Tall Bride....where to find a dress?

[oshinbreez]

David''s son is getting married next May. His fiancee is having a terrible time trying to find a dress. Her problem is that she is 6''5"!!!! No place she has gone has anything that begins to give her an idea of what it would look like on her. I''ve told her she''ll have to have one custom made, but does anyone have any ideas where she could look? Or any designers?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Kit]

What size is she in street clothes?

My guess is that she''ll order a gown up a few sizes to accomodate the length in torso, then have it fitted to her. She can order extra length in probably almost any gown..many women have to do this. I am 5''8" and I had to (for a Vera Wang bm gown). Maybe she should just go into a bridal salon and ask them which dressmakers have an extra length or double extra length option??

I think that unless you''re a perfect size 6, 8, or 10, any time you go bridal gown shopping you really don''t know what the dress is going to look like on you because they sample sizes are so limited.

 

[njc]

I'm 6' and was lucky enough to not need extra length (barely) because I wore flats, but if I did, I would have needed longer. Everywhere we went and tried on dresses though we asked about length. Out of the probably 30 designers (give or take) I tried on, all were able to add length to the skirt. It was usually a standard length like 6". I know its not going to help her right now, but she should keep that in mind and ask when she tries things on.

As for how to picture the dress longer, I was able to bend my knees/squat and put my dress on the ground without distorting my upper body. I hope that makes sense. Another thought, kneeling on a chair or stool so the dress hits the ground. It might require finding the right stool and taking it to the store. Barefoot obviously to minimize height.

I dont know about if designers will make the torso longer, but fitted waists are something I have ALWAYS avoided since they never line up to my body (waist at my ribs, hips and my waist, etc). Also she should probably avoid anything with a waist band or seperation since that will hit higher. Dresses that have a corset back might be good because it is a cheap way to customize fit. As with any bride, try, try and try more dresses! I have always hated dress shopping, but wedding dress shopping was fairly painless compared.

HTH! I truely feel for her!!!

ETA: I'm also pretty "even" too. I have a long upper and lower body. I have seen some tall women that are all legs and some that are all body.

 

[kcoursolle]

A lot of the dresses offer "extra length" of 8 inches for an additional fee. So since the average gown is made for a 5''8 woman in modest heels, the extra inches will be for a 6''4 woman...which should be fine with flats.

 

[oshinbreez]

Date: 4/27/2007 3:11:10 PM
Author: Kit
What size is she in street clothes?


My guess is that she''ll order a gown up a few sizes to accomodate the length in torso, then have it fitted to her. She can order extra length in probably almost any gown..many women have to do this. I am 5''8'' and I had to (for a Vera Wang bm gown). Maybe she should just go into a bridal salon and ask them which dressmakers have an extra length or double extra length option??


I think that unless you''re a perfect size 6, 8, or 10, any time you go bridal gown shopping you really don''t know what the dress is going to look like on you because they sample sizes are so limited.

She wears size 14 in most clothes. I think that part of the problem is that when she tries something, the waist is under her breasts

Maybe she should call some places before wasting her time.

 

[oshinbreez]

Date: 4/27/2007 3:12:30 PM
Author: njc
I''m 6'' and was lucky enough to not need extra length (barely) because I wore flats, but if I did, I would have needed longer. Everywhere we went and tried on dresses though we asked about length. Out of the probably 30 designers (give or take) I tried on, all were able to add length to the skirt. It was usually a standard length like 6''. I know its not going to help her right now, but she should keep that in mind and ask when she tries things on.


As for how to picture the dress longer, I was able to bend my knees/squat and put my dress on the ground without distorting my upper body. I hope that makes sense. Another thought, kneeling on a chair or stool so the dress hits the ground. It might require finding the right stool and taking it to the store. Barefoot obviously to minimize height.


I dont know about if designers will make the torso longer, but fitted waists are something I have ALWAYS avoided since they never line up to my body (waist at my ribs, hips and my waist, etc). Also she should probably avoid anything with a waist band or seperation since that will hit higher. Dresses that have a corset back might be good because it is a cheap way to customize fit. As with any bride, try, try and try more dresses! I have always hated dress shopping, but wedding dress shopping was fairly painless compared.


HTH! I truely feel for her!!!


ETA: I''m also pretty ''even'' too. I have a long upper and lower body. I have seen some tall women that are all legs and some that are all body.

