Could anyone sewing people advise me if this is possible please?

[poppym12]

I'm getting married soon. We booked it less than a week ago and it's a no fuss elopement type thing.

I'd like a new dress but can't find anything just right. I have found this one but wondered if alterations would be possible. I'd like it to be mid calf or tea length and for the crossed neck bit to be more normal halter style.

Please advise me if this might be possible.

Apologies for the complete hash of subject title there. Not sure what happened

Shortening should be straightforward, I doubt altering it to halter neck will be easy and perhaps not possible tbh.

Actually there will be spare fabric from shortening it that could be used to make new straps...

I would say a good dressmaker could do that for you. But go by local recomendation rather than a random choice.

thank you. it is already a halter neck, it ties at the back. I'd just prefer it to have a strap at each boob/armpit area than the cross over effect at the neck. I'll get hunting for a clothing alterations place as I'm afraid I live in a rural village and know no one I could ask for recommendations.

This is the back view

It may cost nearly as much as having one made though!!!

What about a shawl or pashmina thing?

I like the halter neck from the back but I can't stand wearing anything that touches my throat, or above my collar bones really .

I'll keep looking. At this rate it will be jeans and a tshirt!

The dress you've shown could be shortened easily enough, but changing the top would b a major rework, looking at the neckline - it would have to be altered quite radically. Could be done, but it might work out expensive.

I don't know what size you are, but would you consider Ebay...? I've found a couple of dresses that look like the style you're looking for...

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Coast-Ivory-Chiffon-Halter-Neck-50s-Pin-Up-Style-Flared-Midi-Dress-UK14-16-L/323790800897?hash=item4b636f8801:g:zmoAAOSwe4xcwqJd

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Coast-Silver-Grey-Vintage-Style-Dress-Excellent-For-Weddings-Races-Size-12/153420208081?_trkparms=aid%3D333200%26algo%3DCOMP.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D57955%26meid%3D57f0f83a8cde40678b8b71617f8ef909%26pid%3D100008%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D323790800897%26itm%3D153420208081&_trksid=p2047675.c100008.m2219

Thank you Abbey. It's the colour of the dress I like most, sort of a dusty muted blue rather than the pale blue or cobalt that seems to be easier to find. If could find a sleeveless dress in that colour without a neckline that I'd panic was trying to choke me I'd be very happy.

I agree that reworking the top would probably take ages. I've ordered the dress to try on as maybe I could tie it in a way that felt more comfortable.

I really wish I could sew well. I can mend or slightly alter easy things but I'd rather be drawing or playing with silver and a torch.

Yes, the colour is beautiful, no wonder you fell for it

Maybe once you've tried it on, and if the ties are soft, it might not seem quite as suffocating...?

Looking at it again, I don't know whether you'd want to hack it about, but if you could unpick the central part of the top (where the strap bits are stitched) back as far as you'd want the straps to go, you could use what you cut off the bottom to rebind the middle bit of the bodice, after a bit of reshaping to make it a bit more of a V in the middle. I don't know if I've explained that very well, but I think that could work. Can you picture what I mean...?