Selecting the ideal bridesmaid dress is a crucial aspect of organizing a wedding, and it can be challenging to determine the most suitable style and size for each member of your bridal party. To ensure that your bridesmaids are both comfortable and looking their finest, it’s crucial to comprehend how a bridesmaid dress should fit. This blog post offers a complete guide to sizing and alterations, assisting you in locating the perfect dress and anticipating any potential issues or risks.
A well designed dress can not only make the wearer look more beautiful, hide the issue parts, but also bring out the inner beauty. But before everything, the dress should fit you well to achieve all benefits. Too tight dresses will make you feel uncomfortable and worry about possible zipper breaking, while too loose dresses will hide your curve and look weird.. When you’re comfortable, you’re more likely to feel confident and enjoy the event. Therefore, it is crucial to take time to find the perfect fit and make necessary alterations.
Section 1（How to take your measurements）
Before you start measuring, you need to prepare a measuring tape, most tapes have inches and centimeters on each side, choose a unit you prefer. Don’t wear too much clothes when measuring, just with your undergarment will be OK. Stand straight with your two feet together. The most important measurements are around bust, waist, and hip, for modest bridesmaid dresses, you need to pay attention to shoulder width, arm circumstances and sleeve length. eDresstore is a formal wear brand that specialize in modest gowns, they have more detailed measuring guides for modest styles. Formal dresses tend to be long enough, so if you are less than 5’7” with heels on, or taller than 5 ’10’ ‘ with shoes on, you need to take measurement of your actual height, shoes height and dress length from shoulder-neck corner over bust the hemline. Don’t abdomen in when taking measurements, in this way you may get a pleasing number, but not a well fitted dress. The tape should be horizontal, not too loose or too tight. If you are between sizes, or unsure about which size to go, just contact the seller for help.
Section 2
Here are some tips for finding a dress that flatters well for all body shapes:
- Apple body shape. Apple shaped girls are defined with larger upper body and middle section, smaller hips and regular legs, some apple girls may have stronger arms. Wide and deep necklines will divide the upper body into proportion and form a slimmer look, for example, wide V neck, scoop neck, round neck and square neck. Opt for flaring sleeves such as flutter sleeves, butterfly sleeves, bishop sleeves, bell sleeves and so on. If you are short, you could consider empire waist dresses that will provide a higher illusion and hide the middle section as well.
- Pear body shape. Pear shaped girls always have slimmer shoulders and tops and wider hips and thighs. The key dressing tip for pear girls is balancing the upper and lower body. You can go for a boat neck, round neck to show a beautiful neck, and puff sleeves, bishop sleeves, or batwing sleeves to add volume to the top. A line skirt is the best option, it will hide the bottom and make it look slimmer.
- For tall girls and rectangles. Opt for dresses with round neck, boat neck, and neckline with turn down collars, add some volume with puff sleeves, a defined waist will emphasize your slim waistline and make your look more charming. A line skirt with floor length or midi length are best friends for tall girls and rectangle shaped girls, it will lead to a shorter proportion, and show your beautiful legs as well.
- If you are a plus size girl, flattering dresses should be with a middle width neckline and loose fitted sleeves, A line skirt is surely the best choice, plus pleats in the middle of the skirt will help you look narrower. If the bride are planning to have some daring styles rather than modest ones, order a shawl or bolero, you will probably need them.
Section 3(What to do if the dress doesn’t fit)
Despite all your efforts, there may be instances when the dress still doesn’t fit perfectly. Don’t worry; there are still ways to make adjustments and ensure that the dress looks stunning on you.
Firstly, you may consider consulting a professional tailor or seamstress to make alterations. A skilled tailor can adjust the size of the dress, hem the length, and tweak the design to fit your body shape perfectly. Alternatively, if you have some basic sewing skills, you may attempt to make the necessary adjustments yourself. To make alterations as easy and makeable as possible, you need to compare your measurements with the size chart and choose the closest one, and if you are between sizes, go one size up, because it’s usually easier to take in than take out. If you are ordering a modest style, put the shoulder width as one of the most important measurements, for shoulder width is nearly impossible to alter, or can be altered only a little. Furthermore, dresses with embellishments such as hand sewn beadings and crystals, ruched details and lace appliques, are hard to remove and resewn, especially when they are at the seams, so opt for a relatively simple style is a smart option in any case.
Another option is to accessorize the dress creatively to draw attention away from the ill-fitting areas. For example, you can add a statement belt or sash to cinch the waistline, wear a cropped jacket or cardigan to cover any gaping areas, or choose statement jewelry to draw attention to your neckline or face.
Finally, if all else fails, it may be necessary to replace the dress altogether. While this may seem like a daunting prospect, it’s better to have a dress that fits comfortably and flatters your figure rather than one that causes discomfort and detracts from your overall appearance. Most reputable retailers offer returns and exchanges policies, so don’t hesitate to take advantage of them if necessary.
Section 4（The importance of alterations）
Even if you order a bridesmaid dress in your exact measurements, there is still a chance that it may need some alterations to fit perfectly. This is because every person’s body shape and size is unique, and the dress may not fit all areas perfectly. Alterations can make a huge difference in how a dress looks and feels on you, so it’s essential to find a good seamstress who can help you make the necessary changes.
Common alterations for bridesmaid dresses include hemming the length, adjusting the straps or neckline, taking in or letting out the waist, and adding or removing sleeves. When scheduling alterations, it’s important to leave enough time before the wedding date to ensure that the dress is ready in time. It’s also a good idea to schedule a fitting appointment to ensure that the dress fits properly after the alterations are done.
Remember, the cost of alterations is an additional expense to factor in when budgeting for a bridesmaid dress, so be sure to consider this when selecting a dress. The cost of alterations may vary depending on the extent of the changes needed and the seamstress’s rates, so it’s always a good idea to get an estimate beforehand.
In conclusion, alterations are crucial to ensuring that a bridesmaid dress fits perfectly and flatters your body shape. With the right alterations, you can transform a dress that fits poorly into one that looks and feels beautiful on your special day.
So don’t worry too much of fitting problem, get enough preparation, including knowing your body type, opting for flattering designs, taking accurate measurements and choose the correct size, and get ready to necessary alterations, we are more than sure you can get a very well fitted dress and be your best on your bestie’s big day!
