Best Silhouette to shorten to tea length

julesndean

Hi Everyone!!

So, my fiance and I are traveling to NYC, with about 20 of our immediate family members, and getting married in Central Park. We are going to our favorite swing club afterwards for dinner and dancing. So, I want a tea length dress (it'll be less extravagant and easier to dance in) that has more of a 1940s-1950s style. The problem is, I am having a difficult time finding a tea length dress that I can actually go try on somewhere! every dress I've found I would either have to travel across the country to try on, or I would just have to order it online. It seems too risky to order something without trying it on or seeing/feeling the fabric in real life. With that being said, I was thinking about buying a long dress that I can actually try on and just having it shortened to tea length. 

Which silhouette would translate best into a tea length?? A-line? Ballgown? i have no idea!!! HELP!!! I'm kind of short of thick, so I'll put my basic stats down below so there is an accurate representation of what i'm working with.

height: 5'3"

dress size: usually 14-16 depending on the bust line

bust: 36DD usually

I'm an hourglass shape.

thanks in advance!!!

blabla89

Have you looked at ordering online from a website that has a return policy? David's Bridal, Modcloth, and Unique Vintage carry tea length dresses, and you can send it back if it doesn't work out.

I really love this dress. I tried it on but ended up wanting a full-length dress instead.

kvruns

Do you know a seamstress who will make this alteration? If so I would ask that person what would work best - the pros know!

missdelilah

I love Dolly Couture for tea length dresses that don't break the bank.  I did make a trip to NYC to visit their showroom, and while they're not the highest quality dresses out there, I thought the quality was very reasonable considering the prices.  I know they've also got showrooms in LA, Chicago, San Antonio, Seattle, and Nashville, if any of those are convenient.  

http://dollycouture.com

Otherwise, there are few by Justin Alexander, that I think are darling, and really suitable for a swing club.  I'll try to link you the search I did there (clicky) but otherwise just check out their website and put "tea length" into a search.

They'll set you back more than Dolly Couture will, but the quality is nicer.  

In general, I think most ball gown silhouettes can be shortened to tea length, and will suit the 1950s shape well.  You'd have to speak to a seamstress if you have a particular dress in mind.  Otherwise, you can always try and a-line and put a crinoline underneath.  

Good luck with the shopping!  Please show us what you end up with. x

[Deleted User]

You should be ok with shortening an a line or ballgown. If you go to shorten a dress take a look at the embellishments on the skirt. Depending on where they fall on the dress you may loose some of the design and you don't want a cool part of an embellishment to be cut off in the middle of the design either. Maybe try to find a dress that has any design & embellishments just on the top & a plain bottom.

[Deleted User]

I think you'd be better off finding a dress online from a vendor with a return policy. Tea length dresses are generally less expensive than long dresses and such significant alterations can be very expensive! 

That being said, I think a-line would probably be best. Check with the seamstress you'd likely use if you did buy a long one!