a question for those who can sew

[dementedma]

How do I get a heavily beaded evening dress altered or is it impossible. I want it taken in and shortened to be more of a cocktail dress. The hemline had a row of double beads which I don't want to lose.
I'm guessing impossible but its a lovely dress and I want to wear it again but just more fitted and shorter,

Does the dress have a 'skirt' or is it a shift style?

A good tailor would be your best advisor and should be able to do it.

Its shift style. I'm scared to take it to someone who says they can do it then botches it. I'll have to ask around locally for recommendations

Where are you based? My Auntie is a professional seamstress who alters clothing. She's in Milton Keynes- if you want her details PM me.

It depends on the style of the whole dress, sometimes taking it up from the shoulders can give you more to play with around the waist, have you got a good technical-type college around?

Or ask at an independent dry cleaners?

Ring a bridal shop and ask who does their alterations, someone who works on bridal clothes sounds best suited to alter the dress.

Ooh, thanks all. Am is Scotland so a bit far from Milton Keynes but thanks anyway.
A bridal shop is a good idea.

Depends if it was beaded before or after it was sewn together. If before I think you are struggling, unless you unpick the beads first.

With the hem, you maybe able to cut it off as a panel, and then shorten it, and stitch it back on

Do you have a picture?

I've done an alteration like this, it was a nightmare, loads of hand sewing, I took off the hem decoration, shortened the skirt, had to secure every loose thread which the beads were on all the way around, then reattached the trim. It took ages. Be prepared that if you get someone to do it the labour cost will be steep!

I'll take a pic and put it on my profile

GIven that I presume the beading is too intricate and depending on the dress and amount you need it altered.

I'm guessing the alteration is too great to shorten straps the only other option that I can see it to do a sort of fold inside and sew it. This would leave a seam but if you did it somewhere logical like at the waist, empire line or just above the beading, could be made to look logical.

But I'd probably get someone else to do it.

If you don't want to do that then try it out with tacking stitches first before sewing it properly.

This all assumes the fabric isn't incredibly fragile or something like jersey.

Sorry my grammar is useless there as I was trying to type it out while feeding DD. hope it makes sense still.

OK I've put a picture on but its not great. Its not quite as shapeless as it looks in the pic, and you can't see there is a split at the front right as you look at it to about the knee and this is beaded all round too.
I think Patilla is right that someone would have to cut a chunk out of the middle and then disguise that join somehow

OK I've put a picture on but its not great. Its not quite as shapeless as it looks in the pic, and you can't see there is a split at the front right as you look at it to about the knee and this is beaded all round too.
I think Patilla is right that someone would have to cut a chunk out of the middle and then disguise that join somehow

I have a degree in fashion and worked as a pattern cutter for years. Am a very experienced seamstress, but..and I'm sorry to say it, what you want o do sounds a nightmare! Does the dress have an over layer with the beading on, or is it actually on the dress? Is it a vintage dress?

Its actually the dress. I had a feeling it might not be doable. I can still wear it as it is I suppose.