Remove mesh backing?

You need to take it to a seamstress

That sounds like an expensive wardrobe malfunction to me, but you should ask a professional.

View Quoted Comment Oh yes! I definitely should have mentioned that I would have a seamstress do the work. Lort knows I’d butcher that poor dress if I tried. 🙈


Curious in advance if it could work, though? I likely won’t take it in for a few months.

I don’t believe that can be removed effectively if you remove it it will cause the delicate lace to collapse

I don't have much knowledge or experience in this realm, but my initial impression is that (at the very least) the top part where the two sides of lace come together would need to be reinforced quite a bit. Because the dress wasn't constructed with the understanding that that top juncture would take all the pulling and tugging of someone moving around in the dress....as it is, the pressure would be distributed equally along all the buttons. Just throwing it out there that I think a sturdier clasp would be necessary at the top.

View Quoted Comment That’s good insight; makes a lot of sense! Seems like I might just need to accept it as-is. I do love it, but I’m not crazy about how the mesh folds and the pearls misalign as one moves in it is all.

View Quoted Comment

If that's what bothering you, maybe some strategically placed invisible double sided tape could solve the problem? I recently used some to stop a deep v dress from shifting when I moved....surprisingly comfortable (could not feel them at all)and they worked amazingly well for about 12 hours.

You will need a LOT of fashion tape and a prayer to keep the back from sliding off, and the lace that's being held down by the mesh might still flare out. You'd have to get the lace around your back reinforced. Again, fashion tape (changed frequently because sweating will render it useless) and a possible wardrobe malfunction. If you don't already own it, you might consider another dress because that mesh is what's holding it together. You might get the pearls and mesh replaced with just a plain nude mesh, but that's the only solution I can foresee for such a large "keyhole" back.

Good luck!

View Quoted Comment Just to clarify since I wasnt clear - I mean leaving the pearls and lace as is (no alterations) and using a bit of tape to stop them from moving around.

I'm no seamstress, but it does seem like removing it might compromise the design or how the dress falls on the body, especially around the sides of your back. Maybe there is some kind of boning or other reinforcement they could add to help keep its shape? For whatever it's worth, I think the back is beautiful!!

View Quoted Comment

My reply wasn't a direct reply to what you wrote (I hadn't read any responses). I just gave advice based on my experience in dressmaking.

Sorry if it seemed pointed!

They do have "key hole" back dresses, they may just need to reinforce the lace at the sides and shoulder area but i bet it could be done!

View Quoted Comment That’s what I would think.