Is it possible to have a tailor increase this dress by a couple of sizes?

[goodbyekitty89]

I have been looking for this dress secondhand online for a long time - but it's about an inch to small across the bust. Would it be possible to take it to a tailor to increase the size of it? Or is the design not suited to this? It's a unique print so I wouldn't be able to match the panels exactly if fabric was added, but I think that I could live with it. Also, can anyone recommend a tailor in the UK that could do a good job of this?

Unless you have the exact matching fabric you would have to have a complimentary panel put in the front and back

Maybe in the red/orange colour. In the front it could be a placket from top to bottom maybe buttoned, but think you would also need a strip in the back

Maybe but lots of factors fiddly job so expensive.
Side panels could be added but they will be different fabric so that would make washing it harder.

The dressmaker might be able to take extra material from the hem, making the dress shorter. However, it looks as if it’s permanently pleated, so that wouldn’t work.

It also wouldn’t be cheap to do.

There’s already a buttoned placket down the front, so it would need two panels in the front.

It looks like chiffon with a lining. If it is, it's a no. Chiffon is too fine to seam rip. It's OK to take in as you are effectively covering existing seams, but going the other way, nope.

Having said that, if you can find a good seamstress, they should be able to recreate it for you to your measurements in a similar fabric.

Oh crikey I didn't notice the placket already there

No, would be the simple answer!

A really talented designer / dressmaker could fashion an entirely new dress, incorporating the fabric and some of the structure of the original. You could end up with something wonderful - but it would cost what tailor made dresses do cost.

Try Sojo - I haven’t used this service yet but I’d imagine they could find the right person for you.

https://www.sojo.uk

Ask to see the inside of the dress bodice showing the seams and any darts. There might be a generous seam allowance, although probably not.

What fabric is it?

Is it a well-known brand?

I'd look for a dress that fits, that one's unlikely to be altered successfully.