r/AskATailor

I'm the maid of honor in a wedding this October, and this is my bridesmaid dress. I was professionally measured at the bridal boutique, and they ordered me a size 14.

I've been working on improving my health and losing weight. Like a lot of people, it's been a journey with ups and downs, but over the last month I've really been consistent and have lost about 5 lbs. I plan to keep working toward my goals, but I also want to be realistic and make sure I have a dress that fits well for the wedding.

The dress is only tight around the waist, even with spank. The bust fits comfortably and is maybe even on the larger size, and the rest of the dress seems to fit well. The waist is the only area that's uncomfortable.

The dress is satin, so I'm trying to decide if it would make more sense to size up or have a tailor let the waist out. I've heard satin can sometimes show needle marks or old seam lines after alterations, so I'm worried letting the seams out might not look great.

I have a few questions:

Based on the photos, do you think the dress fits, or is it too tight in the waist?

My ideal plan is to continue losing weight, but if the dress still doesn't fit comfortably, when would you recommend making a decision? The wedding is in early October, so I'm wondering what the latest reasonable timeline would be for ordering a new dress (if possible) or getting alterations completed without cutting it too close.

From a cost perspective, would you buy a new dress (about $200) or pay for alterations? I'm not sure which route typically ends up being more practical or cost-effective.

Thank you!!

Hello, I was wondering if I could ask some advice from this community.

A few years ago I decided to invest in a couple of
made-to-measure suits to wear to weddings. The idea was to buy some high quality items that would last a lifetime.

Unfortunately the crotch in the trousers started to wear through, so I took them to a garment alterations shop to be repaired. I assumed this was a relatively straightforward task, and they said they did this all the time for men’s trousers.

I’ve just got the trousers back and I’m shocked by how visible the repairs are. I’d assumed the repair would be mostly internal with few visible stitches. Instead the whole crotch is a mess of very visible stitching. The repaired area is also now more rigid than the fabric around it.

Is this normal or am I overreacting? They seemed nice in the shop and I don’t like complaining, but I’d be embarrassed to wear these trousers now. And I spend a lot of money on them.

I’ve attached photos. I’d be grateful for any advice. Thanks.

Hi all. Bought these jeans. Best fit I've ever had, but they're too short.

Need advice on how to lengthen them (by an inch or two/3 or 4cm) - they have no hem, so I will need to add fabric. And, I'd like to keep the "frayed" look.

What's the best way to achieve this?

Pic is from my second fitting. My dress is bunching at the waist. They said they’re going to remove the additional fabric where it’s bunching, but as the wedding gets closer I’m worried this dress is just too small.

I have my final fitting next week and am stressing. If the dress is still bunching when I try it on, what questions should I ask? What are some courses of action? I have never gotten clothes tailors beyond hemming pants and this feels so high stakes.

Hi! I Don’t love the visible boning in my dress, It is currently unlined in the bodice and has a semi sheer nude lining in the skirt.

I’ve thought about lining the whole thing in white, but due to the detail and structure, is lining this a difficult job for a seamstress? I’m worried it might bubble up.

Also, any other recommendations to make the boning less visible that may be more economical?

There is some puckering in the back. I'm wondering if this is an issue with the fit of the dress or an undergarment issue (I'm wearing a bra with thin straps in the back)

I have a short torso notorious for causing bodice issues.

Can this dress be altered to make it a little less bridesmaid-y, and more wedding guest-y? To be honest, I’m not sure what I’m even looking for - can’t put my finger on what exactly it is that feels bridesmaidy about it, and I’m not sure what’s possible, but I’d like to get some ideas before going to my local tailor.

For context - I got the dress as a gift and the color is absolutely perfect, so I’d like to do something with it if I can. (If I don’t end up wearing it tk the wedding, I might even try and turn it into a top or something else.) The chest area is a tiny bit big on me, so I’d have to get that taken in, and I don’t love that draped part up top either. Also, the back DOES zip up fine, I’m just rehabbing a shoulder injury right now and can’t reach that part on my own.

