A tailor has warned about a common mistake brides make when picking out their wedding dresses that may result in them not looking their best on their big day.
A specialist from Heming and Fitz, a Utah based alterations service, spoke about why some brides aren’t happy with their final fit on their big day in a recent TikTok video – and revealed how you can avoid facing the same problem while picking out your dress.
In the clip, the specialist explained that when bride tries on a dress in the store, they often put on one that is is several sizes too big, but clip it back to see how it will look in their size.
But she warned that using clips will not give an accurate representation of what the gown will actually look like in your size, and could result in it not fitting right when your big day comes.
‘Buyer beware,’ she said, before delving into the dangers that come with buying a dress that doesn’t quite look right and hoping to get it tailored.
‘When you buy a dress that’s not your size, they clamp you in,’ she explained in the video, showing herself in a dress several sizes too big.
She went on the say that people then ‘fall in love’ with the dress because of how the neckline and waist sits.
To show what she meant, the alterations specialist drew a line where to top of the dress sits.
A tailor has warned about a common mistake brides make when picking out their wedding dresses that may result in them not looking their best on their big day
However, she said that many people find after they order the gown in their size, they don’t love it as much as they thought they would.
‘You like it, but the neckline isn’t quite sitting where it used to,’ she continued, showing the dress in her size sitting an inch below the line she had made.
‘So you try pulling it up to give you the coverage that you want, but the waist is now pulled up off of your waist.’
The expert then pulled the waist down to where she wants it to sit, noting that again, that made the bodice sit lower.
She explained that when they increase the size in a dress, it must increase proportionately.
‘So every time they increase a size width, they also increase a size length,’ she explained.
‘So essentially, what you’re seeing is the grading difference between five sizes,’ she said.
‘So every size that you go down, you’re going to get incrementally shorter on your neckline and probably also your skirt,’ she shared.
In a clip, the specialist explained that when bride tries on a dress that’s several sizes too big, it’s not an accurate representation of what it would look like
‘In this particular designer, the center front seam on both of these dresses, measures exactly the same when lying flat – but there is a difference in length across the bust, which is why you’re seeing the difference in neckline,’ she explained.
‘Sometimes when you’re trying a size that’s much too big for you, they’ll clamp you into it – maybe the waistline isn’t actually sitting on your waist, maybe it’s sitting much higher.
‘When you’re trying on dresses, I would encourage you to make sure that the waistline is actually sitting on your waist, and if you’re in a dress that’s many sizes to large for you, I would anticipate at least an inch difference in the neckline.
‘If you don’t like [the neckline] lower, I would suggest ordering a custom change through the manufacturer.’
In the caption, she described the issue as ‘something all brides and stylists should be aware of.’
‘Setting proper expectations before purchasing a dress is key – if you want to continue loving your dress,’ she concluded.
