The wedding dress is plus-sized, but the bride is not

July 8, 2016 12:54 AM

She wants this wedding dress, but it only comes in plus sizes. Is it worth it to buy a 14W and get it altered down to size 10? The dress costs $300, and alterations will cost minimum $200.

The bride tried the dress on at David's Bridal today, and it sounds like it will cost at least $50 to bring the dress down two sizes, while the majority of the alteration cost (~$150) is for hemming the length, which will be necessary on any dress. Is it unreasonable to spend nearly as much fixing the dress as the dress itself costs? Any pitfalls of turning a plus-size dress into a standard-size dress?

Also, please weigh in if these numbers sound off and it would make more sense to get alterations elsewhere.

posted by crazy with stars to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (19 answers total)

Well, if you're going to pay $150 for alterations on any dress because of the length, the extra $50 to bring it down to her size doesn't seem unreasonable. Nothing jumps out at me in the picture as something that would be a particular impediment to taking it in that much if the seamstress knows what she's doing.

How far away is the wedding? Is there time 2 check out a couple of other places and see if they have a similar style available in her size?
posted by The Underpants Monster at 1:05 AM on July 8, 2016 [1 favorite]

I think that all-in, $500 is very reasonable for a wedding dress to be honest. If this is The Dress, I wouldn't hesitate.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:40 AM on July 8, 2016 [22 favorites]

I guess if one were really determined, you could search around for a better deal on a similar dress or cheaper alterations or both, but as others have said $500 is a very reasonable budget for a wedding dress.

If she's that sure she likes this one, why faff around?
posted by tel3path at 1:43 AM on July 8, 2016

Is the 150 more because the skirt has so much detail on it? The skirt detailing looks difficult to hem to me. It's a beautiful dress, and if the seamstress is sure it can be done, I'd go for it. Be sure to pick shoes before hemming. With heels, it may be less required than you'd think.
posted by Kalmya at 3:54 AM on July 8, 2016

Best answer: That dress looks beautiful and a huge amount of work to hem -- here's a summary. It sounds reasonable to me.
posted by warriorqueen at 4:21 AM on July 8, 2016 [1 favorite]

I think that hem would be altered by lifting it at the waistband.

Also, did she try on an actual size 14W? Because wedding gowns run small; there's no give to the material and we're not used to that in these days of tshirts and stretch jeans.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 5:20 AM on July 8, 2016 [6 favorites]

Can't see why the extra $50 to have it taken down to her size would be an issue. As long as the seamstress is confident that it will come out looking right, I don't see what the problem is. $500 sounds pretty reasonable by the standards of wedding dresses. This seems like a no-brainer to me. Is there some other reason why you're on the fence about this?
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 5:29 AM on July 8, 2016

The pricing seems reasonable. Altering the skirt part to fit shouldn't be too hard for a professional seamstress, I'd be more worried about the bodice as adjusting the bust size up or down could well throw out the way the straps sit a lot may depend on how well endowed the bride to be is and of the to is draped or fitted. I can't tell from the photo on my phone but the top may well have to be pulled apart and remade to fit right. But then again it may not make sure the price quoted includes getting all parts of the dress fitted, not just length and a quick size adjustment.

Not an expert but a large busted bride whose dress never did fit right in the bodice for the opposite reason despite being told it was an easy fix.
posted by wwax at 6:09 AM on July 8, 2016 [5 favorites]

I would find a good seamstress who can copy the dress. For $500 you should be able to get the dress made for the bride.
posted by shaarog at 6:20 AM on July 8, 2016 [6 favorites]

I had almost the same problem, I bought my dress on clearance for roughly $400 in a size 14. At the time I was somewhere between an 8 and a 10 in wedding sizes. I paid $100 to a seamstress friend of mine to do alterations and it fit like a glove on the day. $500 total is not unreasonable, and the tailoring really did make me feel completely wonderful on the day because it was altered to fit MY size 8/10 frame, not the standard 8/10 frame. Get the tailoring, it will be worth it.
posted by picklesthezombie at 6:25 AM on July 8, 2016 [3 favorites]

The conversation should be with the seamstress. I'd also be especially concerned about the bodice. For each part that needs an alteration, I'd specifically ask how it will be done and if the seamstress thinks it will look good. The straps, the bust, the connection at the skirt, the skirt detailing, etc..
posted by amanda at 6:33 AM on July 8, 2016 [4 favorites]

Hmm, 2nding waxx - for $50, I'm betting they're just going to do straight seams down the sides of the bodice, vs taking it apart and properly refitting it (if it needs that, which it might not).
posted by cotton dress sock at 8:36 AM on July 8, 2016

The pricing is reasonable.

