Shortening pleated Cos dress

[AtomicRay]

I bought this pleated dress from Cos but it’s too long for me. There is no hem as such at the bottom and sort of looks like I could just cut a couple of inches off! But I’m wondering if there is some sort of ‘finish’ to stop it unravelling that this would remove? Does anyone have any advice, and is this the right topic for this post?
https://www.cos.com/en_gbp/search.html

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https://www.cos.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/dresses/product.pleated-midi-t-shirt-dress-black.1086341001.html

Oh it's polyester, and probably very syntheticky so if there's no hem now, cut all you like. If it's not a woven fabric, but a sort of plasticky feel, it won't fray.

Alternatively, take it to a local dry cleaner who also does repairs. They could probably take off whatever length you want, and overlock the raw edge. But it doesn't look like woven fabric so unlikely to fray.

It might be laser cut which seals the edges, but it would be worth a look.
I'm quite experienced at shortening skirts but I've sent Cos items back in despair before, knitted dresses are worst.

Thanks @SideWonder that sounds encouraging!!

Thanks @NotMeNoNo When you say it's worth having a look, what do you mean? Would I be able to tell by looking?

I think that for £80, it's worth taking it to an alteration tailor to have them do it properly.

You're probably right @NeverDropYourMooncup I was hoping someone would say 'oh yes easy-peasey just get a sharp pair of scissors'!

It looks like woven fabric on the blue version. 100% woven polyester will fray if you look at it the wrong way. How is it hemmed now?

I’d send it back. It’s not going to be easy to shorten without disrupting the pleats

Thanks @Jins I'll attach a pic of the bottom - not a hem as such, just looks cut, but possibly treated so it doesn't unravel? Which I might lose if I cut it myself.

I would think that would be really hard to cut so it's a nice crisp level cut.

I’m no longer sure it’s woven.

As it’s polyester it’s possible to heat seal the cut edge but it’s very risky. I’d take it to be professionally altered or send it back.

I wouldn't mess about with an £80 dress. Pleats will be very difficult to cut straight, and it will probably fray.

Why don't you find a local seamstress and ask how feasible it is? Loads advertise on FB round here.

Thanks all. I won't mess with it, I'll show it to an alterations place and get a professional opinion.

The best way to alter the length of a pleated skirt is at the waistband. You take the waistband off ( endless unpicking of the seams) shorten at the top and reattach the waistband.

Trickier with this dress as it isn’t constructed this way. There may be a way of finishing the hem line without a turned up hem.

Take it to an expert but don’t expect it to be cheap! I’d say it’ll cost you at least half the cost of the dress. Is that worth it for a polyester tshirt dress? .