I am altering my Davids Bridal Bridesmaid dress and I need suggestions

Question

I need to take it in an inch and a half in the bodice- would it be easiest to do this through the zipper since everything is finished off as if you cannot get to it easily?

Here is the dress:

http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridesmaids_...

any suggestions or tips on altering this would be awesome!

Answer 1

DON'T TAKE IT IN FROM THE ZIPPER! it will be a mess! what you need to do is flip the dress inside out and rip out the boning. when you finish with this sew on the sides as much as you need to take in but make sure you taper it from the middle up where you need to when you have done this to both the fabric and the lining, take in the interfacing and sew in the boning.

If you don't understand quite what I mean, please email me.  

Answer 2

OK here is what you need to do and you will be able to remove it if you decide to sell it later.  Pinch the sides where you need it tightened and put pens in to hold it. Then when you get it off measure how much extra you have on each side. You then take that excess and pull it into the inside of the dress, lining and all. You should have the measurement that you took on the outside on the inside now. Stitch from the top of the gown at the measurement it is supposed to be at and start tapering down from there. Do the same on both sides. It should leave you with a nice seam on the outside that looks like it is supposed to be there. If you have questions about it you can email me at [e-mail].

Answer 3

Your link didn't work.

Have you ever altered anything before?  A pricey bridesmaid dress might not be the best thing to start with.

If you are going to alter it, I would personally alter it from the side seams (but again I can't see the dress in the link), that's the professional way to do it.  You can do it at the zipper, as long as you have the proper foot to put the zipper back on/ the patience to remove the zipper without damaging it.  I personally hate attaching zippers, so I would avoid doing that at all costs.

Addition:

Well I would definitely avoid trying to remove and invisible zipper!  Even my mom, who used to make and alter wedding/bridesmaids gowns avoids invisible zippers.

You can take it in at the sides but removing the boning, taking it in, and then creating a new encasing for the boning and putting it back in.  You will have to take the lining apart either way, and invisible zippers are a b***h to work with.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

I would take the dress with you to your local fabric store. The ladies who work in there usually will have some good suggestions on alterations. It's really hard to give you suggestions because I cannot see the whole dress, lining, etc.