I usually wear things that are a little edgier, not tight but more streamlined and sleek, sort of. Strategic cutouts, that sort of thing.

I think part of it might be the volume on the skirt that’s making it feel not quite my style/bridesmaidy. Would it make sense to reduce this? Turn it into a straight or draped situation? Do we think the top would look okay without that draped part in front , or is there a different way to do that? Any other ideas on what changes could be made here to modernize? Or should I leave it alone haha

Thank you in advance, brain trust!

I love this dress and the length and hip fit fine. BUT it’s quite big in waist and chest. Due to this, it’s baggy and unflattering. How can this be altered to fit better? Or is that not possible without the messing it up?

Thank you so much for any help!

I got this dress stitched by a tailor but the fabric is bunching up on the sides. Is this fixable, and if so what should be done?

The feel something is up with the shoulders are well. The sleeves are dropping.

Fabric: Cotton-polyester blend.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

So the first picture is when I tried on the sample wedding dress, which to my understanding was slightly larger than the size ordered since they clipped it. Mine was ordered based on my bust and waist measurements but the second picture is my dress that arrived. The peaks of the Cateye are much further apart, almost in my armpits. I don’t want any of the cateye cut down lower or taken in from the sides, thus reducing the drama of the swoop. Is it able to be fixed to look closer to the original?

I am working with a very skilled seamstress who I bought the dress through, but we talked about so many other alterations since this was my first try on. We touched on it briefly but she said she could just cut it down lower/take it in from the sides. This isn’t how I want to alter it, and I’m not going back for another month but don’t want to get my hopes up if nothing can be done.

Basically, is it possible to restructure the boning and then lay the lace back on top? Or a different way? To achieve the look from the first picture??

Hi wise tailors of reddit.

I’m looking for your expert opinion. I want to get wedding dress #1 (Madi lane). It is comfortable, light and super soft.

I am also in love with the skirt for dress #2 (Sincerity).

Is it possible to Mimic the structure and fullness of Sincerity on the Madi lane?

I love this vintage lace dress as is with some minor alterations (fixing the gap in the legs, shortening the train, hemming, general alterations) but I’m wondering if it’s possible to make this dress off the shoulder with optional sleeves. Or if it would look nice to take the sleeves off completely and it being a sort of tank top look- that seems to be the simplest option. This is just from my initial try on and the buttons will be buttoned all the way up. Curious what’s possible with the nude illusion mesh! Thanks in advance!

I wonder if someone could shine some light into my darkness?

I'm trying to draft a pattern using an existing garment (man's sports jacket). However I can't quite figure out the shoulder seams - I don't recall ever seeing a pattern where the seam was anything but a straight line; however on this garment, it appears to curve gently from end to end. I'm aware that some extra width may have been eased into the seam at the back, which may be forcing this impression. However by taking measurements and observing the cloth design, I keep coming back to the idea that it's a curve... Is this a thing? Or am I just imagining it? Project halted while I sort this question out. Thanks for any thoughts.

Dress in question

Edit: link to a very similar dress (available in different colours which may be easier to see): https://1861.ca/products/violaine-blue

Edit 2: thanks so much for your comments, looks like the seamstress knew what she was doing 😊

Hi,

When I got this dress shortened, the seamstress simply cut it with a large pair of scissors, citing that the fabric is very thin. I don't know much about fabrics, so I'm wondering if it was the right thing to do? I found it odd at the moment, although the bottom of the dress seemed to have held up fine (only worn once, though). I'd like to get it altered again, this time to an above-knee length, but may need to look for another seamstress if her methods are questionable.

Many thanks!

Hi! I know it might seem small, but are these lumps in my wedding dress fixable? It seems as though the more my seamstress takes in, the lumpier the sides of my dress gets. I was really hoping for a sleek “fitted” look and this dress is somehow making me have rolls my body doesn’t even have?She claims ”that’s how the dress is” but looking to get a second opinion if that’s actually the case or shes just doing a sloppy job??