Adding Sleeves to a Dress

My friend added 3/4 sleeves. Cost was around $300 to the seamstress and you couldn’t even tell it wasn’t a part of the original dress. Her dress was lace and she bought additional lace from the designer that was the exact lace on her dress (not sure of that cost). I had a cap sleeve/keyhole back piece added to my strapless dress (extra lace for my dress was $400). You can’t tell it’s not a part of the original dress. I don’t know what my seamstress charged me to make it because all I got was the total cost of all alterations. For it to look right I think you definitely need to buy extra fabric from the designer and not try to find something that matches.

Hello Kelly!

I know a lot of WeddingWire community members have added sleeves to their dresses! I found some helpful discussions with before/after pictures and prices from other community members! Check them out:

Adding Sleeves to Dress

Adding Sleeves to Dress 2

Add Sleeves to Dress?

What style dress are you thinking of adding sleeves to?!

I just dropped off my dress to a tailor across the street from me. They're adding cap sleeves and reinforcing my corset loops for about $50. I'll send pictures when I'm done!

I ordered an extra piece of fabric along with my dress for the seamstress to add ballet length sleeves. It hasn’t come in yet to show you a picture.

One of the easiest alterations to do is add sleeves except to some halter dresses. Major gown makers do sell both fabric and lace by the ½ yard and yard, and a very large number sell a variety of pre made sleeves, that just need to be attached. Easy, not too pricey.

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Thank you! The style would probably be fit and flare and I would want full length, fitted/tight lace sleeves!

A family friend is adding detachable lace sleeves to my lace capped sleeved gown. I wanted to be able to take them off when I get too hot at the reception. She’ll be attaching them with 3-4 snap buttons and doing a lace over lay over the shoulder so they look natural and not like they were added.

Here’s the pictures of what she’s got so far

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Wow! Looks great! Thanks for sharing!

I am in the same situation. I didn’t like any of the dresses that had long sleeves already and I fell in love with a strapless dress but I still want long sleeves. I ended up buying a topper but returned it because it didn’t match the style and color of the rest of the dress. I have been searching for a different one but cannot find it. I knew a seamstress could add straps but I didn’t know they could add full sleeves.