Can someone explain chapel trains to me?

[ringster]

hi i''ve been having some deep thoughts lately ...

i see alot of chapel train dresses but wondering how this works. it seems like they are too short for a bustle (maybe i am wrong) but then how do you manage this train during a 5 hour reception? do you just let it drag? how do you walk or dance with it dragging around?

inquiring minds want to know

 

[sumbride]

small bustle. I had one. It''s nice because it doesn''t make your butt look big because it doesn''t come up that high!

 

[ringster]

thanks sumbride - sounds good to me ! so if the dress is described as chapel train will it come with the bustle do-dads or does the person who is altering it have to add that in.

i also ran across a site that talks about brush train, court trains, etc. can a dress that is a chapel be easily converted to a brush or court train? i would think so but not sure.

http://www.weddingsolutions.com/fashion_and_beauty/Dress_Trains_Brush.html

and does anyone know the pros and cons of each? i would prefer something with minimal fuss and minimal chance of me tripping and falling but with a bit of a dramatic flair.

 

[Amandine]

Date: 2/6/2008 9:24:54 PM
Author: ringster
thanks sumbride - sounds good to me ! so if the dress is described as chapel train will it come with the bustle do-dads or does the person who is altering it have to add that in.

No, unfortunately, most dresses do not come with the hooks/ties/buttons that create a bustle. The loop on the underside of the train is sometimes mistaken for this, but it is only to assist in hanging up the dress. It is added during alterations, for several reasons: one, there are multiple types of bustles that are possible; two, your body/height/shoes can make a difference in where and how you want the bustle done.

i also ran across a site that talks about brush train, court trains, etc. can a dress that is a chapel be easily converted to a brush or court train? i would think so but not sure.

Can it be converted? Depends on your dress and the hem. Some dresses just have too much going on in the way of lace, beading, etc. to be adjusted shorter in the train. Dresses are sometimes designed to be hemed from the waist because of this, which is something most people don''t realize. Some manufacturers will change the train length, upon request. This can cost extra, but not always. Sometimes your seamstress can shorten your train, or make a permanent sort of "half" bustle, to get some of it up and out of the way, and then another to get it all up. This can depend again on the dress, and the competence of your seamstress.



http://www.weddingsolutions.com/fashion_and_beauty/Dress_Trains_Brush.html


and does anyone know the pros and cons of each? i would prefer something with minimal fuss and minimal chance of me tripping and falling but with a bit of a dramatic flair.

Chapels are actually a very common train length, and much more manageable then you might think. Of course, I might think that after working in a shop and with costumes.

I knew the "brush" train as a sweep, and it is also very lovely, but very minimal and almost not there. If your dress is informal (without a train at all), and very long on you, you can actually have your seamstress convert it to a brush/sweep train during alterations. From what you seem to be speaking of, court or chapel seems good. But, seriously, just try some dresses on and figure out what you like for your day and venue. My train (dress #1!!

) actually has a train longer then I wanted, and I am considering doing the "half" bustle to get some of it up off the floor. Who knows what your dream gown will have, and it may be adjustable, you may also surprise yourself in what you like best!

 

[ringster]

thanks so much Amandine! this helps ALOT! i agree i need to try some of these on. since i am short, i am looking for dresses that don''t have too much going at the bottom because i have to get alot taken up.

thank you!!

 

[monarch64]

My gown (4 years ago or so) had a chapel length train that was detachable. It was the best of both worlds...I didn''t have to worry about a bustle because it just detached from hooks on the back of my gown (the hooks could not possibly be seen unless someone was picking around the embroidery on my backside, lol).

My gown was by Mon Cheri...surely there are others out there nowadays with a detachable train. HTH!

 

[zoebartlett]

Date: 2/6/2008 9:11:08 PM
Author: sumbride
small bustle. I had one. It's nice because it doesn't make your butt look big because it doesn't come up that high!

Small bustles...I REALLY like that! I wasn't sure what I thought when my dress came in and there was a small train (which I didn't think the sample I tried on had), but I got used to the idea. While I think a full bustle can look great, I, for one, am happy to go with a smaller one.

ETA: My, my, it's really early. I had to go back twice to fix typos. Must wake up.

I never knew there were so many different bustle types. You learn something new every day...

 

[sumbride]

Date: 2/6/2008 9:24:54 PM
Author: ringster
thanks sumbride - sounds good to me ! so if the dress is described as chapel train will it come with the bustle do-dads or does the person who is altering it have to add that in.

I don''t think any of them come with the bustle in place because it really depends on what the individual bride wants and what fits on her... i.e. depends on your height. Mine was a single hook put in by my tailor and was simple enough for him to say "It goes here" and sew it on. I didn''t really know ahead of time exactly how it was going to work... I just depended on him to know, and since he sees a lot of dresses, he knew what to do. And then he had to teach my sister how to bustle it.

 

[ringster]

thanks guys for the input! i''m pretty petite so i think a small bustle would be better for me. but i''m going to try some dress styles on this weekend and see how they look on me.

 

[anchor31]

The Alfred Angelo site says my dress (the beaded version of this dress) has a chapel train and David''s Bridal saysit has a sweep train. so I don''t know exactly what length it is! I guess since I''m so short it''ll be more of a chapel train. Either way, it''s not long enough to have a bustle done at the hips, so it''s just going to be a small bustle.