Sheath dresses for a bumpy rectangle girl

Steffie

Are there any other ladies out there who struggle with sheath dresses? I'm a rectangle with a bit of inverted triangle tendencies. I love everything about sheath dresses but getting them to fit me is a disaster. They gape and bag and poof at the waist and low back, pull across my shoulders and even if I go a size too big, I cannot even pull them down over my big bottom and thighs.

I have never considered buying a sheath dress 2 sizes too large and having it tailored because I'm not sure if the shape of a sheath and stand up to fairly major alterations.

So tell me, curvaceous rectangles, do any of you wear sheaths? What's your solution? I'd sure love to get inside a beautiful sheath such as Angie featured today!

14 years ago

Body Type

10 replies

Latest reply was from ticksgirl

rute

Veteran

me.. but my problem is another one.. is the fit on the bust
The solution is to taylor.. I fit the bigger part of your body and alter the rest.. the secret is to choose a good taylor and when you find it.. keep it!

14 years ago

Late Bloomer

(website)

Active Member

Mine is the bust too. With a sleeveless I always have to do something with the gaping armholes.Steffie, In your case is it more too large at your waist if it fits your shoulders and hips? Would belting it make a difference?

I see your hesitation on buying a dress knowing it would have to be tailored and not being sure how it would turn out. I got a gray sheath for fall at the Nordstrom sale in July and they brought in the tailor to look at the dress and decide about tailoring. She said I'd have to size up as they can't take much out of a seam but once I did that she got to work pinning and the dress came out great! I liked the fact that I knew if and how it could be tailored before I bought it. The tailoring cost me $17 but since the dress was on such a good sale I felt like it was well worth doing.

14 years ago

LeahJanes

Active Member

I'm an apple which can be very hard to fit in dresses too. Most of my nipped in waist sheaths are made from ponte knit which has a bit of give in it without being clingy. Seems to do the trick nicely. Maybe that could work for you too.

14 years ago

Reneeb

Veteran

I am struggling with this one also. I am petite and there is not allot to choose from. I don't have the body for a form fitting dresses. But I did buy this one from ATL
http://www.anntaylorloft.com/c.....pe=Regular
It is a regular not petite and not that short on me. It fits too.
I ordered this one from Nordies but have not received it yet. I am keeping my finger crossed.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/31.....sultback=0

14 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Where have you tried fitting on sheath dresses, Steffie? Have you tried on a Theory?

14 years ago

Jonesy

Veteran

What about ones made out of jersey material, so, something with a bit of stretch? Have you tried any of those?

14 years ago

Steffie

Active Member

Wow, lots of great ideas and responses.

Angie, The majority of sheaths I've tried have been Boden, which are usually a more stiff woven construction. Others that I've tried on have been of a similar fabrication. Not much stretch. I've never tried a Theory sheath-- that may be my next stop!

Late Bloomer, I have tried belting but in order to fit the bum, I end up with so much extra fabric bunched at the waist, it doesn't look right. Again, this might only be the case with more stiff fabrics though!

Thank you to all the ladies who have responded. I have never thought of a sheath as a knit and I suspect that would make a big difference. I'm also glad to hear that tailoring has worked for some without completely changing the dress.

What would I do without you all?

14 years ago

Vix

Veteran

Hi Steffie --

A few other things to throw into the mix that may or may not be affecting your fit....

The pooling at the lower back may mean you need a "swayback adjustment" or "short back" adjustment...IOW, there's too much fabric there.

[ There's a little drawing here: http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_c/c-228.html ]

Depending on your specific fit issues, it's possible a side-zip vs back-zip sheath would be easier to fix.

Also: Is the top part of the sheath fitting right? Is it possible you need a petite fit? Maybe a regular fit is too long in the body, thus creating tightness across the hips/thighs because it's meant to fit a narrower part of the torso but is dropped down on you.

Good luck!

ps Zero luck with RTW sheaths from this Rectangle!

14 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Steffie, I am an hourglass but I have never bought a sheath dress without a need to alter it. I think it is almost impossible to find a fitted sheath dress which fits you perfectly everywhere. Just get it so it fits well in the biggest part of your body and the rest can be altered.
I also advocate for a sheath with a bit of stretch in it - it makes all the difference!

14 years ago

ticksgirl

Active Member

Steffie, as a fellow bumpy rectangle (I think), I have only had luck with knit sheath dresses. I currently have a red one I got at Express years and years ago and a black one my mom made for me, years and years ago as well. I lived in them back when I was working in an office, and I highly recommend you seek some out. So comfortable, and the only fabric that would work with my "J-Lo-esque" booty area, as my hubby lovingly refers to it.

14 years ago

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