Casablanca modifications

[hoofbeats95]

What kind of modifications can casablanca do to a dress? They don''t have contact info online. Can they move the waist at all? Or make the dress flare out higher up? IS that too risky?

I''ve been dress shopping much to my dismay. I''m the heaviest I''ve ever been and this is depressing. I fell in LOVE with a dress in the store last night. My mom did too. I was soooo excited. When we got home and look at the pictures I looked HORRIBLE. I mean just awful. I literally cried for the rest of the night. It was a size too small, but that shouldnt'' matter that much. I could get it zipped. It just starts to flair out too low. My hips look awful. Why do I look ok. . . even GREAT in person and awful in the pictures? I was so disappointed I went to bed and cried myself to sleep. It''s so hard to find dresses in my size that I can try on. All the sample sizes are so small. I''m worn out from looking. Do I keep looking for this style in a different dress and hope that I can find one to try one? It''s casablanca 1897. The problem isn''t finding similar dresses, it''s finding them in my size to try on!

 

[Loves Vintage]

hoofbeats95 - I hope your feeling a little better now. Buying a dress can be VERY stressful! It will all work out in the end, just the way it''s supposed to, so try to remember that!

I don''t know what changes Casablanca can make. I would suggest going back to the store, try on the dress again and talk to a seamstress there about your concerns and see what modifications she might be able to make, or if she thinks they will even be necessary once you have the dress in your size. Bring the photos too if you think they will help you explain your concerns.

It is a very lovely dress. Hope you don''t mind if I post it? Is this it?

 

[laughwithme]

My dress is a Casablanca and I requested several changes. The bridal store owner told me that Casablanca will do almost anything you want, for a fee of course. I had the back lowered 1.5 inches into a deeper "V". I was also very close to requesting a sweetheart neckline but decided against it.

My hip to waist ratio is much smaller than the average woman. I have no hips or butt, and even though the store owner took my measurements every several inches down my body, and ordered my size based on that, the dress arrived very baggy in my hip area. I was told that Casablanca can''t make changes in terms of cinching certain places, or letting other places out. I was told they really only do cosmetic changes, like the neckline, or increasing/decreasing beading, etc. As for making the dress "flare" higher up - I can''t tell by your email if thats cosmetic or structural. Is the "flare" provided by something like extra layers of fabric protruding off the dress? If so, that sounds cosmetic - and Casablanca could probably do that. Or is the flare caused by the way that the dress lays on the body, in terms of where it hugs the body? If so, I doubt Casablanca can do that (and with my own dress buying experience, they didn''t. My alterationist did do a fabulous job, however, in taking in the sides quite a bit so that the flare, and overall effect of the dress, was completely different than the day it came into the store.)

I think your dress shop owner may have a lot of insight, or possibly Casablanca has a phone ### you could call with your questions.

I wish you the best of luck and a more pleasant experience going forward!

 

[lucyandroger]

Awww, hoofbeats...I''m sorry you''re feeling down. I''ve definitely had those moments where I think I look great and then see the pictures afterwards

But don''t beat yourself up about it! When is your wedding? Even losing just a couple pounds would probably make you feel much better about yourself. You can use this as a kick start to getting healthy.

About the dress...it probably didn''t flare in the right place beause it was a bit too small in the hips. Once you get the dress in your size, I''m sure it will look lovely.

 

[hoofbeats95]

I can''t find a number to call Casablanca. There are other dresses on the site that would probably fit me better, but I really don''t think that I can order a dress that I can''t atleast try on to some extent.

By the flare, I mean that the dress hugs the hips for longer than I''d like. I have crappy fat hips and I need the dress to start to come away higher up. I don''t know enough about alterations to tell if I could order a size bigger than I need so that it could be altered how I''d like. Even if I have to pay more. It''d be worth it. I adored that dress. I was SO happy!

Now I''m so depressed.

