Prom Dress Alterations: When Length is an Issue
There are several different ways to go about prom dress
alterations when length is an issue. Whether your dress is
too long or not long enough there are a few options that you
have to fix the issue. Some options are obvious, while
others may take a bit of thought and ingenuity.
First of all, when you purchase a prom dress, it is very
likely that you are going to have to alter the length. Most
prom dresses are built to fit girls who are 5’ 9”, giving
enough material for those who are shorter to work with when
hemming them up. If you’re taller than 5’ 9” then you may
have difficulty finding a dress that is full length.
Alterations can be done to increase or decrease length as
needed.
To keep from having to alter your dress very much, you
should make sure that when you shop for your dress that
you’re wearing the same type of undergarments, especially
bra, as you will at the prom. Wear the same type of shoes,
or at least the same height of shoes as you will at the
prom. This will help to ensure a better fit.
Once you have purchased your prom dress and you find that
you need to make changes, it is best for you to find a
competent tailor in your area. There are all sorts of
alterations that can be made to your dress, and some of
these are more complicated than others. Always remember to
take photographs before leaving your dress with your tailor
in case something happens to it.
If you only need to have some basic hemming done then any
tailor will do. If you are concerned that you may need other
alterations done to your prom dress then look for a
confidant and competent tailor in your area. If the tailor
appears nervous about working on your dress, find someone
else.
If you are taller than 5’9”, you may need to add length to
your dress. There are a few ways that you can go about this.
First you can have the dress altered so that your prom dress
is mid-length. This can be frustrating for those of us who
are taller and do not wish to wear a mid-length dress.
If you have your heart set on a full length dress, you can
find some material or perhaps a shawl in a fabric that
complements your gown. This fabric can be added to the
length of the dress to make to repairs.
When using this method to make prom dress alterations, you
should also add some of the fabric to other portions of the
gown so that it doesn’t appear as though you tried to sew
something to the bottom of the gown. An addition at the
collar and on the sleeves as well as the bottom of the prom
dress can make the repair less obvious.
One of the best ways of dealing with prom dress alterations
is to not have to deal with them. If you are close to the
magic height 5’9” then you can wear flat shoes. Choosing a
high/low hem where the hem is higher in the front than in
back can make the length issues less obvious. If you do not
want to deal with these issues at all, you can order your
prom dress and have it tailor-made to fit your height.
Instead of guessing what your height is, have a professional
fitting by a local tailor. This will save time and
heartache.
|