But the real question is whether the layers on the dress will fall right once it's brought down in size. The bride really needs to take her question to a good seamstress, one who specializes in wedding dresses. Even if she is going to choose to use the David's Bridal seamstress, they are only going to say "yes, it will look good" because they are trying to make a sale. She should discuss it with one or two independent seamstresses, and find out what concerns they would have, or how exactly they would make the alterations, and then go back and with more knowledgeable questions for the DB seamstress.
posted by vignettist at 8:42 AM on July 8, 2016 [2 favorites]

I wouldn't get the alterations at David's Bridal. I'd buy the dress and take it to the best professional seamstress I could find.

$500 is a good price for a traditional wedding dress.
posted by onecircleaday at 9:11 AM on July 8, 2016 [3 favorites]

Plus size designs make compromises to try to make larger people look better. That dress has a bit of that look, although I'm not a seamstress and can't exactly explain why. Something about the amount of fabric used across the bust and waistband.

I'm convinced your friend can find a dress that is more flattering to her, as a non-plus-sized person, and which would need less adjustment too.
posted by zadcat at 9:12 AM on July 8, 2016 [1 favorite]

Seconding that the price question is secondary to the issue of whether this dress can be altered to look good on someone ~2+ sizes smaller. It's not just hemming-- that bodice has a very specific shape that's built in with lots of complicated draping of fabric, so downsizing it to fit an altogether smaller torso (differently-shaped bust, different bust-to-waist ratio, possibly different shoulder width, etc., etc.) sounds kind of like an architectural nightmare that might not even be possible given the existing structures of boning, etc. that give the dress its current structure.

I tend to agree that there are dresses like this out there that will fit the bride better in their native state, but if she goes with this one, definitely talk through the planned process of alterations with the seamstress before agreeing. Make sure they have a good idea of how the dress "works" structurally around the bodice and a solid plan for what can be changed and how the end product will fit-- otherwise I'd be worried, as someone upthread said, that they're just planning on quick-and-dirty sewing the side seams narrower, which will end up looking super weird even if it technically fits in measurement terms.
posted by Bardolph at 10:35 AM on July 8, 2016

Looking at this from a different angle...what exactly does she like about the dress? I have seen very similar dresses that are strapless for smaller brides. If she found a strapless one, could a seamstress add the halter strap? That would require less drastic alterations (aside from the hem).

See if she can narrow down what she loves about the dress and if those features are available in anything else. I also think she needs to talk to a couple of seamstresses who can actually make a wedding gown. They can tell you how realistic it is to bring it down a couple of sizes. (She also needs to try it on with the proper bra as that could add to the overall sizing).

However, $500 is a great price for a modern dress. I would just worry about it looking the same after being significantly altered. There are some amazing seamstresses out there who can work magic though!
posted by MultiFaceted at 12:13 PM on July 8, 2016 [2 favorites]

The bride tried the dress on at David's Bridal today, and it sounds like it will cost at least $50 to bring the dress down two sizes

It's a 14W, not just a 14, so it's not just ~2 sizes smaller, but about 4. (A 14W is equivalent to about an 18 in non-plus sizes.) "Women's" sizes also tend to have more room in the bust and to be cut wider than non-plus sizes.

I'd be extremely worried about a tailor charging only $50 to remake a plus-sized bodice into a non-plus-sized bodice. I'd be less worried if the dress were a straight-size gown that was just too big. As others have said, if it's possible, I'd ask a non-David's Bridal tailor for their opinion.
posted by lazuli at 9:00 AM on July 9, 2016

Response by poster: Thanks for the advice, everyone. The validation of the alteration costs is much appreciated.

As you correctly assessed, she's primarily concerned about whether a plus-sized dress will still look good when brought down to a standard size. She's going to keep looking for a dress that has the features she likes on this dress, and this can be the backup option.
posted by crazy with stars at 9:54 PM on July 10, 2016