And yes, the diet starts today. I have to go pretty much gluten free to lose weight. I just discovered that in a detox diet last month. So it''s going to suck. But I can do it. The wedding is April 2011, so I don''t need to order till the fall.

 

[zipzapgirl]

By the flare, I mean that the dress hugs the hips for longer than I''d like. I have crappy fat hips and I need the dress to start to come away higher up. I don''t know enough about alterations to tell if I could order a size bigger than I need so that it could be altered how I''d like.

I think you should consider other options. This dress is made in a snug A-line style, not a traditional A-line, so if you don''t want it a little snug in the hips, it''s just not going to do what you want. This is a compromise style for someone who wants a little bit of A-line and a little bit of fit&flare/trumpet.

I''d look for traditional A-lines. Every dress is going to look better when it comes in in your size and is altered to your body. I think it''s just going to take a little more imagination and a small leap of faith between trying on the sample and ordering. Also, maybe you could find a store that carries larger samples so you can go in without feeling that every dress is too small. If you find a good consultant, this could really help the process because they have a better eye for what''s going to work. You''ve got plenty of time, so hang in there and know that there are a TON of other girls going through the same thing.

 

[hoofbeats95]

Date: 5/11/2010 12:05:47 PM
Author: zipzapgirl
By the flare, I mean that the dress hugs the hips for longer than I''d like. I have crappy fat hips and I need the dress to start to come away higher up. I don''t know enough about alterations to tell if I could order a size bigger than I need so that it could be altered how I''d like.

I think you should consider other options. This dress is made in a snug A-line style, not a traditional A-line, so if you don''t want it a little snug in the hips, it''s just not going to do what you want. This is a compromise style for someone who wants a little bit of A-line and a little bit of fit&flare/trumpet.

I''d look for traditional A-lines. Every dress is going to look better when it comes in in your size and is altered to your body. I think it''s just going to take a little more imagination and a small leap of faith between trying on the sample and ordering. Also, maybe you could find a store that carries larger samples so you can go in without feeling that every dress is too small. If you find a good consultant, this could really help the process because they have a better eye for what''s going to work. You''ve got plenty of time, so hang in there and know that there are a TON of other girls going through the same thing.

Yes it is a snug A-line. Can someone explain the difference in an A line and an empire waist? I want more shape than the empire waist gives, but I can''t seem to find anything between that and a snug A-line.

 

[laughwithme]

Date: 5/11/2010 3:27:55 PM
Author: hoofbeats95

Date: 5/11/2010 12:05:47 PM

Author: zipzapgirl


Yes it is a snug A-line. Can someone explain the difference in an A line and an empire waist? I want more shape than the empire waist gives, but I can''t seem to find anything between that and a snug A-line.

I''m no fashion-ista, but an empire waist cinches right under your chest, and then the fabric flows freely - so there''s not much snugness at all, and they tend to be very flowy and beach-y dresses. Empire waist is a very distinct look. A line covers a lot more. An A line can mean almost any dress with a subtle A-shaped flare from the waist down. Many dresses are A-line. You could definitely good more info on these looks by simply typing in "A line dress" or "Empire waist dress" to see the difference.

I have seen a lot of A-lines that are not snug throughout, but rather just around the waist which is a great look. Have you tried something like that? It gives you a defined waist yet hides from the hips down, so it can be really flattering.

 

[LtlFirecracker]

It is kind of a cross between an a-line and a trumpet style. If you are worried about you hips, I would ask them to modify it to a more traditional a-line skirt (it will flair near the waist). That is a very flattering style. It will draw attention to your upper half.

 

[Clairitek]

Date: 5/11/2010 10:07:00 PM
Author: LtlFirecracker
It is kind of a cross between an a-line and a trumpet style. If you are worried about you hips, I would ask them to modify it to a more traditional a-line skirt (it will flair near the waist). That is a very flattering style. It will draw attention to your upper half.

