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Dress altering, how many sizes down can you go?

nahollingsnahollings member
10 Comments Name Dropper First Anniversary
in Attire & Accessories Forum
Hi, 
 I'm in the early stages of dress shopping, and love the idea of purchasing from a pre-owned site. I'm wondering though how many sizes down a tailor can usually go for most dresses? A lot of the ones I love are a size 10 and I would need it altered to a 2. Is there a good rule of thumb about how many sizes are feasible?

Thanks!
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Re: Dress altering, how many sizes down can you go?

  • manateehuggermanateehugger member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Third Anniversary 5 Answers
    edited June 2013
    That's a lot of sizes. Usually to take a dress in that much requires totally taking apart the dress and then piecing back together. You might lose the money you saved in alterations anyway.

    I think most seamstresses recommend that you buy no more than 2 sizes up.

    Are you a street size 2? It varies by designer, but often you have to order up a size or two in wedding gowns. I'm a size 4 normally, but my gown is a size 8. Can you have a friend measure you and then look up the measurement/sizing guide on the designer's website?

    ETA: the don't buy more than two sizes up means two sizes up from your size in the designer, not your size in street clothes.
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  • PeledreamsofrainPeledreamsofrain member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary First Answer
    Try on dresses before you get too ahead of yourself.  It's amazing how many sizes they are different from other clothing.  My dress had to be ordered 4 sizes bigger than I really am in other clothes.

    I also lost significant weight before my wedding and my dress had to be taken down 5 sizes.  It basically requires taking the dress apart and putting it back together again so that all the panels match each other, and costs a pretty penny.  For me it was worth it though, since it was my dream dress.
    Don't make me mobilize OffensiveKitten

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  • QueerFemmeQueerFemme member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its 5 Answers

    wedding gown sizing is very different than street clothes. If you are a street size 2, you might be a gown size 2, 4 or 6.   Ordering something in a 10 is probably a bad idea. You MIGHT be able to have it taken in, but usually, 1-2 sizes is the most it can be taken in without losing the structure of the dress. 

     

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    Websites/blogs where our wedding has been featured:

    http://www.dapperq.com/2013/11/a-very-dapper-wedding/

    http://www.onabicyclebuiltfortwo.com/2013/10/wedding-christina-g.html

    http://4realequalityweddings.com/2014/05/16/g-christina/

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