Need advice about prom dress alterations

[soocool]

Well DD went out and bought her prom dress. She got one phenomenal deal on it. It was originally over $400 and she got it for $150.00.
It was last year's style, but it was the one she wanted after buying her junior prom dress last year. It is strapless and DD thinks she now made a mistake buying it because she thinks it will be tough keeping it up. (dress was on clearance and is not returnable).

I think if we added straps to the dress it would solve the problem. But what kind of straps can you add that would go with a prom grown?We also need to find a seamstress and I am thinking one that specializes in brides gowns or formalware would be the best. Also, if it were you so the straps be removable or permanent? I think simple straps would be best, DD is thinking something more elaborate. Any thoughts?

 

[mary poppins]

Can you post a picture of the dress? Without seeing it, and depending on the style of the dress, I was thinking spaghetti or halter straps. A picture would be really helpful, though.

 

[PinkTower]

No, but for the future, we have solved the problem. My daughter has discovered a website called "Rent the Runway." She used it for the first time for her Christmas Formal. She has already picked out her Homecoming dress and her prom gown on there. All three are Nicole Miller, and she even rented a Nicole Miller necklace for the Christmas formal. These dresses are strapless, and they stay up!!! I was a little leery the first time, but it went beautifully, and the dress was in perfect condition. They send you two sizes. You might want to look into it, and if you want, I can show you pictures of the particular dresses. It will not help you this time, but I can tell you, I have bought my last dress that will be worn once. For the present situation, I assume you have tried Hollywood Fashion Tape? It isn't that great, but it helps. My daughter also uses the silicone bra cups--do you have those? They are separate cups; they are not connected.

 

[NovemberBride]

Soocool,

It is hard to say what kind of straps could be added without seeing the dress, can you post a pic?

I might be remembering wrong, but are you in the Philadelphia area? If so, I have a phenomenal tailor here, she does a lot of bridal gowns and has altered several gowns for me for black tie events.

 

[Autumnovember]

She could add very very thin spaghetti straps that add the illusion that its still strapless. Go to XO formals in oxford valley mall and have the seamstress there do it since she does that kind of thing every day. I would do ones that can be detached just in case she wants to take them off at some point or even another time she wears it. I did that for a lot of my dresses

 

[soocool]

Here is the dress: She bought it The Golden Asp in Benslaem, PA. The original price was $490.00 (hard for me to believe) and she got it for $150.00. I am in the Bucks County area and found 2 seamstresses on-line in our area that I will check out. Also, she thinks she might have to have it shortened an inch.

 

[soocool]

Here's the back of the dress:

 

[soocool]

close up of the front

 

[JulieN]

That is really pretty.

 

[PinkTower]

That is a beautiful dress.

 

[kittybean]

Lovely dress! I think that adding some thin, silky spaghetti straps would look best with this gown, and they wouldn't take away from its beauty at all.

Another thought: how much boning does the dress have? Good structure is essential for keeping a strapless dress up, so if it has substantial boning or if some can be added, it might stay up just fine without straps. It doesn't appear to be particularly heavy, either, so that will help it to stay where you want it. If you're going to stick with the strapless thing, make sure the waist and ribcage area are properly fitted--that will also help a lot.

 

[House Cat]

This dress either needs the thinnest spaghetti straps possible or a very thin jewelled strap, IMO. The empire waist really makes it so that it should be strapless.

Really, I would take it to someone who does bridal alterations and have it taken in around the bust. It won't fall down after an alteration like that.


If you use hollywood tape, make sure she isn't allergic to it. I am. I used it on my wedding day and I was an absolute disaster for weeks after.

 

[soocool]

Lovely dress! I think that adding some thin, silky spaghetti straps would look best with this gown, and they wouldn't take away from its beauty at all.

Another thought: how much boning does the dress have? Good structure is essential for keeping a strapless dress up, so if it has substantial boning or if some can be added, it might stay up just fine without straps. It doesn't appear to be particularly heavy, either, so that will help it to stay where you want it. If you're going to stick with the strapless thing, make sure the waist and ribcage area are properly fitted--that will also help a lot.

I think the boning is fine, it is just that DD is not large at all on top. In fact, one breast is larger than the other. I am not sure if this plays a factor or not in being able to keep the dress up.

 

[soocool]

This dress either needs the thinnest spaghetti straps possible or a very thin jewelled strap, IMO. The empire waist really makes it so that it should be strapless.

Really, I would take it to someone who does bridal alterations and have it taken in around the bust. It won't fall down after an alteration like that.


If you use hollywood tape, make sure she isn't allergic to it. I am. I used it on my wedding day and I was an absolute disaster for weeks after.

DD wants substantial straps and I suggested a jewel strap. Hopefully I will find a seamstress who knows what she is doing.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

You could add some simple straps with crystals on them to match the belt, I think that would look great!

 

[davi_el_mejor]

The bodice looks like it has enough structure that she shouldn't be adjusting it all the time. Some double sided tape and she should be even more secure.

If you do still want a strap what about adding a halter type strap with the fabric taken off the bottom? It'll keep the back open and the lines will flow really well upfront too.

Is the jeweled waistline in a twisted rope pattern? You could incorporate a jeweled strap along with the fabric in the halter strap to mimic the waistline and be substantial like your DD wanted.

