Bill Levkoff Bridesmaid Dresses - run too big or too small?

bubbles1020

Happy 4th, all!

I have chosen a Bill Levkoff bridesmaid dress (orders have not been placed, just decided what I wanted). I happened to search for a BL size chart and came upon some horror stories on how the dresses fit. I have BM who is a bigger girl, and has large boobs. I am nervous that even the largest size (28) may not fit. Does anyone have any experience with his dresses? What I saw online says that either the store makes you order a really large size and they are super big (lots of $$$ for alterations), or too small and then you have trouble fitting it. I just don't want to make the wrong decision and end up costing my girls tons of money in alterations. Here is the dress I like in case that helps: http://www.billlevkoff.com/style/bridesmaid-dress/732. 

Thanks in advance!

silver0319

They run about 2-3 sizes smaller. My bridesmaids wore Bill Lefkoff 334. My sister, who is a size 4 ordered an 8. Her alterations were the bust and length.

The bridal shop will measure your girls and recommend a size. I went against their recommendation once, and it was a bad idea. I ended up spending lots of $$ for them to let the dress out 1/2". 

Giaspo

Ugh. I'm sorry to say this but my girls found the opposite...they ran big. It was an umpire waist style 575 so maybe that was why. Plus it was two years ago. My best friend who is very busty ordered a 20 and it had to be taken in a ton (plus they charged $20 more for plus sizes). In spite of this I agree with @silver0319 and let the dress shop recommend a size, to ensure they aren't too small. You can always take it in.

tcnoble

I just got a Levkoff dress for a wedding I'm in and it is easily two sizes too big. I gave the shop my measurements (bride ordered and lives in another state) so I just went off their recommendations. Like PPs said just go off their sizing, better to end up with it too big than too small!

jagamac

I wore a Levkoff in November for my best friend's wedding and I found that their sizing does not follow my "street clothes" size. I was a size 16 at the time and they ordered me a 22 to accommodate by ample bust, then I had to have the waist and straps taken in.

MsNise812

 My MOH is wearing Bill Levkoff 574. The size she tried on fit her very well. I think it was a 12. But they ordered her  16 as she has broad shoulders. Dress came in recently and it fits like a glove. My girls are wearing Bill Levkoff 732 and their dresses fit them perfectly. Only thing that may need to be done is hem but other than that, we didn't have any issues with the dresses. As PPs said, its better to get too big than have them come in too small.

leelabear

Usually they measure your 3 widths (bust, waist, hips). They will compare your measurements to the chart for sizes the designer has (every designer is different). They will pick the biggest size to accommodate the widest part of your body (it highly depends on your shape). So if you have wide hips, the dress will be sized to your hips. Meaning the waist and bust will be too big when the dress comes in and it will need alterations.

Its much easier to alter a dress too large than a dress too small. 95% of girls will have to get some sort of alteration. Even if its just a hem. Trust the people at the dress shop. If they tell you, you are a size larger or smaller than they size you normally wear, its ok. Its just the way the designer makes it. Ask the dress shop to look at their chart they are using.