Can...should...this LBD be saved?

I haven't worn this for years, and the fit falls under the category "what was I thinking?!" I wasn't bigger when I bought it, I just used to buy things too big. Not the fluid styles I like right now, I mean things that should have had a tailored fit I just plain bought too big back in the day.

The lace is gorgeous though, and I'm drooling over the lace skirts I see here and in stores. I don't know if they are substantially different in style from this one or if I could get it hemmed and put it back into use. So first question...what's the verdict on the skirt? It is lined of course, and would have to be shortened from the waistband so more pricey than ordinary hemming.

Other questions:

1) If I just hem the skirt and wear it with a different top, what is the right length? I tried to pin it up to just at knee length...is that right for a straight style skirt? I would be wearing it with flats...heels are not an option!
2) If I do this, should I get the lining a bit shorter than the lace? Right now the difference is only about an inch.
3) Is the top worth tailoring to keep it as a set? The fit is very boxy. I don't know how much tailoring is possible or what it would cost. I'm guessing not cheap...but neither is a new dress. Just want to know if it is worth it.

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10 years ago

cheryle (Dianthus)

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Veteran

you look great in black with your dark hair. I do think it might be better shorter if you plan to wear it with flats. I would have the lining shortened to showcase the lace if you hem it. Ingunn posted a thread about a lace skirt a few days ago and got quite a few ideas for dressing it down.
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-what-kind

I think it is worth getting an estimate on tailoring in the top and shortening the skirt especially if the idea of wearing them as separates appeals to you.

unfrumped

I would probably start over.
Not sure the skirt just needs to be shorter--it isn't quite a pencil skirt nor twirly so it needs to be tailored in several ways.
Boxy can be good for the top, but it needs to fit properly still. If it's a simple side-seam alteration that's not much , but if it's big in armholes and dart and so on that can hard to make right.
Ann Taylor offers a lot of black and other color/lace and lace-overlay -type skirts and tops each year. They are only medium-quality, but on sale a new outfit would be no more than what you would pay for tailoring.
Since you've already got it and can hang on to it, are you able to go to some stores and try on some lace skirts and see if they "speak" to you? And also it won't hurt to talk with your tailor.

cinnamon fern

If you tailor both top and skirt, do you have a plan for when you're going to wear them? Do you have a lot of occasions that call for a dressy, conservative black dress? If not, I would definitely skip getting the top tailored.

Have you had garments remade like this before and liked the results? I've had a lot of hems taken up and waists taken in over the years, with excellent results. But anything more dramatic than that has often seemed like throwing good money after bad - the results are technically good, but the garment doesn't end up looking anywhere near as good as I imagined it would. Of course, you may have a more accurate imagination than I do!

Gigi

I personally would purge the dress and look for something new. I agree with unfrumped that I think that the skirt might need substantial alterations...and if you're not truly in love with this dress, I think that spending money on alterations isn't the best thing. I think it would be safer just to shop for a skirt that is updated and has a silhouette that you like.

Firecracker (Sharan)

I would start over. If shortening the skirt, I'd want to preserve the lace edge, which means shortening from the top, as you suggest. Then, the top part and side seams are going to need alterations. And you're talking altering the lining and the lace skirt, which is basically like the work of altering two skirts. I don't know what the cost would be, but you can get a new one by Diane von Furstenberg on sale at Nordstrom right now for just under $100.

I'd shoot for right around knee length--just above, on, or below the knee--for wearing with your pretty black flats.

Nordstrom

Diane von Furstenberg 'Scotia' Lace Pencil Skirt

$245.00 $97.97

Sale

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Peri

Thanks for the voices of reason. Seems the vote is to let it go....I think I will. Glad I asked and thanks for the good advice.

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