Irritated to realise dress I'd ordered is backless- suggestions on how to fix?

[Carla786]

I'm on a tight budget right now and managed to get a lot of stuff I like in the Warehouse sales. However, they seem annoyingly keen on making things backless/cutout etc when they really don't need to be. I usually check properly but when I ordered this dress I was tired & forgot.
I really like it- how could it be fixed? I have eczema there & don't really want to expose my back at the moment. Short of getting it altered, that is. I do sew (only by hand) so I might possibly be able to alter it myself- if there's a way to do that...

Of course I can cover it up with a wrap etc but ideally I'd like to change it.

Link to dress, suggestions appreciated!

https://www.warehousefashion.com/product/dorothy-perkins-dp-luxe-blouson-empire-sleeve-seam-detail-midi-dressbqq22104?colour=green

I have scoliosis so always incredibly conscious of my back. When I’ve really loved something and it’s turned out to be low back or backless I’ve just found beautiful lace items to wear underneath, either a bralet or similar , exactly the same colour as the dress or complimenting or clashing, with a completely lace back or something else with a spectacular back, whether strappy or something different .
I can’t open your link to the warehouse dress but I imagine there’s loads of coll things you can try, depending on the style and vibe

I can't open the link either.

Your best bet is to find some chiffon in the same color and if necessary make a back panel with a double chiffon layer. You could leave a keyhole opening and also put in a side seam zip ( I assume getting into and out of the dress is easy with the open back and would be difficult if closed up).

Sorry, here's the link! It's also sold by Dorothy Perkins.

https://www.dorothyperkins.com/product/dorothy-perkins-dp-luxe-blouson-empire-sleeve-seam-detail-midi-dress_bqq22104?colour=green

Wear it the other way around. Trinny Woodall often does that.

Send it back?

Could you sew a panel of that skin tone material that’s used for illusions dresses, into the back as a panel, keeping her ‘backless’ look?

https://www.dorothyperkins.com/track-and-return

Bargain dress at £10.80 though!

I would wear a vest/bralet type thing underneath. It’ll ruin the drape of the dress if you try to add to it

How about this

I have this problem with a lot of clothes too. My back is quite hairy, and I'm self-conscious. It always seems to be the cheaper shops that have this style; I suspect they do it to save fabric and therefore costs.

It’s onky a v, just wear a top under it or sew a small panel of green lace in,

Sympathy. I recall buying a dress online. I had carefully checked the photos and the description. Twas made of pvc but right at the limit of my personal taste.
Turns out, I bought a spank dress.

No amount of chiffon or lace was disguising that.

Its not backless? There's a small v and it's largely covered by the tie. I would imagine your bra strap is far lower than that and nobody would have a clear view of the skin on your back under normal circumstances. What occasion are you planning to wear it for?

How long is your hair?

I'm confused. That's not backless.

No point trying to work round it, there not much to fix beyond a very small section mainly covered with a tie.

Just return it or donate if you can be bothered for the price.

What about something like this?

https://m.shopcider.com/goods/lace-high-neck-lace-long-sleeve-top-103699456

I also hate backless, I have a slight tech neck that I’m very conscious of!

That dress isn't remotely backless, it's just has a shaped neckline at the back. Plus the tie covers it a bit so it's hardly completely exposed, and tbh I think if you filled in the v it might look quite frumpy as the front is high necked.

it’s not backless!

Sell it on - on Vinted and buy another one with no cut out at the back.

Send it back.

As PPs have said, it’s not backless at all, but I appreciate you don’t want to feel self conscious or uncomfortable if the tie detail is something you’d usually swerve.

How about this?

https://www.asos.com/collusion/collusion-lace-cami-top-in-bright-green/prd/208729614

Although it’s more expensive than the dress and a much brighter colour, so not sure it’d be worth it.

Or there’s one in Shein for less than 7 quid (hate that company, but if you’re in a pinch …)

https://www.shein.co.uk/goods-p-326250247.html?goods_id=326250247&test=5051&url_from=adhub48297283&scene=1&pf=google&ad_type=DPA&language=en&siteuid=uk&version_bid=101986081,102001861&version_eid=100769286&landing_page_id=1510&ad_test_id=47955&requestId=olw-5kq4kztdxslr&cid=22632658953&gad_source=1&skucode=I944wcim8cmc&onelink=0/google_feed_uk&network=g&gad_campaignid=22632658953&gclid=CjwKCAjw-J3OBhBuEiwAwqZ_h8a3kkO8nZWjLiVOqvvwWyUN1LLR4f-NfjabWdAXY6CsFWLuL2O2nxoC5ncQAvD_BwE&adid=756395153237&tv_b=2&ismg=370e93da9f84aac35548dffd90c5dee788c17a98c009e8750def550014b6d49c_01_1774605151&geoid=1006822&gbraid=0AAAAADm0yO6Rp6WepwIT6pXF_fqU9U3hl&setid=181000344176&kwd=pla-2437596281885&currency=GBP&lang=en

I’d be inclined just to put a small lace panel in the back myself - if you’re not a regular sewer, just make sure the back of the dress is in the done up position when you insert the panel, so it lays flat and doesn’t gape.

Is the dress a stretchy fabric? You could just add some stretchy lace to the back as long as it has a clean edge to across the gap. The bits at the sides can be hand sewn. To be honest, in the past I cut up a pair of pants to rectify a V which was too deep for my liking at the front of a dress!! You can always pin it and then see if it works or not. You would have to be very neat with the sewing but do it over the current sewing line and same colour thread. It's quite a faff if it's an unusual coloured thread (won't be cheap to get matching one). To be honest I think a strappy vest top would be the best. Look on vinted.

Found this on shein, attracts to bra straps!!
You could attack to the back instead of front.

Sorry, attaches

That's barely backless. My DD has bought a similar dress for a Muslim wedding, and is just wearing a sheer black vest underneath for covering.

Lovely dress OP, what a bargain!

I think PPs saying it's not backless have not struggled with eczema 😖

Not the question you asked, OP, but I'd strongly recommend this stuff. It's been a game changer for me

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B098K99CL3?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1