AW: bustle dissatisfaction

mica178

I just got my dress back from alterations.  I wasn't able to get a really good luck at the bustle until I got home so I could blow up the picture, but I think it looks... sloppy.  The seamstress reassured me that it'll drape better when the cloth loosens up (after wearing it for the ceremony and pictures), but I don't know about that.  I know that by the time the dress is bustled, it'll be darker and no one will be looking at seams, and the bustle looks like it'll do its job and stay out of the way.

What do you think?  Do I pursue a "prettier" bustle, or just leave it alone?  It's not like I have a ton of time to find a new person for this, so is it worth it?

shellydiane820

It looks funny to me too.

rbtrumpet

maybe it's just the picture but to me it looks off-center.  I think you could maybe ask for something that is "more secure" (as PP said - what if that one point breaks, it's known to happen) which would maybe have some more body to it.

mica178

Thanks ladies.

The train is asymmetrical to begin with, so it's probably harder to bustle than the average dress.  I'm going to have to find a fancier seamstress. 

shellydiane820

I think if you put another point on each side of that one, it would look better, more even.

jnc1113

Maybe I'm just looking at the picture wrong, but it looks like you're standing with your weight more on one foot and one hip out to the side.  That may be affecting the way the dress is falling as well.  (Could be totally wrong, though!)  I agree though that another point on each side may make it a little more stable.

AllAboutTheBenjamin

Instead of bustling it on the outside, get a better seamstress and have the bustle be where the dress is tucked underneath instead of pinned to the outside.

andy71781

My bustle was so so so pretty but on the big day it did NOT stand up.

vegasgroom

Being the resident guy here, can someone tell me how bustles work.  I assume they're so a dress with a long train can have the train 'held up' so it's easy to move around, dance, etc. after the ceremony?  How are they typically held in place once they are put up?  Are there loops in the fabric or something, small strings, etc. that you tie through the loop?  FI won't tell me anything about her dress so this is all foreign to me. :-)

ThePinkSuperhero

I like it.  I think the weirdness is in the bunching, and the seamstress is right- it'll hang correctly after you've been wearing it for awhile.

2dBride

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_aw-bustle-dissatisfaction?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:fdf70f10-1e65-4419-b046-6cf5f07acf88Post:3e2c1127-7d62-4da4-a9a8-d5b7c87392d2">Re: AW: bustle dissatisfaction</a>:
[QUOTE]Being the resident guy here, can someone tell me how bustles work.  I assume they're so a dress with a long train can have the train 'held up' so it's easy to move around, dance, etc. after the ceremony?  How are they typically held in place once they are put up?  Are there loops in the fabric or something, small strings, etc. that you tie through the loop?  FI won't tell me anything about her dress so this is all foreign to me. :-)
Posted by vegasgroom[/QUOTE]Yeah, typically what you have is small loops on the fabric, which get hooked over transparent buttons somewhere else on the fabric.  Thus, none of it is very visible when the train is down.  However, it enables you to have the train up for dancing, etc.

aMrsin09

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_aw-bustle-dissatisfaction?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:fdf70f10-1e65-4419-b046-6cf5f07acf88Post:3e2c1127-7d62-4da4-a9a8-d5b7c87392d2">Re: AW: bustle dissatisfaction</a>:
[QUOTE]Being the resident guy here, can someone tell me how bustles work.  I assume they're so a dress with a long train can have the train 'held up' so it's easy to move around, dance, etc. after the ceremony?  How are they typically held in place once they are put up?  Are there loops in the fabric or something, small strings, etc. that you tie through the loop?  FI won't tell me anything about her dress so this is all foreign to me. :-)
Posted by vegasgroom[/QUOTE]


Or it can be the way mine was, three sets of two of loops (about butt and knee level) under the dress and ribbons by the waist.  You run the ribbons through the loops vertically and tie them off (luckily I married a sailor).  That way it bustles under the dress instead of on top of it.

Oh and bustles can have many, many "points" just depends on your train.

alaea

It looks fragile to me, but maybe that's just me.

I have an underbustle on my dress, which gives my already flowing organza gown, more flow... good luck on the second attempt should you decide to have it redone!

cqbride

I would get someone else to look at it. It looks to me like it's sitting too low, and she hasn't put in enough points to distribute the fullness well. It might be that she is a good seamstress, but her draping skills are clearly not up to par.

banana468

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_aw-bustle-dissatisfaction?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:fdf70f10-1e65-4419-b046-6cf5f07acf88Post:bf46eabe-94e4-4568-86e1-f35213a1b1d8">Re: AW: bustle dissatisfaction</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: AW: bustle dissatisfaction : Or it can be the way mine was, three sets of two of loops (about butt and knee level) under the dress and ribbons by the waist.  You run the ribbons through the loops vertically and tie them off (luckily I married a sailor).  That way it bustles under the dress instead of on top of it. Oh and bustles can have many, many "points" just depends on your train.
Posted by aMrsin09[/QUOTE]

Or it can be how mine was - we just pinned it in three points.

I've also seen no loops but ribbon-like strings that are color-coded.  Once the dress is ready to be bustled, someone goes under the dress and begins to match up the ribbons to tie them together.

[Deleted User]

It can't hurt to get another opinion. Maybe you don't have to do naything at all but if you just show it to another seamstress maybe she can reassure you or make some suggestions for improvement should it be needed.

cmmosley81

I think you need to have someone else look at it. I agree an underbustle would look a lot cleaner. If you want it to be where it is they need to make it three points where it meets. so it is even

Meg1979

It looks like it only has one loop, square in the middle.  If the fabric was distributed a little better it would look more even.  The sides just don't look well-supported.

noodle_oo

I think an overbustle is okay (American style) but this one just looks really messy.  I personally went with the French bustle (the under bustle using ribbons) because I liked the look better and I found it MUCH more secure.  My bustle held up perfectly over 3 hours of ballroom dancing.  Of course, I also did 7 points whcih looked prettier and brought all the fabric up off the floor (so I didn't trip on it while dancing).

Did your seamstress show you a few options?  I'd try a few different things and see what you like best.  The dress is so pretty, but the bustle just doesn't look graet to me.

skippylouwho

Our seamstress uses ribbons to hold bustles up. Over the years she's tried loops, buttons, ribbons and finds ribbons work much better. She uses a heavy ribbon for bustles that are underneath and a lighter (more narrow) ribbon for those on top so that you don't see them.