Altering clothes to allow for big bust?

LolitaLove

I'm really hoping someone can help me here. I've been shopping for a dress for new years eve, and I'm already despairing. My bust is not in proportion to the rest of me and I usually have to wear three sizes up to accomodate it. My waist is 28 inches, my bust is 42 inches. I wear a size 10-12 bottom, but would need an 16-18 on top to fit over my boobs. So if I wear a dress it is usually shapeless and way too big. I really want to wear a body con dress, but it's gonna look stupid if it's three sizes too big. Is there any way I can alter the dress to just allow the bust out? I don't really want to go to a taylor as the dresses I'm looking at are all in the sales at bargain prices and a taylor would probably cost more than the dress. But I want to have something fit for once. Anyone have any ideas? Any advice would be appreciated, thanks and merry christmas x

Bettie

LolitaLove wrote: »

I'm really hoping someone can help me here. I've been shopping for a dress for new years eve, and I'm already despairing. My bust is not in proportion to the rest of me and I usually have to wear three sizes up to accomodate it. My waist is 28 inches, my bust is 42 inches. I wear a size 10-12 bottom, but would need an 16-18 on top to fit over my boobs. So if I wear a dress it is usually shapeless and way too big. I really want to wear a body con dress, but it's gonna look stupid if it's three sizes too big. Is there any way I can alter the dress to just allow the bust out? I don't really want to go to a taylor as the dresses I'm looking at are all in the sales at bargain prices and a taylor would probably cost more than the dress. But I want to have something fit for once. Anyone have any ideas? Any advice would be appreciated, thanks and merry christmas x

Well I am no dressmaker but would have thought it best to get a dress to fit the bust - then adjust the rest by fixing the darts/taking in.

Softstuff

I'm the same shape, 10 at the waist, 16 at the top. If you want to alter something, you need to buy a 16/18 that fits at the bust and then take it in at the waist. Not a task for a beginner to try if you want it to look good, but I don't know how much sewing you've done (I've done it a couple of times, but am an experienced sewer).

Your better plan is to find a dress in about a 12, so that it's not too big around the waist, that has a crossover top at the bust. You find then that the top will cover the boobs, but might gape a bit. At this point you can use a little press stud to sew on the gaping bit and clip it (hope that makes sense).

My only dress now is a cross over that I can cinch tight at the waist but it covers the chest.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Having experience of adjusting clothes myself, I can promise you that getting a tailor to alter it for you is definitely worth the relatively small expense.

It's certainly cheaper than potentially ruining the things.

sweetilemon

For future its worth looking into pepperberry. Had a couple of tops from them, their sizes are normal but have petite med, lrg or xlrg ( or something like that ) in accordance for your bust proportion. They are owned by bravissimo.

the_cat

http://biubiu.pl/category/en/sukienki

A other company specialising in clothes for the well endowed! Not used them myself yet, but recommended on another site I use. Cheaper than pepperberry.

Seakay

I think that a wrap dress is going to be easier to deal with as there is so little time left, but how about looking for a dressmaking, tailoring or alterations course to attend in the new year? I think that you'll recoup your outlay very easily and look fantastic as well! As more people are interested in vintage clothing there are more courses on alterations and customising then there used to be, and in some areas these are free or very cheap.

Peggybabcot

This is what I do for a living so here goes. Firstly buy the dress to fit the bust. Try it on wearing the correct underwear. Get someone to pin each side seam (assuming no zip) as equally symmetrical both sides as much as poss with the actual seam as the fold when you pinch it to pin (if that makes sense?) then turn the garment inside out and mark with chalk or a pen where the pins are. Do not unpick this will act to hold the dress together whilst you sew it but do remove the pins. Start at the bust and then sew down following the chalk marks to the hem. It's better if you can open the hem up enough to sew all the way down then re hem when you've done. Try the dress on for fit and if alls well trim off the excess and zig zag to prevent fraying. Re sew hem et voila. Alternatively as a ball park figure with no zip expect to pay around £18 for a non lined dress done professionally. Hope this has helped x

maryb

I have large ladies as well but my problem is not a small waist - boy, would I love to have that problem - but narrow shoulders. Manufacturers always think that when your middle age spreads a bit your shoulders come out in sympathy like a 1970s trade unionist! I am a fairly experienced sewer and I have found that buying a Size 12 pattern and doing a large bust adjustment (lots of tutorials on the web, just Google it) plus, ahem, a large waist adjustment, gives me a really good fit round the armholes and you can't see my bra if I am wearing a sleeveless dress.

In the meantime I agree, wrap dresses are very forgiving as long as you can keep them closed. Another thing I do is buy a spaghetti strap teeshirt top in a toning colour to wear under the dress and that keeps me decent even if the wrap top flaps open. All the shops seemed to be getting summer stock in so you ought to be able to find one

zaxdog

Great suggestions from all of the OPs but have you thought about not a dress but a pencil skirt and a corset style top? Would accentuate your fugure and no need for tailoring.

zzzLazyDaisy

You can also get lace inserts like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fashion-Forms-Cami-Too-Camisole-Lace-Insert-for-Low-Cut-Tops-/271114462041?pt=UK_Charms_Wristbands&var=&hash=item3f1fae6359

That clip onto your bra straps, to preserve your modesty