Thanks for the suggestions. She is thinking about a halter style. Poor girl. She''s kinda bummed about continueing trying on dresses that don''t fit

 

[oshinbreez]

Date: 4/27/2007 4:10:52 PM
Author: kcoursolle
A lot of the dresses offer ''extra length'' of 8 inches for an additional fee. So since the average gown is made for a 5''8 woman in modest heels, the extra inches will be for a 6''4 woman...which should be fine with flats.

I noticed that some offer the extra length, but they are still a few inches too short. And as far as shoes, she would like a small heel. I was trying to talk her into ballet flats.

 

[oshinbreez]

I was wondering if she could possibly find something that has a top and skirt, 2 separate pieces, that still look like a dress. Has anyone seen anything like that?

 

[E B]

Watters has a couple:

Top: 7048B
Bottom: Watters 7045B

Watters 7069B

Lace top:

6042B

Skirts:

6052B
6062B

 

[oshinbreez]

Thanks Ebree. Those look great. I''ll have to let her know.

Any other suggestions?

 

[olyelr]

Our friend got married last summer and his bride is 6"3' and wore heels on their wedding day. Her gown was a Maggie Sottero - although I don't remember which model. It was beautiful and perfectly fit for a tall bride.

It's worth calling and asking. Maybe only certain ones by a designer are available in a 'tall' version?

Alfred Angelo's website also says that they have 'tall' styles.

hope that helps.

 

[oshinbreez]

Thanks. I''ll be sure to let her know.

 

[cara]

They do not necessarily lengthen the torso on larger-sized dresses. Nor do then necessarily lengthen the proportion when you order extra length. Same dress, longer hem. Beware some sales people will tell you that ordering in larger size will make the torso come longer and it really isn''t true enough that your friend should rely on it. It certainly woln''t come inches longer as the dresses are all pretty much made for a standard height woman. So...

I''m just 5''10" and most dresses the waist didn''t fit in the place it was designed to on me. Some still looked decent (ie. supposed to be drop me but closer to natural waist on me but looked OK) and ssome really looked bad/ill-fitting/short-waisted. And your friend has another 7" on me!! So most dresses really aren''t going to fit her well at all, especially if she is evenly proportioned or (worst case) longer-torso.

If she has the budget for it, amy kuschel in san fran makes custom order dresses. Also I remember trying on a Paloma Blanca and they would, for a fee, add extra length at the waist to lengthen the bodice in addition to adding extra length at the hem for another separate fee. Anyone know of other manufacturers that will add length to the torso?

So she should look for:
A) a dress intended to be a low waist that actually fits her and looks good on her at whereever the sample hits
B) a dress from a manufacturer that will add extra length to the bodice in addition to the hem - maybe she could call around to bridal shops and ask if they have any designers that do this
C) a dress custom made to her measurements. Note many "custom" dress makers will still cut the dress from a standard size pattern - I think you actually want one of the rare ones that will cut to your particular measurements and not a "size 14".

 

[Molly1024]

Casablanca does free of charge custom hollom to hem measurements- I am 5''9 and my dress fit perfectly with 1 3/4" heels on. They also can customize dresses, so I think the bride can find something she likes from a few dresses, combine them, and have the torso lengthened (if she has a long torso). Hope this helps!

 

[cara]

I think Casablanca is a great option as they (as a designer) seem really willing to customize their dresses. But you still need to be careful with the hollow-to-hem measurements for a 6''5" woman. The point I was trying to make with my treatise above is that most designers DO NOT alter the torso length, even on a custom hollow-to-hem. You want a designer to commit to adding bodice length in addition to length at the hem, unless your friend has the torso of a 5''8" woman and the legs of a 7'' tall woman.

 

[Pandora II]

I''m only 5ft 10" but have a normal length body and all my length is in my legs and my arms so shopping is a total nightmare. All my trousers end round my ankles! I really feel for your FDIL.

I would suggest going the custom route or finding a good seamstress and providing a pattern and fabric. I have the address of a pattern maker who you send photos of the sort of dress you want and all your measurements and they send you back a paper pattern in your exact size. I''m sure there''s something similar in the states, but if your really stuck you could always email them in the UK - I''ll find the details.

 

[oshinbreez]

Thanks for all the info. I''ll be sure to let her know all the suggestions. I doubt if she''s thought of them.

 

[ladykemma]

i would have a dress professionally draped and custom made. skip the ulcers. make sure they make a "mock up" in muslin.