Best dress type/neckline for small bust? Altering DB WG9871?

You can create the illusion by altering the neckline to a sweetheart, and a halter strap will definitely hike the girls up to create more cleavage. But your best friend will be a push up bra or bustier, actually the silicone chicken cutlets work best. I'm small busted too- I'm a lingerie designer and made my own wedding dress, the way I added some extra oomp was making a dress with a bustier top, and adding push up padding to the built in cups.

I thought about a halter strap, but not sure that would go with the style of the dress. Just feel that halters are more informal, casual and this dress is very elegant/sophisticated. I will definitely wear a push up bra and might ask for cups to be built in also, but just afraid that still won't be enough...

I'm pretty small as well.. and the alterations dept. of DB actually helped me out. My dress was "sinking in" in that area and to help that, they sewed in C cups for me! It was only $10 extra, not bad at all. Now I don't have to pad bras to fit in the gown LOL

My suggestion is to talk to the alterations mgr in the DB store to see what they can suggest/offer [:

My dress is DB V9010.

Edit to say:

I took a second look at the link you provided.. and the model wearing the dress doesn't seem like she fills the dress either if yannoe what I mean. The dress probably had sew-ins like mine.

I will definitely add sew-ins..just not sure if that will be enough or if adding straps is a better option since that seems to take away attention from the small bust.

Can you show us a pic of the dress? That might help us get a better idea of what would help you acheive the look you want

Have you asked them if they actually *can* alter the dress for a sweetheart? I love sweetheart necklines, and when I ordered my dress (also from DB's) I asked if they'd be able to alter it for me that way. They said yes so I ordered the alteration. But the only thing they did was sew a few stitches into the center of the neckline so it was all puckered in the center giving the "impression" of a sweetheart neckline rather than an actual change to that. I thought it ended up looking terrible and I hated it, but I didn't want to pay ANOTHER $25 for them to take the stitches out and then end up with little holes in my fabric because of it. If they tell you they can alter it for a sweetheart neckline, make sure you know what they're doing and make them show you what they'll do to it before you consent to it.

I also think they hemmed my dress too high, so pay attention to that as best you can. Overall, I really didn't like how my dress turned out from them so be very careful.

I'm sorry to hear that, Sequoia :-( I've seen others alter this exact dress to a sweetheart, so I think it is definitely possible.

Does anybody know whether there's any point in wearing the petticoat skirt underneath or in wearing one of the long bras that goes all the way down to the belly? Does it add something to the look or just a waste of $?

Julean, I included the link to the dress in my post.

Yes to the petticoat, and yes to the longline bra. Petticoats are always a must to get the proper full shape of your gown, even if it's just a light slip. And the longline bra will be great for you because they can't slide down like other strapless bras.