Our Guide to Alterations

1. Remember that 99% of prom, bridesmaids, and wedding gowns will need alterations to get the right fit.
2. Alterations require a bare minimum of 2 fittings; most of the time more depending on the complexity of the alteration. So, be patient if the dress needs more tweaking, and doesn’t fit perfectly at fitting number two or three.
3. Communicate clearly to the seamstress of what you want. Ask questions to confirm that both of you are on the same page, and that you understand her particular process.
4. Always get an estimate before the work begins. Understand that if you make changes at a later fitting the cost will be more.
5. Make sure that they leave the inseam for dresses that are being made smaller! Tell them you DO NOT want anything cut out of the dress. This ensures that the dress can be let back out to original seams if needed. If there is a large amount being taken in some may have to be cut, but they should always leave a generous seam allowance.
   
6. Wear the shoes and any undergarments that you will be wearing with the dress. Changing shoes and/or bras will greatly affect the fit of the garment. 
7. Hold your head up while the seamstress pins your hem! Looking down while pinning will make your dress too short!
8. If there is a problem, or something you don’t like TELL THEM. They are not mind readers and can’t fix something they don’t know about. Don’t just assume they have ruined your dress until you ask them about the issue. What is done to one part of the dress will affect other parts, hence the needs for tweaking, and multiple fittings.
9. If you need a bustle for your wedding gown, we highly recommend an under bustle or French bustle. They are much more secure and less likely to break. An over bustle is the most common, but they come unhooked, or the button breaks off very easily, leaving you with a busted bustle for the rest of the night.
10. Dresses with lace on the hem are designed so that they can be made shorter without losing your lace detail the majority of the time. If a seamstress tells you that it can’t be hemmed you may want to check with someone else, just to be sure.