I agree with the between a-line and fit n flare style. If you want to mask your hips a bit go for full-fledge a-line or empire waist. It seems like Casablanca does a lot of this drop-wasited modified a-line stuff. StephBolt on PS has a Casablanca gown that is an almost identical shape from the chest down. Hers is a deep v neck though instead of spaghetti straps.

 

[CasaBlanca]

Sorry to thread jack, but I thought you were talking about modifying me! Whew. (like I need more therapy).

Sorry I can''t help with your question, just wanted to add a chuckle if you have the time to!

Honey can you go back with a better camera? If you felt good in person and your mom loved it, then I say the camera is all wonky. The lighting is off too. Don''t toss in the towel just yet, go back and revisit that dress that made you so happy.

And further more, those so called "crappy hips" are loved by your finance. He loves them so much he wants to see them for a lifetime! And they aren''t crappy! I don''t know you but I assure you they aren''t! Now stop that!

 

[Deelight]

Hoofbeats it probablly does not help that the dress is slightly too small because where the proportions are meant to sit it would just be slightly off however I think that dress is beautiful and once ordered in your size and alterted it is likely to fit just how you want it to .

I don't know if you have tried this dress on but it is really similar to the one you posted the Casablanca 1860 it is also really lovely and looks to be a more true a-line

casablanca back

bodice

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I was hoping to try that one on but no one I went to in Australia had it in stock

 

[violet3]

Oh, i''m so sorry you aren''t feeling better about the dress shopping. i had a similar experience - i really wanted to be thinner when i went, and i just wasn''t. I also had the smae experience with the picture taking - some of the gowns i loved just didn''t film well. In the end, I went with a dress that i thought looked good in pictures and in person. I worried that even if i loved it in person, i wouldn''t look great in my pics.

I think you should keep looking for something that photos well and you feel great in -- have you thought about David''s Bridal? i know they don''t have the highest end gowns, but you can always try on your size there, and i am sure they have some lovely true A-line dresses that you could try. it might at least give you an idea of what you like on YOU.

((hugs))

 

[hoofbeats95]

I did go to David''s already. They didn''t have much like this that I saw.

What about this dress? http://www.casablancabridal.com/files/products/148/1/big.jpg

Does that appear to flare sooner?

I just don''t think I can risk ordering a dress I can''t try on

Which makes some of these older casa styles probably not an option. Casa can mix and match parts of dresses, but I''m not really sure I know what that means?

 

[Clairitek]

That dress is a-line with a natural waist, as opposed to the other one you posted that has a dropped waist.

To help with your search you can filter by silhouette (a-line) and sometimes waist (natural) on websites like Project Wedding and The Knot.

 

[brandithib]

This one will also be snug on the hips. It just starts to flair right under the curve of the hip. You''ll be okay!! You have time to find the perfect dress and you WILL find it. I have a Casablanca A-line because I didn''t like the way the trumpets and semi-trumpets looked on me. I''ll post a picture of a Casablanca with a classic a-line flair and the look of empire waist. What I love about this dress is that it doesn''t flair right under the chest like the empire waist normally does. However, it still has the flattering appeal of an empire waist but flairs at the belly button. I''m definitely a fan of the empire waist but I find one has to be careful since some empire waists can give the appearance of a larger belly.

 

[OUpearlgirl]

Hi hoofbeats!

First of all, you won''t find a number for Casablanca. They don''t directly sell to the public. You can only contact them if you carry their line. What you CAN do is this. Go to a retailer that carries Casablanca. Once you find a specific dress that you want to make changes to they can call Casablanca and ask. I don''t know where they draw the line with changes. Here are things I have seen them change

-Neckline, either make it sweetheart when it isn''t or vice versa
-Add a strap or sleeve that continues with the look of the dress
-Make a matching bolero
-Lengthen a train
-Lower the back
-Add a corset in back
-Add more beading
-Add buttons

Things they have said "no" to:
-Adding pockets
-Changing color options from those listed
-Removing applique and beading in large amounts

So, you really won''t know for sure until you have someone call and ask! Good luck, if you have any other questions feel free to ask.