Bought strapless dress...HATE my arms.. HELP!

I really like that dress! I hate my arms as well but I also have a strapless dress. The way I see it I will be in a dress I think is beautiful with my hair and makeup done to look gorgeous and nobody is going to be looking at my arms! If you are so self conscious of it that it is going to upset you all day and your going to be worried about the way your arms look for your entire wedding than eat the $300. However, if you can realize you are going to be a stunning bride surrounded by people that care about you that aren't going to be staring at your arms than keep it. It really is a beautiful dress and you are going to look amazing no matter what dress you end up in. It all comes down to how much it's going to bother you that day! Do you have a picture of you in the dress by chance? It might help determine if there is something you personally could do in order to feel more comfortable in it. It's hard to tell when you see the dress on someone else!

Do you have a picture of you in the dress? we may be able to help ease your fears.

but if you don't want to show your arms, how about a jacket? or a wrap like this one:

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_chiffon-beaded-wrap-beadedwrap_accessories-jackets-and-wraps

wraps are very nice if you are feeling self conscious about arms or other places as well.

but Id be surprised if I or most anyone else felt that you would need it it's a pretty dress, and I bet once you've totally 'jacked it up' with a veil, bouquet and maybe some other accessories you'd forget about the arms.

edit: here's a picture of someone wearing the wrap:

Alterations Department would be the best to talk to about adding sleeves. I work in that department at DB, so if you have questions, go ahead!

But if you don't want to add sleeves or have something that's easy to take off, you can always see what jackets/boleros are available in the color of your dress

Since sleeves are back in fashion, many bridal shops are selling boleros that fit under your dress to to make it look like it has sleeves. Here's a pic of one of the options DB sells. Other bridal stores/websites would also have options.

Talk to a seamstress other then at DB. DB will charge you so much money find a local shop ask friends family members if they know anyone. I would stick with the dress you have

Try a bolero if you can find one that matches, or go with the option Ren said!

I love the "add on" illusion sleeves like what Ren posted.

I would bet that you're noticing your arms in a far more negative way than anyone else ever would. I like the little scarf-y wrap idea or a little bolero.

BHLDN has a lot of great cover up options; it's worth a look at the website just to get some ideas. Your dress should fit with some of those options beautifully.

I completely feel ya on the arms though. I had a strapless dress, but my biggest hold-up is that my skin tone is so uneven. I got a light airbrush tan and felt so much more confident. Also, for some crazy reason I feel more svelte when I'm tan?

I think your dress is beautiful! If you're really that concerned, I like the bolero idea. Otherwise, take your dress to a different seamstress. The people at any DB I've ever been to are never helpful.

A sgood seamstress should be able to add a cap sleeve or an illution neckline with attached short or quarter length sleeves pretty easily. Post some thing on your local board, tell them you need a good seamstress to add sleeves to a wedding dress and tell them what area and state you live in. Thats how i found mine.

You said you HATE your arms, as in, this is serious issue with you. I have no idea what your arms look like, but you have to ask yourself, will you be so focused on your arms that you wont feel amazing if they are exposed? Only you know that. A group of strangers on a forum can't really reset your body image. There are some great options that the ladies have given you. I had no idea DB had those under the dress sleeves. Plus, the wraps are really pretty. It's such a personal decision, but rest assured, you have options.

I love the under the dress sleeves. I was just telling my mom, I would love an illusion neckline

I love @rens idea, but I was not able to find it on db's website. can someone link it?

Any seamstress worth her salt can add sleeves to a strapless dress. I was going to go with a lace mermaid dress but I wanted it to have sleeves. The in house seamstress (I bought my grown from an independent shop) grabbed some lace from her kit and said she could make sleeves no problem. I ended up going with a totally different dress but it absolutely can be done.

I like what ren said.

yeah, a seamstress can add sleeves, but I didn't know what they would charge and didn't want to see you spend so much that you may as well have gotten the other dress.

you have options though! sure it will be beautiful.

Here's the link for David's:

http://www.davidsbridal.com/Browse_accessories-jackets-and-wraps

DB was dumb about altering ANYTHING too much. However, I ended up buying mine from a boutique and they said they can do pretty much anything, so maybe find a private seamstress. Also, a shall or wrap might be a cute option.

If you like the dress in the store, you liked it even with the arms that you say you hate (although I'm SURE you're imagining). Remember how you felt when you decided that was the dress for you. Experienced tailors can do anything you want, but I'd ask you to reconsider. If you do decide to cover up, a good tailor can do anything you want-but it will cost you. Also consider a jacket of sorts.

I am also super sensitive about my arms and was searching for a dress with sleeves i found a dress i loved that was strapless and to deal my arm issue i bought a wrap from db heres what it looks like