 

[soocool]

DD says that she doesn't want thin straps. I asked how wide then. She says about 1/2 - 1-inch. I tell her that I think 1 inch is definitely too wide and then ask her why she bought the dress. Also, she doesn't want a halter. (beats head against the wall)

 

[swingirl]

Straps made from the hem fabric cut off?

Before you take it to a seamstress buy some fabric ribbon in several widths and experiment with them by pinning them in different locations. I think a criss-cross in the the back (attached straps in the front start close to arm pits) could be cute. But if you want to avoid headaches, let your DD experiment and see what she likes and have them do it her way. I went through multiple prom dress shopping trips and in the long run you have to remember she's going to wear it and the mom's opinion isn't always appreciated when they have their own "vision".

PS Very pretty dress. The colors are dreamy!

 

[iheartscience]

Wow, gorgeous dress! I agree that thin straps would be the best bet and swingirl's idea about using different widths of ribbon to decide what looks best is great! 1/2" wide sraps might be okay but 1" is definitely too wide. Hopefully you can talk her into the thinner straps!

And having nothing to hold the dress up may not be an issue if the interior boning is fitted enough. I'm on the thin side, not busty at all, and I wore my strapless, relatively heavy wedding gown for hours without any issues. Maybe your daughter can try wearing the dress around the house for an hour or so and see how it does?

 

[soocool]

Thank everyone for your suggestions. I think the different width of ribbons to see which width is the best is a great idea and have passed this along to DD.

So now after dinner she tells me that she wants to keep it strapless and have the seamstress just take it in.

Kill me now!

 

[soocool]

Soocool,

It is hard to say what kind of straps could be added without seeing the dress, can you post a pic?

I might be remembering wrong, but are you in the Philadelphia area? If so, I have a phenomenal tailor here, she does a lot of bridal gowns and has altered several gowns for me for black tie events.

I am in Bucks County (New Hope area).

 

[atroop711]

please tell your dd that if the dress is FIT perfectly from a seamstress, it will not fall down. I had the same worry (I am a D cup) when I was going to wear a strapless for my sister's wedding..but the fit was so perfect, the "girls" didn't go anywhere and neither did the dress.

 

[dragonfly411]

Soocool - First off, that dress is GORGEOUS! Second, I added straps to both of my first prom dresses. The seamstresses found a close colored satin spaghetti strap for each dress. It did the job of holding the dress up.

That being said, Tape works wonders as well!

 

[Autumnovember]

Soocool,

It is hard to say what kind of straps could be added without seeing the dress, can you post a pic?

I might be remembering wrong, but are you in the Philadelphia area? If so, I have a phenomenal tailor here, she does a lot of bridal gowns and has altered several gowns for me for black tie events.

I am in Bucks County (New Hope area).

XO formals...had many dresses altered there and they always turned out great.

 

[enbcfsobe]

please tell your dd that if the dress is FIT perfectly from a seamstress, it will not fall down. I had the same worry (I am a D cup) when I was going to wear a strapless for my sister's wedding..but the fit was so perfect, the "girls" didn't go anywhere and neither did the dress.

ditto this. if it's falling down, its too big. also, seamstress can address the unevenness of DD's "girls" by sewing in cups and layering them as necessary to even things out. it works way better than a strapless bra. alternatively, if she reverts to wanting straps she could ask the seamstress about using the scraps from the bottom and any alterations to make braided straps of the same material -- it seems like that would go with the goddess look of the cut.

 

[kittybean]

Lovely dress! I think that adding some thin, silky spaghetti straps would look best with this gown, and they wouldn't take away from its beauty at all.

Another thought: how much boning does the dress have? Good structure is essential for keeping a strapless dress up, so if it has substantial boning or if some can be added, it might stay up just fine without straps. It doesn't appear to be particularly heavy, either, so that will help it to stay where you want it. If you're going to stick with the strapless thing, make sure the waist and ribcage area are properly fitted--that will also help a lot.

I think the boning is fine, it is just that DD is not large at all on top. In fact, one breast is larger than the other. I am not sure if this plays a factor or not in being able to keep the dress up.

I am pretty thin and not large on top, either, but I have successfully worn lots of strapless dresses. Honestly, I sometimes think it's better to be a little smaller on top because there's less risk of the girls popping out somewhere. Again, fit and structure are going to be the keys to a happy and wardrobe-malfunction-free evening.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Before I'd go adding straps, I'd see about having the dress taken in to fit her like a glove. If she wanted to had some of those grippy stripes insides the dress, that's great too in addition to the fitting.

Great dress, BTW

 

[OUpearlgirl]

Hmm.. I'll be the odd one out!

I think a jeweled halter strap would be really pretty. About 1/2 inches thick. I don't really love thin spaghetti straps, I think they look like an after-thought. Kind of like this http://essensedesigns.com/dress-D1049

 

[soocool]

Yes, DD has decided to have the dress taken in and kept it as a strapless. If she decides against that again, she thanks you for all your suggestions.

Autumnovember, DD will be going to DSW to look at shoes this weekend. She said she'll swing by the Oxford Valley Mall and talk to someone at XO. Thanks.