Hanging a Strapless Dress for Pictures

This concerns me... And really for the structure of your dress... Are the stays/ boning broken or bent? It should really be able to support itself or it will be giving you issues when you wear it. Or is there an additional strap your hanger straps slide through, usually towards the top of the side seam. I will see if I can find a picture.

Ok I couldn't find a picture... So I drew a diagram. Hope it helps.

Go to a sewing store, and buy a spool of clear nylon thread. Or go to a sports or hardware store, and buy clear fishing line. Hang the dress from anything above, like tacked to woodwork above a doorway, and with a needle and thread make a couple of puppet strings to hold the dress in position. Clear thread, or fishing line, will not show in pictures. Use a little crumpled tissue paper to fill out bust, give it a 3D look, or not. It you do not have any overhead stuff to tie it to, tack a thread, as though a closeline, from top of a door or window on one wall, to top of a door or window on another. Hang dress threads from that string.

My dress did fine. Hanger hooks at the armpit, no straps, no special hanger

I got a mannequin at eBay for $30 for this.

View Quoted Comment I don't have those, but I think I can add them myself, or have them added when I get the bustle done. Thanks!!!

View Quoted Comment That's so pretty!!! I love that idea, but couldn't figure out where to get one. I'll have to check out eBay. Thanks!!

View Quoted Comment I think the issue is where the hanging straps are located. I'll post a picture for reference. It's also a size 16, so a bit wider than the hanger.

Pictures for reference.... It's a size 16, so it's a tad wider than the hanger. I'd obviously want to get a more sturdy hanger, just trying to decide what kind.

I don't have a photo, but I'm using a wooden hanger for my dress. It is a size 14. Not as big but similar. It has been holding very well so far.

View Quoted Comment Beautiful gown!! I love it. So beautiful on you!!

Hope this helps!

Dress form hanger or as others have suggested mannequin.

This is used for formal dress sewing.

View Quoted Comment This is a beautiful gown, but please don't hang it this way. It is going to damage the boning. Ask your seamstress to see if she can rework the way the hanger straps are.

My seamstress added clear straps to mine, in the place straps would be if I had them. Once pictures of the dress hanging are done, I can cut them off and wear the dress like normal.

I would see if the seamstress could add a small loop on the inside of the front where the sweetheart comes to a point, then add another hanger strap in the middle of the back next to the zipper, than you can put the hanger strap through loop to hold the front up and put the strap on the hanger! And you could use a clear strap so it won’t show as much in pictures. That dress is beautiful! Hope you find something that works!