Sheath alteration recommendations - YouLookFab Forum

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Sheath alteration recommendations

Aida

Veteran

Some of you may remember I purchased two sheath dresses a while back for my sadly lacking dressy capsule. The lace one was far too large and not flattering enough to have work done. However, the houndstooth one I love but it definitely needs to be altered (I still haven't had anything altered *ducking* so it's new to me).

The whole dress is a bit loose, and will continue to loosen as I lose some weight. The length is good as it's petite. But since I'm not petite on top, the arm holes seem a bit small and high/wide; the top shape looks more top heavy than I'd like but it could just me me not used to seeing myself in this type of dress. There is definitely too much fabric in the back, and I need to have that taken in (darts solve this, right?).

Front view. Looks fine from the front, just a little loose. LOVE the pockets!
Back view. You can see the extra fabric. Should tighten the whole thing up to get that taken in/darted, right?
Side view. You can see the extra fabric due to my curvy lower back (left image is most accurate), and how snugly I'd like it to fit.
Arm holes. They seem a bit small and high to me, do they need to be larger?
Print/fabric. The fabric is actually knit but lined

Would love some feedback to see if I'm figuring this right. I'd like to get this to the tailor by the end of the week. Thanks everyone!

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Dressing

20 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Marley

Veteran

Oh wow - I LOVE that dress Aida - I know absolultely nothing about tailoring/altering/sewing - so I can't give you any advice whatsoever, but I would think that if you took it into a reputable tailor they would be able to just look at you in it and know what needs to be done!

kellygirl

Veteran

Agreeing with Marley--LOVE the dress on you! I agree that a good tailor will be able to fit this. FWIW, the armholes look good to me. I think they are perfect as is.

I don't think you look top heavy, Aida. You have a strong shoulder line but you look very proportional to me.

catgirl

Veteran

Okay, remembering my search for a sheath dress... I like this a lot, but I would prefer a lower or v neckline on you. I had two sheaths with that neckline and always felt top-heavy in them (even though you don't LOOK top-heavy - you do have nice strong shoulders though!).

The length looks great. The armholes look okay to me, but how do they FEEL? I hate being constricted. Have you tried it with the layers you would wear over it to see how it looks with them? Make sure the neckline suits those pieces. With those caveats in mind, a good tailor can do just about anything.

Those are my hard-earned words of advice!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I like this dress but agree with Una about the neckline. Having deeper neckline will remove that feeling of top heaviness you have.
I think armholes are too high but this is completely comfort issue - they look fine. If they feel comfortable then it is OK.
About the tailoring: this dress has a lining which makes tailoring more expensive. If all you want to do is to take it in along existing darts or seams that should be not a problem. You can try to put it on inside out and pit the extra fabric along the darts or seams. If this gives you the desired effect that should be an easy alteration. Making armholes deeper is not a simple alteration I think.

Aida

Veteran

Thanks ladies!

I thought of the lower neckline too. I was considering having the neckline altered so it's a little more scoopy, just wasn't sure; my hips mostly balance out my shoulders but I tend to prefer lower necklines I'll have to reconsider this.

I also don't plan to layer with this dress, maybe a jacket over but likely nothing underneath. Well, now that I say that maybe a lace top underneath, which would definitely fit. The armholes don't feel tight as much as they appear to go very high. I think the issue I'm having with it is that I want the line to be more vertical than it is. I will try some of my jackets and see how they fit.

EDIT: Thanks for the tip about the lining affecting the price Sveta, I didn't know this. I'll try pinning the back along the seam and see how much it solves the problem. I have a feeling I'll have to add darts though, there's just too much extra fabric back there.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Pretty dress! Something I would wear in a heartbeat

Take it to a tailor and hear them out about price and possibilities. Decide then if it's worth it.

Aida

Veteran

The engineer in me gets a bit panicky about taking the dress in without knowing what it is that needs fixing beforehand. Angie, were my thoughts about the fit correct/on the right track?

