Dress alterations - how easy is this to do myself?

[Howmanyroses]

Hi all, I have a silk dress that I bought second-hand and that I adore, but it's a bit loose around the bust area, so I was thinking of taking it to get altered, but the cost is twice the cost for which I bought this dress. Just wondering how easy/difficult it would be to take in sides of this dress so it fits me better - it's just the very top part that I would need to get adjusted, the skirt part is fine as it's flowy? Pictures of the seams are attached, so there are 2 layers that I would have to undo and re-stitch on each side, if that makes sense. I can only do manual stitching as don't own a sewing machine

Get it done properly. You’ve saved money on the original purchase, and it appears to be a really lovely dress.

Unless you’re a truly expert seamstress (which you don’t claim to be?) unpicking and restitching two layers is likely to make the sides bulky and apologetic looking.

I say this as someone formerly all too eager to take scissors to some treasured item - that could then never be worn again. These days I keep my local tailor in foreign holidays …

I agree completely . I have to have lots altered as i’m only 5ft, however i found a local lady and can now buy things i like and she works her magic. If you love the dress it will be worth it.

Don't even think about it. Comparing the cost of the alteration with what you paid for the dress is the wrong way of thinking about it.

Don’t do it! ….I can alter soft furnishings etc…..but would never entertain the idea of lathering a silk dress…. One mistake and you ( and the dress) are fecked…..pay an expert

I'm do lots of little alterations. I wouldn't unstitch. The fabric will fray so much, as silk. If the waist is OK, I'd put a handsewn stitch on the existing material like a V from waist upwards to make a better fit around the bust. The exiating seams are on the side so they won't make much bulk with the extra fabric tucked away inside the new seam. Anyway I'm tight and I'd give it a go first. You can always unstitch then if it doesn't work.

I do a reasonable amount of alterations to clothes, but there's no way I'd touch this - (a) silk, and (b), lined.

Thanks everyone! I think I'll attempt what wippandzipp has suggested, if doesn't work then will take it to the tailor. Thanks again for talking sense into me :)

If you want to try then I’d put in darts instead of unstitching the fabric, V inserts to make it more shapely round the bust area. I’m sure there must be lots of demonstrations on YouTube to show dhat I mean. Just search for inserting bust darts.