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BM dress alterations - pricing

alisarmyersalisarmyers member
First Comment First Anniversary
in Attire & Accessories Forum
Hi everyone,

One of my bridesmaids' dress is really big for her (she said 2 sizes too big) and she needs to get it taken in.  It's a Bill Levkoff dress with boning.  She said she took it to 4 different places and they all quoted her $250-300, which sounds insane to me.  She is in San Francisco, but that price still sounds crazy.  

Is this normal for BM dress alterations?

Thanks!
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Re: BM dress alterations - pricing

  • artbyallieartbyallie mod
    Moderator Eighth Anniversary 5000 Comments 500 Love Its
    Taking a dress in two whole sizes is a lot of work, particularly on a style that is structured enough to include boning. At that point it's practically remaking the entire dress more than just nipping in a seam or two.
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  • doeydodoeydo member
    Seventh Anniversary 5000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    Can she return or exchange the dress for one that is more her size?  If not, does she have time to maybe order the dress again in the correct size and sell this one online or something?
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  • hikebikebemerryhikebikebemerry member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments First Anniversary Name Dropper
    That doesn't shock me.  It's a lot of work to take something in while maintaining the same structure of the dress.  They don't just add more fabric to the sides when they go up a size, lots of stuff about the proportions is different too.

    I agree with the PPs- it might be better for her to see if she can return/ exchange it.
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  • misshart00misshart00 member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary First Answer
    That sounds pretty normal for a dress with that much structure. Especially two sizes. Boning needs to be removed and repositioned. New casings need to be made for it. The skirt needs to be adjusted to accommodate the new boning positions. Depending on the details of the dress, it could even be a lot more than that. I agree with PP about seeing if she can exchange it for a different size.
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  • 00kim0000kim00 member
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Love Its 100 Comments First Answer
    Two years ago, I needed to alter a bridesmaid dress down drastically (from a 14 to a 4... I lost a lot of weight between when the bride insisted I had to order the dress and the wedding). I live in the SF area, too, and everywhere I went quoted $400+ until I found a great and reasonable seamstress in alameda who did it under $200. She did a great job and I used her for my wedding dress earlier this year, too. The dress structure of course impacts the price, but if your friend is okay traveling to Alameda I can pass on the seamstress' contact and she can even email for a quote
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  • alisarmyersalisarmyers member
    First Comment First Anniversary
    Unfortunately she can't exchange it (not enough time and I want to be sure the color matches the other girls).  00kim00, I would definitely appreciate the contact information to pass along to her, thank you so much!
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  • 00kim0000kim00 member
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Love Its 100 Comments First Answer
    Try Malia May in Alameda, her email is tikimalia@Yahoo.com. Good luck!
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  • alisarmyersalisarmyers member
    First Comment First Anniversary
    Thank you!
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