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Aida, I think altering the neckline will be pricey: it is finishing work so it will require much more time and effort. My mom does all alterations for me and she always says than altering an existing neckline is like taking the dress apart and re-constructing it...

catgirl

Veteran

Aida, this is the black sheath I got, which I know isn't what you're looking for, but I wanted to show the neckline which is perfect for my upper body...

http://www.jny.com/Platinum-V-.....or=JJDH0XX

MsMaven

Veteran

Aida, it's hard to tell in the photos, but it looks like you need to have some extra fabric taken off either the top of the skirt or the bottom of the top--the bodice looks too long. You are going to look great in the dress. The neckline doesn't bother me--I didn't notice it until I read the other comments, but I agree that it is what makes you feel comfortable.

Stephanie

Veteran

Aida, my recommendation would be to find a tailor with whom you can have a kind of let's-try-it-and-see relationship. My tailor (actually the wife of an ex-boyfriend, believe it or not) is about my age and we get along, so when I take things to her, we just pin them different ways and look at it in the mirror and decide what we think. Sometimes we try two or three different things. So I often take to her something when I don't know *exactly* what I want done with it, and we figure it out together. If your tailor is good, she will have ideas that you haven't even thought of!

Aida

Veteran

Thanks for the feedback!

Sveta - That's good to know. I'll have to get that priced then and see if it's worth doing; I don't want to spend TOO much on this.

Una - I generally prefer that neckline as well. My bust is small and I don't mind keeping my shoulder line strong so this type of neck doesn't usually bother me. But if that's what's making the top heavy I may need to change it.

MsMaven - I think the long bodice is actually me Can you perhaps explain what you mean in another way? I'm afraid I don't understand.

Stephanie - I'm on the hunt for a tailor in my area, and found 2 possibilities. Perhaps I should call and see if they can do a try-and-see type of thing with me!

Maya

Veteran

I'm not bothered by the neckline and the potential alterations look good, but definitely ask a tailor.

The armholes don't bother me either. I *wish* my armholes fit that way instead of being all gappy and sloppy.

Aida

Veteran

Alright, thanks everyone. As of right now, I'm thinking of getting the following done (pretty much my initial list):

- Leave the neck alone. I like it, gives the dress something different.
- Something with the back must be done, whether it's to be taken in along the seams and/or add darts. The tailor will have to help decide on this.
- Still undecided about arm holes, will get quote and then decide since it's a small difference and I'm not sure it's worth it.

I'll likely take this in tomorrow or Friday. Thanks so much!

Maya

Veteran

Aida, make sure you make it clear that you're just asking for a quote first so they know that up front. And also be aware that armholes can be pretty spendy to alter. I made the mistake of having a tailor pin me up meticulously last year and slapping a $50 bill at the end (I needed the opposite armhole alteration from you). Since I needed this done on two dresses it ended up being $100! After they went through so much trouble to get everything just so, I felt bad and ended up just going through with it--which was worth it because I got a perfectly fitting dress, but at the time I was unemployed so it was quite extravagant.

Granted, this was on the Upper East Side and expertly done so it was probably a lot more expensive than it might be elsewhere in the country...but maybe knowing this in advance will save you from a potential apoplexy...

taylor

Veteran

I love this dress.
I agree take your thoughts to your tailor and work together to decide what can/should be done! Good luck! I know it will be FAB when finished!

Jonesy

Veteran

Ditto everything Taylor just said! The dress is smashing on you! I can see you styling it in lots of different ways.

Lynne

Veteran

Aida, IMO, if the arms feel 'high and wide' then it's not a good fit. It will be interesting to hear what the tailor has to say; if you need major alterations I would ask about the cost of getting the dress made for you - it's a simple design, and it could be fitted perfectly.

You may be better to get normal sizing rather than petite, as length is the easiest thing of all to have altered and there are no 'structural' changes... Are you still inside your exchange period with this?

Aida

Veteran

Maya - Thanks for the heads up, I will be sure to let them know I want a quote first! I can imagine $100 all of a sudden wasn't the most welcome news :\

Taylor, Jonesy - Thanks! I do hope the tailor I pick is willing to work with me.

Lynne - I think I can still return, but not exchange the dress (purchased on clearance). I decided to get petite sizing because my bust is small and EVERY sheath I've tried in normal sizing is huge in all around proportions. I've also just (really) recently realized while I'm petite on bottom I'm only slightly petite on top If it ends up being fitted perfectly, I'll probably see how much it costs to get another made.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You are spot on, Aida.