Changing color of an exposed zipper

elpgal

Short of replacing it, are there any other tricks to change the color of an exposed zipper. I am trying to decide if it is worth spending the extra $.

http://www.bodenusa.com/en-us/.....oman-dress

7 years ago

General

9 replies

Latest reply was from elpgal

taylor

Veteran

Pretty dress ; really love the color too!
I have a couple dresses with the stand out zipper like that . It’s like the makers want to make that looong zipper even more obvious, not sure why though .

Anything short of a sharpie , magic marker . Otherwise zipper replacement ,

7 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I thought that was a relatively inexpensive alteration?
Taylor, I know the designers see it as a feature, not a bug, but I’m with you—not into the big ole exposed zip.

7 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

I think it’s cheaper to make the garment with an exposed zipper so they have called it a design feature. I have dresses like that, but my tolerance for them is not great. I usually wear a sweater or topper so the zipper doesn’t show.

7 years ago

Joyce B

Veteran

I have not bought dresses with exposed zippers because that feature rules out the garment for me. I agree that if the zipper were the color of the dress it would be better. Maybe ask your taylor before ordering?

7 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

It's easier to replace an exposed zipper than it is to replace an invisible zipper, sewing-wise, but the issue is what are you going to replace it with? Most zippers that length/weight are coat zippers and most of them are going to be nylon. You could probably find a metal one, eventually, but you're going to end up with a very similar look to what you started out with. trying to put in an invisible or lapped zipper that doesn't show requires more fabric, which the dress may or may not have in the seam allowance.

7 years ago

Chris987

Veteran

From what I can see it seems that the fabric part of the zipper is the same color as the dress, and it is just the metallic (or plastic) zipper TEETH that are exposed. A sharpie/magic marker might not work to cover up metal.

Do check with your tailor on zipper replacement and show him/her a photo of the dress back. A more traditional zipper that is invisible will require that the back pieces of the dress have a little more width to cover the zipper and the dress may not be cut like that. If that won't work then the tailor would have to find a zipper with TEETH that match that dark green and that might not be easy to do.

7 years ago

elpgal

Veteran

Visible zippers just seem very risqué to me for some reason. The dress is great - ponte, lined, fitted but not clingy. I'll check with my tailor and see if they have some sort of a low contrast zipper. All that metal running down the spine - eek!

7 years ago

Kathie

Veteran

I have that same dress, also in green, and love wearing it. I do usually have some sort of topper or scarf over it, so the zipper isn’t as visible. Hope you can figure out how to make it work for you!

7 years ago

elpgal

Veteran

Kathie, it's a lovely dress. I bought it because you recommended it to me on my MM Lafleur thread!

7 years ago

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