When you choose your prom dress, it’s best to try it on in person. Online shopping can often be a disappointing game of expectations versus reality and can result in a lot of returns and reordering. Getting to a local dress shop is the best option.
More and more brands are putting their collections online so you can scope out this year’s looks ahead of time, but let you search for in-person retailers near you. Sherri Hill is one of our favorite formal wear designers with a fun and vibrant prom collection you can check out online and shop in person.
When shopping, you can start by choosing dress silhouettes that make you feel confident. This is your special night, you should wear something that makes you feel bold and celebrates you.
Always remember that it’s better to size up your dress for the largest measurement on your body. It’s easier to take in a dress in loose areas than to try and add more fabrics to a tight spot.
Most Common Prom Dress Alterations
As long as you buy a dress that mostly fits in the parts you love, there are only a few areas that typically need adjustment. Some are harder to fix than others.
Hemming
Shortening a dress that’s too long is one of the most common alternations for a prom dress. This can be a simple matter of turning up an existing hem by an inch or two if your dress doesn’t have too many layers. If you need to reduce your hem length by a significant amount, you may want to cut off a few inches of fabric before turning it over and stitching it down.
A thick, multi-layered skirt may be time consuming and complicated to work on, so unless you’re a confident seamstress, that’s probably for the professionals. You can take your dress to your local tailor. Many dry cleaners will also have tailors on staff. Avoid a mermaid cut if you think hemming is going to be necessary. So much of the design is in the edges and you don’t want to cut it all off.
Size Adjustment
If your dress is too loose, the process to fix that is called “taking it in.” This is easier than trying to make a dress larger because you or the tailor would need to find a matching fabric. Taking in a dress usually involves creating a new seam, using less fabric.
If you need your dress taken in, the tailor will have you put it on, then they will typically pin the areas with too much fabric so they can mark where the new seams will be.
Some tailors may be able add a lace-up panel to the back of the dress so it can be tightened and adjusted. Adding a corset back can help if a dress is too tight, as well or if your size fluctuates.
Necklines, Armholes, and Slits
A few other common changes people request to make their prom dress more comfortable are changes to the neckline or armholes. These can be somewhat more complicated depending on the materials and construction technique of the dress. Usually it’s best to leave these structural changes to the professionals.
Necklines and armholes can both be cut down for comfort. The shape of necklines can also be altered or filled in with additional material such as lace or chiffon fabrics.
Leg slits can also be added to make a skirt easier to move in. Slits can also be closed or shortened if you don’t want to show as much leg.
Get a Perfect Fit with Prom Dress Alterations
It’s fine if your dress isn’t perfect off-the-rack. What’s more important is to see the potential of a dress. Choosing a dress that fits almost right is a good place to start to require fewer changes from your or our tailor. Buy a size that adequately fits your largest measurement, whether that be your bust, waist, or hips and take it in from there.
With a few careful changes, you make your dress fit perfectly. It’s a chance to develop your own skills or develop your relationship with your local tailor and look fabulous.
