To ask you how the hell I can magically fit into this dress?!

[Toddlerwhatwhywhat]

So, I've got a wedding in a couple of weeks and the dress I bought is still too tight - about an inch gap down the back to being able to do the zip up. Any wise mumsnetters know of a magic body sucker inner-er or some other form of voodoo to ensure I can get this dress on? Cheers!

Buy a new one. It's too much pressure to put yourself under.

Low-ish cal diet.

No alcohol.

Loads of water.

Very little salt.

You'll easily fit into it.

Low carb, low calorie diet for the next two weeks, cut out fizzy drinks and anything which would bloat you. Should do the trick! Maybe get some spanx or similar too if you need an extra bit of help.

Ultimo do a good one it's the one that has straps and goes under your bra

Wow, thanks, you think I will shrink enough then?! It's actually a 2 inch gap between the zip (just got dp to measure). Was thinking of low calorie but not going crazy and exercise and maybe some kind of body sucking in suit on underneath. I really need to be able to wear it as don't have the money to buy a new dress.....

Googling ultimo! Thanks

What is the dress like? Some styles are very unforgiving if you shoe horn yourself in.

Go for a body wrao

What about a corset underneath.

Also low carbs diet.

Magic sucking in thingyamies are not cheap. Honestly, if money is the problem, you would be better off buying a Primark dress in the right size. Imagine how awful you would feel if you managed to do the zip up and it burst during the day.

What is a body wrap? It's a vintage style and beautiful, fits well everywhere except won't zip up..... Maybe I have an abnormally fat back?!

I would rather spend the money on anything to fit into this dress. It's exactly what I wanted and a special wedding that I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing a cheaper dress to, if that makes sense.

But yes, would be pretty embarrassed if I burst out mid wedding!

I have a rago 21 waist cincher that is bloody fabulous under vintage styles. Not sure if it would take in 2 inches though. I'd probably just buy something nice that fits now and save the vintage dress for a later date.

If you google lose half a stone in a week you will find the way. It's unhealthy and counterproductive but if it's only for a couple of weeks well maybe you feel like putting yourself through it.

Do you have a good friend who you could borrow off? Or try a charity shop, our local one has some amazingly priced pretty frocks right now.

I wouldn't diet to get into it, too much pressure, and if you consider second hand it shouldn't cost too much. I'd sell the too tight dress on Ebay, then buy second hand with the proceeds.

Can you not take it to a seamstress? If it's the back zip get a nice panel of fabric that compliment the dress fitted on either side at the back and a new zip. Wear some accessories that match the extra piece of material. Don't try and squeeze into it without alteration. You won't be comfortable

Depends what size you are now? What's your bmi? If it's 30 or so yes in two weeks you could slim down to fit into it but if it 20 then no hope sorry, not with 2 inches a ton the back!

That looks good. I'm not sure what type of sucking in thingy I need but I guess something that does my middle as that's why the zip won't meet. Gah. I would usually just not bother but the dress has special significance, don't want to say anymore as would out myself but there is very good reason for needing to wear this dress.

Two inches (and no, it doesn't "fit everywhere" if you can't do it up!) is about a dress size - so a course of body wraps, no booze, no salt, clean food, low carb (and especially nothing with wheat in), loads of water, steam room at the gym (like jockeys do): you might make it.

Alternatively, you could just buy something that fits, and wear this one when it fits properly without the need for several weeks of extremes. Plus, it would be awful to squeeze into it, bloat out during the day and end up pulling all the seams etc as a result - clothes never look the same after you've done that (

Good idea re getting it altered, not sure I have time though. Bmi is 32 (yes I am fat!) but with willpower I could stick to a 1200 calorie per day / exercise. Used to be a size 10 but with breastfeeding / exhaustion / not sleeping I've piled on the weight.

How much weight do you think you would need to lose to go down 2 inches? Everyone carries weight in different ways.

X-post: in that case, if it's just the middle that's not fitting, get an underbust corset: you can take about 4 inches off if necessary with one - just make sure it's a proper one, with steel bones and a steel busk. You can buy them on eBay from UK suppliers for as little as £25.

Hefzi - thank you, good suggestions! Oops, I meant the arms etc fit and it looks good round my bust but you're right, it clearly doesn't fit. There is a very special reason I need / want to wear this dress or I would just get another dress. The dress was given to me yesterday and is a size bigger than my 'size' so I didn't envisage any problems.....