help me find some dress pics to show for alterations

[kcoursolle]

Hi all, I think pictures are a great way to get what you want. When I get alterations I want to show her some pics of how I want my dress altered. Right now I have a simple ivory satin strapless gown that is two sizes too big and too long.

For the front, I want to have it altered so that it is fitted at the waist and somewhat fitted at the hips (not A line basically, but not too tight either), but I don''t want it to flare out like a mermaid gown at the bottom. Instead, I want it to be kind of like a column sheath dress style. The length will be just above the floor so that you can see the toes of my shoes peeking out. Can you help me find a pic of this type of gown? Sorry that I''m probably not doing a great job of describing it...which is why I need the pics to show the tailor.

For the back, I want it to have a very tiny train that isn''t long. I''m having a really hard time finding pictures of small short trains.

Thanks so much for your help, I really appreciate it!

 

[E B]

Hmm.

Kind of like this?

*Oops! Didn't attach*

 

[E B]

This should work!

 

[E B]

Yay! Here''s the back:

 

[kcoursolle]

Thanks for your help! Except for the different material and straps, it''s getting pretty close. I like the train on the back, but I think I''d like it even smaller. A tiny little cute train, but I haven''t found any pics I like. The front is pretty good, it''s fitted at the hips without being tight. I''d like the bottom to look more like a column sheath style. Would that be hard to walk in??

 

[kcoursolle]

This is the closest pic of what I''d like the front to look like I could find. the waist, chest, and hips are perfect, but the bottom is not what I would like. I would still like some more pics of small trains to get some options. I''m not sure how I''d like that yet.

 

[VRBeauty]

Normally a column style skirt would have a slit in the back for ease of movement. Without a slit, I think you would need to provide extra fullness in the back -- an inset for the train, or a "partial mermaid" in the back only would accomplish that. The bridal dress pictured above kind of has that. A lot depends too on the fabric. A stiffer fabric could be a little difficult to walk in. That''s probably why the dress shown on Nicole Kidman (I think?) is cut a little higher in front. With a softer fabric you could have the dress fitted through the thighs, allow a little fullness all around at and below the knees, and it could still have a columnar look because of the way the fabric hangs.

 

[mercoledi]

The dress EBree posted is my dress! It has a natural waist and is in between a slim A-line and a column, and is suprisingly flattering. I don't think it's hard to walk in, but mine is still too long too! It's not at all binding around the hips.
The kind of train you want is called a sweep train. There's a pretty good picture here.

Other dress shots for shape - front back

There are other gowns on that page that are about the shape you want. Good luck!

 

[kcoursolle]

it''s a beautiful dress mercoledi! Thanks for the extra pictures.

 

[MelissaSue]

I know in this pic the dress LOOKS kind of trumpety.. but its really not.. I have seen it on real brides...

http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridal_gowns_detail.jsp?stid=1889&prodgroup=10

My wedding dress was a straight skirt just above my toes.. my train was pretty long though..

 

[MelissaSue]

http://www.edenbridals.com/index.php?cPath=30_42

I think this is what you are looking for.. yeah.. its touching the floor on this girl.. but youre gonna have trouble finding bridal model pics with the gown not touching the floor..
If you click on it you can see the back too. I think that is exactly what you''re looking for..

 

[MelissaSue]

UGH wrong link.. sorry
HERE
http://www.edenbridals.com/product_info.php?products_id=824

 

[kcoursolle]

MelissaSue, Perfect!!! Those pics are just what I was looking for! It''s more narrow than an A-line, but not a trumpet, perfect. Thank you so much for finding those for me. I think you are right about the train, a sweep train is probably what I want. Just a little bitty train in the back. I wouldn''t mind a little detailing with it though, maybe coming out of the waist instead of just being longer in the back.

Now I just have to find a pick of the perfect train and I''m set! Anyone have any back pictures of little bitty trains?

Thanks so much!

 

[mercoledi]

Like this one? It's styled to look like it's comming off of a sash, but there's no sash!

The back of this vera is really cool, it's like a faux bustle (click on alternate views, then the picture on the right).

This one makes a little ruffle.

This Vera is gathered, it might keep the column shape of your gown better.

Your classic fish-tail train where the fabric is inset into the back of the skirt.

And finally this company actually sells sashes and trains separately. It's not your everyday train, but with some dresses they look really cool. Good luck!

 

[mercoledi]

oops! let''s try that first one again! Much better.

 

[kcoursolle]

oooh, thanks mercoledi. These are some great options. I like the verawang mini bustle train, very cute indeed. I think my favorite was actually the ABS bluefly train. It''s a little bitty cute train, love it! I could easily do something like that, just to give the dress a little something extra. Maybe they could have the same style, but have the train coming out of the waist instead of lower. Would that still look good?

 

[mercoledi]

Hmm, do you mean the one with crossed straps in the back? Putting that kind of train into a column gown is might change the shape of the skirt from the front, but I''m not sure...

Any of the resident sew-ers?

 

[kcoursolle]

good point, it could make the skirt look more A-line...which I don''t want. I would be fine with the lower train if that''s the case, it''s a very cute train. I like that it''s small. I won''t be tripping on it all night.

 

[ladykemma]

can you show us the original dress?

 

[kcoursolle]

Sure, here is a picture of the front. I''m holding it back because it''s so big (about 2 sizes too big). The seamstress will have to bring it in. Also, it''s very long. I think there is just enough extra length to make a small sweep train. I''m wearing heels, so that will be about how much extra fabric there is to work with.

 

[mercoledi]

Oh, I remember now, you got that on super-discount. It''s really pretty. What about something gathered low on the back skirt to mimic the front? I''ll try to find pics of what I mean...

 

[ladykemma]

from a seamstress point of view, i could bring in the seams to make it fit you and hem the gown with a small train, but to make it columnar and to make a bustle and to make it come from the waist is involving taking the entire dress apart and starting over. it would be easier to start from scratch.

have you discussed this with the seamstress? good luck!

 

[kcoursolle]

Date: 9/5/2006 9:56:22 PM
Author: ladykemma
from a seamstress point of view, i could bring in the seams to make it fit you and hem the gown with a small train, but to make it columnar and to make a bustle and to make it come from the waist is involving taking the entire dress apart and starting over. it would be easier to start from scratch.

have you discussed this with the seamstress? good luck!

err, I''m not liking the idea of taking the whole thing apart! That would probably cost more than what I paid for the dress. I''d be fine with a small train without detail if it came to that, but I''m more set on the dress looking somewhat like a column or a very slim A-line. Would they have to take the whole thing apart to make it look like a column? How about if it looks like a column with a small train at the back, without detailing such as a bustle? Would this require major reconstruction and $$?? Thanks for your advice ladykemma!

 

[VRBeauty]

I assume the skirt has side seams? if so, they would not need to take the whole dress apart to reshape the skirt into a column. It''s also possible that there''s enough fullness in the back that the seamstress could fashion an insert from the extra fabric, or keep extra fullnes in the back panels only to get the look that you want. As LadyK said, now that you have good pictures of the effect you''re after, it''s time to see what the seamstress has to say.

Having said that, I really like the lines of the dress as it is right now!

 

[kcoursolle]

Thanks minms, but I''m actually holding the back tight because it''s really big. Right now it''s about 2 sizes too big. When I let go it just falls off.