Comments on: Bridal Fittings 101: advice from a former tailor shop employee

By: Ssafs

Ssafs — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:47:42 +0000

Many thanks to all of the professionals who have shared thier tips, advice and experiance with us. Its VERY much appreciated!!! Caroline thank you in particular for the estimate on a good tailors time. It definatly helped to explain the amount I had to pay in alterations for a dress.

The dress in question, I got from a formal dress salon and it started off 2 sizes 2 big. Then it needed hemmed (im very short), brought in from the size difference, it came with a jacket which was ohhhh about 8 inches too long in the arms? lolz ect. Was a lot of work, so I wasn't really complaining about the amount, just was a bit surprised (only other time Id gotten ad ress tailored was my prom dress that needed hemmed)

Stiletto, definatly thank you for the advice on having the undergarments ahead of time. I didnt for that dress and have yet to find something that fits comfortably (it requires, w/o the jacket, a strapless and Im a bit top heavy… lol yes i did see the post related to that) and looks right with it. Hopefully Ill find one eventually lolz, the good thing is it was fitted so that as long as I am careful (no running/jumping/bouncing for me lmao, at least not w/o an arm over the gals) it works w/o. I did get lucky, the lady who did the fitting had worked for a mensware store and fitted jackets to guys a lot so she was really able to help with my shoulders (they're rather large lolz) and she did mention the not looking down thing and why. Its always nice to have someone explain whys.

Again, my thanks to all of you for your helpful advice, I just wish id read it sooner!! lolz. *copys and pastes into a word doc so she can reference when she goes wedding dress shopping*

By: Tiomela

Tiomela — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:31:04 +0000

I so wish I had this before the nightmare issues with my dress.
Also, as for dress shops ordering the wrong dress, it happened to me. They quoted me $250 in alterations. Which reminds me I need to file a dispute with the BBB. Not the way I wanted to spend my weeks after the wedding.

By: Jenette Goldstein

Jenette Goldstein — Sun, 30 May 2010 17:36:56 +0000

Thanks for noting that the foundation fitting should be first on your list – especially if you are over a D cup, as are all of my clients. I can't tell you how many brides wait to the last minute to arrange for their undergarment then run into massive problems that could have been solved if they had followed your advice. Remember, just because it's your Special Day, the Laws of Gravity still apply to you!

By: Mouse

Mouse — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:58:35 +0000

This is such useful and important information. Thank you thank you! I'm linking to this post so that my readers can share the love.

By: Aria

Aria — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:15:31 +0000

Lucky cousin. A couple people I knew who used to work for DB were barely above minimum wage (technically better than minimum, but not by much) and never ever saw the client. They got the dress with sheet detailing how much needed to be taken in/let out/etc. and where.

By: Judith Oliver

Judith Oliver — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:53:34 +0000

Thanks for this great post! Very helpful and useful information for brides to be and good guidelines. Especially love that you spent time discussing alterations…this will be very hepful for brides to be!

By: Joi

Joi — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:17:40 +0000

Hey this is designer Joi from Dress Forms. I just want to clarify that the princess lasertron polka dotted gown in the picture is not an alteration, but a custom design. Good information for potential brides. My best piece of advice is be an educated consumer and plan ahead. Also, different things work for different people and different body sizes. Make sure whoever you work with will customize to you and not some preset ideas about fit, fashion, fabric etc. . .

By: Rachel H.(C)

Rachel H.(C) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 04:09:08 +0000

David's alteration folks make better than minimum wage, my 16 y.o. cousin works for them. And, at least at the one where she works, they have very high standards of work.

By: Kat

Kat — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:53:41 +0000

As a former bridal salon employee, I'm delighted with the comments on fit. Wedding dresses are their own beast. My usual spiel was, "Don't pay attention to the number on the tag in the back of your dress. This is entirely different from anything you've ever worn before."

The only other advice I would offer is to make sure your bridal foundations FIT. At the salon I worked in, I found it best to go up a band size on those long-line bras with the foam padding. So many women were upset to wear a 38 over a 36, but it greatly reduced the appearance of "back fat". If it's uncomfortable the day you try it on for 90 minutes, how good is it going to feel after 3 hours?

By: Aria

Aria — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:24:21 +0000

You're right. When ordering a knock-off from overseas for $150 including shipping, being given a quote of $200 to take up the hem and train, tighten up the straps, and take in the waist (and that's a low quote!), sounds high to bargain-hunters who don't understand how the state-side labor to alter a dress can cost more than the total cost of the foreign-labor-made dress.

Also the cost of mass-alterations from a place like David's, measurements taken by one person and alterations done by someone barely making minimum in the back, is going to be so much less than one-on-one, yet the cost many brides want for that quality service is mass pricing.