pleated skirts, structured collar bodices (notched lapels or button-down fronts), full-length sleeves, and sober palettes (navy, charcoal, forest green).
- Opera / High Gala: Demands prestige and volume. Floor-sweeping flared skirts, sweetheart or off-shoulder bodices, silk charmeuse or velvet, and ornate accessory trims.
- Solemn / Funeral: Demands strict modesty, zero playful trims, high necklines, long sleeves, and a somber dark color palette (black, deep plum, charcoal).
- Festive / Wedding: Dictates white, ivory, or pastel tones, flowing skirts, and intricate lace or embroidered embellishments.
2. Style Attributes & Point Allocation
Every garment component selected in the sketchbook contributes innate points toward three core style axes:
STYLE ATTRIBUTE POINT ALLOCATION TABLE
┌───────────────────────┬────────────┬─────────────┬─────────────┐
│ Garment Component │ Cute Pts │ Elegant Pts │ Pro Pts │
├───────────────────────┼────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┤
│ Peter Pan Collar │ +15 Pts │ 0 Pts │ -5 Pts │
│ Notched Lapel Collar │ -5 Pts │ +5 Pts │ +20 Pts │
│ Sweetheart Bodice │ +5 Pts │ +15 Pts │ 0 Pts │
│ Tailored Princess Seam│ 0 Pts │ +10 Pts │ +15 Pts │
│ Puffed Cap Sleeves │ +20 Pts │ 0 Pts │ -10 Pts │
│ Tailored Fitted Sleeve│ 0 Pts │ +10 Pts │ +15 Pts │
│ Flared Ruffle Skirt │ +15 Pts │ +5 Pts │ -10 Pts │
│ Clean Pencil Skirt │ -10 Pts │ +10 Pts │ +20 Pts │
└───────────────────────┴────────────┴─────────────┴─────────────┘
Atelier Rule of Thumb: When a brief asks for "Professional", avoid playful puffed sleeves or frilly ruffles, as their negative Professional modifiers will counteract the points gained from tailored collars.
3. The Budget Ceiling Rule: Avoid the Overdraft Trap
The most frequent source of failed orders for beginner players is misinterpreting the client's budget.
- Hard Ceiling: When a client specifies an order budget, your total production expenditure (fabric yardage + buttons + lace trims) must remain strictly at or below that stated ceiling.
- Exceeding the Budget: Exceeding the ceiling triggers immediate rejection upon delivery. The client will refuse the dress, forcing you to absorb material costs and re-sell the dress off-the-rack on your atelier mannequin.
- Maximizing Profit Margins: You are not rewarded for spending up to the limit. Fulfilling occasion and style requirements with efficient pattern nesting and economical fabric choices preserves your profit margin.
4. Specific Accessory Modifiers (The Lace Trim Trap)
Clients will frequently add secondary requests: "Can you add a touch of lace to the hem?" or "I want mother-of-pearl buttons down the front."
How to Fulfill Correctly
- Navigate to the Accessories Menu: Do not attempt to satisfy a lace request by selecting a floral or patterned textile bolt.
- Filter by Category: Select the Trims sub-panel and verify the item tag reads
Lace Trim. - Application: Apply the lace along the hemline or collar edge. The order checklist on your screen will illuminate with a green checkmark once the required modifier is recognized.
Commission Workflow Reference Matrix
| Commission Tier | Typical Client | Key Demands | Budget Scale | Profit Potential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice Orders | Village Townsfolk | Simple cotton daywear, durable work shirts | Modest Entry Budget | Steady foundational cash |
| Journeyman Orders | Merchants & Guilds | Linen summer dresses, tailored office vests | Intermediate Budget | Strong operating profit |
| Master Commissions | Aristocrats & Opera | Silk gowns, intricate lace edging, formal galas | Premium High Budget | High windfall payouts |
Related Atelier Guides & Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
How do customer appraisals work in Dressmaker? ▼
Customers evaluate four factors: occasion appropriateness, style attribute score thresholds, presence of requested trim modifiers, and whether total material expenditure stayed beneath the budget ceiling.
Can you use any fabric for a formal client request in Dressmaker? ▼
No. Formal occasions like balls and operas require high-tier textiles like silk or satin and structured silhouettes. Using casual plain-weave cotton or rustic linen will fail the occasion check.
How do you fulfill the Lace Trim requirement in Dressmaker? ▼
You must open the accessory trims tab and select an item specifically categorized as Lace Trim to apply to the hem or neckline. Applying a printed lace pattern on regular cloth will not satisfy the modifier.
Do customers tip extra for fast delivery in Dressmaker? ▼
Yes. Delivering a garment with a 100% Quality Score well before the customer's deadline triggers generous bonus tips that significantly exceed the base commission payout.