Dress issue!!!

tlancaster89

I bought my dress back in October off of craigslist. It is my dream dream, and was debating on buying it for 6 months. I finally bought it, the awesome thing (at the time) was the dress was a perfect fit. I decided that I wanted to get fit for the wedding and  actually be happy about the way I look for one in my life. My mother insuraned me that even if I lost weight my dress would fit. However, now we have an issue.
My FMIL is going to take in my dress and do all the alterations, but she is afraid that she won't be able to take it in now becuase she thinks I have lost too much weight. Since christmas I have lost 20lbs, and want to loose some more. My mother still thinks we will be able to take the dress in. Right now, I am not sure and I am freaking out about it because I really can't afford to buy another dress!
Do you think my mother was right or do you think my FMIL is right?

rcj2rcd

You did take a risk that the dress wouldn't fit after loosing weight (lol that may be the only downside...clothes don't fit anymore). Girls buy sample gowns all the time and have them altered to fit. Don't loose hope and don't let this deter you from your plan to loose more weight. I know you said your FMIL is going to take the dress in, but I would talk to a professional seamstress or alterations store and see what they can do.

Meg1036

In Response to <a href="http://forums.weddings.com/Sites/Weddings/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_dress-issue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:88Discussion:8ea0204e-8527-4438-a321-ef7518cf4a26Post:2709ba3c-ecf5-4d7d-a0ec-72bc71e83b62">Re: Dress issue!!!</a>:
[QUOTE] I know you said your FMIL is going to take the dress in, but I would talk to a professional seamstress or alterations store and see what they can do.
Posted by rcj2rcd[/QUOTE]

Ditto.  Talk to a professional seamstress to see what can be done.

Congrats on the weight loss!

Milsey32

Depending on how tight the dress was before and how tall you are/where you lost weight I don't think 20lbs will drastically change the dress. Yes, you'll get alterations but it's not impossible. If FMIL can't do it, then take it to a pro! 

Spartan325

Alterations can't change a dress more than 2 sizes. So you can't go up or down more than two sizes without screwing up the structure of the dress. IDK how 20 is with that, but I think you are getting close to two sizes. Just something to consider.

songbrd410

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_michigan-detroit_dress-issue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:88Discussion:8ea0204e-8527-4438-a321-ef7518cf4a26Post:80581fa1-01e1-457c-9506-6decebd650cd">Re: Dress issue!!!</a>:
[QUOTE]Alterations can't change a dress more than 2 sizes. So you can't go up or down more than two sizes without screwing up the structure of the dress. IDK how 20 is with that, but I think you are getting close to two sizes. Just something to consider.
Posted by Spartan325[/QUOTE]

I think the general rule is 10 lbs = 1 dress size.  But I'm sure that varies to some degree with height considerations.

emarston1

Agree with PPs.  Take it to a professional seamstress.  This is what they do for a living and they will be able to give you a professional opinion.

Or just start eating a bunch of Oreos and brownies to put the weight back on

Sue-n-Kevin

I have sewn for over 30 years, and honestly, can't give you a proper answer without knowing what the dress looks like. I can't say if your FMIL or mom are right, because it depends on the complexity of the alterations, which depends on how the dress is constructed.

But I agree with all the prior posters, instead of having your FMIL do the alterations (it sounds as though she already feels overwhelmed before you lose more weight), get a professional opinion. I think some of the vendor recommendations pinned to the top with yellow pins have alterations/seamstresses listed.

FWIW, I am making my own dress, and plan on losing another 10 lbs. The back of my dress will be a corset lace-up, mostly because I DO worry about the dress fitting and a zipper adds way too many poor options. However, I know my rib cage won't change size, the only thing I'd have to worry about would be the waist and upper hip size. If your dress has a zipper, perhaps your FMIL can change it to a lace up style, take away an inch or two of the bodice on either side, add a privacy panel under the lace-up, and you should be ok unless the dress is fitted all the way down your hips.

Good luck.

tlancaster89

thank you guys.
the orginal the was, my mother said she was going to buy me a new dress if the dress didn't fit.(this is because she doesn't like the color! It's not white or ivory. They call it light gold, its more of a off ivory color) Now, I am still thinking about the offer but I am not sure. I could use the money in other places. I guess I will take it in and see what the pro's think.

If it matters, a few of you ask..
I am 5'2 and the dress was a 14w. I currenlty wear 11 in Juniors (pants)

lanejane

I would take it to a professional. I had my dressmaker tell me her seamstress has taken a size 18 to a size 8 with no problems. So I think it can be done but you have to talk to someone who knows what they are doing.

jdgardin

I agree with all the previous posters - take it to a professional.  I bought a sample dress that was a size 14 and had it altered down to a size 4 with out any problems (she took the dress down to individual pieces).  She had to redesign the skirt a little bit, but it actually looked better the way it was put back together.  Good luck!

kkbrown7023

OMG!!  This post just knocked me for a loop.  I have lost about 30lbs since I bought my dress, and I always assumed a seamstress could take it in.  Ok, first fitting moved up to this weekend!!!!

tlancaster89

I guess what the issue is, that my dress has a lot of detail in the area where it will need to be taken in. Also, since this is the Detroit board, does anyone know of any good professionals I could go too? I am a bit nervous to take it someone and they mess it up because my dress is no longer sold, and is unable to get another one. (I am also on a tight budget, so davids bridal wouldn't do any good)