Dress Ideas. Help!

Your dress is beautiful!! Are they able to let out the dress a little bit on top to make it fit a little better? For the straps issue, I would check with another seamstress to get a second opinion on whether they can add material underneath the straps to make it more comfortable, or even if there's a way for them to loosen the straps a bit.

View Quoted Comment I could call and ask if they can let it out some. When I originally tried the dress on it fit perfectly except the straps were a little to loose so idk if they took too much or what. I also feel like they took it in too much in my wasit and that is why it won't fit my top half.
I'm just scared they won't be able to do it in time.
Thanks for the advice!

View Quoted Comment I would definitely ask them to do something to fix it ASAP - they may be able to let out the straps a bit! Even a small adjustment may make a world of difference in comfort. It never hurts to ask, I'm sure they'll be able to do something to fix it before your wedding.

View Quoted Comment The only problem with letting the straps out is the straps are lace and beading so I dont think thats possible.

Daughter's dress had a similar bodice as yours and the lace/beaded straps were very irritating. I'm not sure how they did it, but in alterations they did add < 1/2" to the strap length and they lined the straps with a soft nude-colored fabric (which was not at all visible when looking at the dress once daughter had it on). Those two things completely resolved the strap-irritation issues for her. In the photos, it looks like your dress fits well, so I'm not sure what your concerns are with the fit in your chest. Daughter's dress was a little large on her chest and the surprising perfect solution was to sew two sets of cups/pads into the bodice. A larger set of push-up pads were sewn just below her natural bustline line so that they helped hold her chest up a bit higher in the dress. A second smaller set of pads were sewn just below the top edge of her sweetheart neckline (more toward the sides for the front top than the center) -- they helped take up the tiny bit of extra space above her chest. The effect of the two sets of pads was that her breasts were held securely in place within the bodice of the dress, and her "girls" were lifted up where she wanted them without creating an excessive amount of cleavage (something she did NOT want).

I've read other posts that brides found relief from irritating fabric by using an anti-chafe type product. I don't remember the names, but it's often sold in sporting goods stores for runners to prevent thigh chafing. I've also read that lightly rubbing beeswax on the inside of scratchy/irritating fabrics can bring relief. Good luck!

I just reread your post. If it feels tight in both the waist and the straps, if they can let it out just a little in the waist, that might also give you some relief in the straps because the whole dress can be raised up just a little on your frame and the straps may not feel as tight. Good luck!

View Quoted Comment Thank you for the advice! The picture was from when I first tried it on just to show the straps and after it got altered is when it seems too big in the chest area. I am calling the seamstress tomorrow to see if there is anything she can do in short notice.
I will look into the cream for chafing. Thank you!

View Quoted Comment

I forgot to mention, we bought various cups/pads from Hobby Lobby (in the sewing section) and from Kohl's in the lingerie dept. Her bridal salon that also did her alterations may have provided some options too -- I don't remember exactly which they ended up using as it's been nearly two years since her dress was altered before her wedding in January 2019. Daughter is a thin 36DD and her dress had a lot of built in structure, so the last thing she ever expected to need was additional padding but getting her chest securely tight within the dress was the perfect solution and she looked amazing. Good luck!

View Quoted Comment The cream I know of, and love, is called Glide. It looks like a deodorant stick, but has been a chafing lifesaver for me! I think I found it at a sporting goods store.

View Quoted Comment Thank you I will swing by a few places to look for it!

Gorgeous dress! You might be able to add a soft nude material? I would be a bit annoyed that the seamstress told you there was nothing they could do instead of trying to come up with a suggestion.

View Quoted Comment Ya I was a tad upset cuz they had already told me it was possible and I purchased it and then they tell me it wasn't possible.

Does anyone know of any really strong fabric adhesive tape? That could fix my problem with it not fitting my breast area.

Hollywood fashion tape if applied properly (clean, dry skin) is pretty good. I’ve used it a couple times to tape a neckline down to my skin to minimize gaping. Nubra is a good sticky bra if you’re trying to give some lift or cleavage. If your trying to add cups, I think my seamstress was able to slip them in between layers of fabric of the dress. My seamstress also offered to do an alteration on the spot. I declined and said I’d just come back the next day so she didn’t have to rush, but just adding that for perspective that some may be able to do an alteration pretty quickly, especially if they’re already familiar with you and the dress.

View Quoted Comment Hopefully the seamstress that did my alterations will be able to look at it tomorrow and have some suggestions/fix for my problems! I did hear about the Hollywood tape so I may take a look at that. Thanks!

View Quoted Comment That’s great! Best of luck! You look great in the photos above, so anything they can do now is icing on the cake! 🥂😊

View Quoted Comment Thank You 🥰🥰

View Quoted Comment I assumed you meant it was too tight in the bust. If it's too loose, is it possible that you're having an allergic reaction to the beading on the straps as opposed to a friction/chafing issue? If that's the case, the seamstress should be able to add cups to make the bust fit better (you can do this yourself if she/he gives you a hard time), and you can paint any non-fabric part of the straps with clear nail polish on the side that comes into contact with your skin to create a barrier between your skin and the straps.

View Quoted Comment The bust area isn't having a reaction just my shoulders because the strap is kind of tight. The bust area being too loose is just another issue that I think I'm going to fix with adhesive tape. Thanks for the advice about the clear nail polish I may give that a shot!

View Quoted Comment Sorry, I understood that, but I typed my response in an illogical order. What I meant was:

I assumed you meant it was too tight in the bust. To make the bust fit tighter, the seamstress should be able to add cups to make the bust fit better (you can do this yourself if she/he gives you a hard time).

*If there's less extra room in the bust, any tape you use to secure the dress will be more comfortable and more effective.*
If the straps are too loose, is it possible that you're having an allergic reaction to the beading on the straps as opposed to a friction/chafing issue?
If that's the case, you can paint any non-fabric part of the straps with clear nail polish on the side that comes into contact with your skin to create a barrier between your skin and the straps.
One other thing I'd note is that if you have sensitive skin, it would be a good idea to test out the kind of tape you plan to use (you can just put a small piece on your forearm or lower leg and leave it there for a few hours, you don't have to try it with your dress) so you know you won't have a reaction to that. Most of them are pretty skin-friendly, but having a bad reaction to something like that is definitely something you want to avoid.