All of these alteration are AFTER September of 2003, when I was finished with the Victorian Bridal and Tuxedo.
This beaded gown needed it's sides taken in, which mean the tiny seed beads had to be removed and then ...
... sewn back on after the sides were altered.
This very difficult dress alteration was for a bride who required a much smaller size on top than she did on bottom.
The only way to get the necessary room, as there wasn't sufficient in the seams to let out, was to slash across the back panels, raised the skirt the amount the front panels were being shortened from the hemline and then sew the panels back onto the back bodice.
This extensive alteration meant there would be no interrupting seam on the front of the gown, just one long original panel from neck to floor.
This gown with lace appliques organza had to be shortened in front only from the hem.
The proper way to do it, is time-consuming as the appliques are usually sewn on with an invisible thread (like a thin fishing leader) and have to be removed without damaging the delicate appliques or the fabric.
The edge trim is then replaced on the shortened dress skirt, after removing sections of appliques so they don't under lap or overlap the hem trim, and it is re beaded.
This gown's upper bodice edge was trimmed only with bugle and seed beads which had to be removed so the bust seams could be taken in.
After the gown is fitted, they are reapplied but only where necessary.
Here the gown is all back to normal again, you'd never know how it's been deconstructed.
Here I am applying the equally spaced hooks for the gowns intricate bustle. There will be one loop for every hook and when properly arranged, the long train will be completely up off the floor.
Applying buttons and loop closures at the back neck of a bridal gown.
This is the type of challenge I love. The beaded sleeves on this gown needed to be tapered and refitted. That meant all the beads around the seam had to be removed, the sleeve refitted and then re beaded.
This seed-beaded gown needed to be taken in down the front seams.
Some would find it a tedious night mare, but this the type of intricate work I prefer and look-forward to.
This dress was covered with 1/2 glass bugles with scattered rhinestones.
This dress was completely re sized from neck to hem. The bead work all the way along had to be removed, the seams taken in, refitted ...
... and then re trimmed. The bride was more than pleased with the result.
This dress had extensive alterations.
It was a MESS on the inside. Seams ravelling, zipper broken and it just didn't fit the bride very well.
After altering the dress to fit, I serged the seams ...
And inserted a new invisible (means you can't see the zipper teeth) zipper in the back seam.
Even the appliques and beads were falling off this dress when she brought it to me. She was very happy with the dress after I completed her alterations.
As quite often happens, the beading of this applique was incorrectly done AFTER the applique was sewn onto the gown with the threads of the bead work going through the fabric of the gown in the place of the seam.
While marginally cost-effective from a production standpoint, it's makes the alterations more time-consuming and expensive for the customer.
Here I am beading the applique separately and independently from the gown. It will be sewn back into place after the gown is altered.
Carefully top stitching around a standard zipper after it's installed in a gown.
On this gown, the pleased waistband, appliques and the zipper had to be removed before the dress could be altered, then all put back in place.
The standard zipper was removed from this bridal gown, it was taken in at the centre back seam and the lines of beading had to be re spaced accurately so the design would look 'undisturbed' when completed.
This gown was way too low in the neck for the bride's ample chest. After shortening the gown, I used what I cut from the hem to build up the neckline ...
The insert was beaded to match the neckline of the gown.
I used my embroidery machine to rework the lines of rayon vines on this bridal down after it was sized down approximately two full sizes.
The bride placed great trust in me to do this alteration and I am very glad to be able to say that it was not misplaced and the bride was ecstatic with the results.
It fit her beautifully!
October 30, 2013
Four appliqued and beaded detachable sleeves from wedding gowns. I have a box full of ones that customers did not want from when I owned the Victorian Bridal. Some are full sleeves that brides requested removed, the beginning of the 'sleeveless bridal gown trend'.
I'm testing a new christening dress pattern with them.
(Though I no longer have a formal wear store, I hold all the copyrights on my photos and design work from when I did.)
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