Lace-up Backs

Since the popularity of the lace-up back style and the usfullness of using this design element to make a bodice larger many ladies have been writing questions about the subject and it's various applications. I have been putting these in different sections of the question section and have thought it would be good to collect them all here.

added January 2008

First, let me just say that your website is great and has been so helpful!
I am considering this dress. Measurements are 34" bust, 29" waist and 38" hips. It is a silk sheath with an empire waist.
The thing is, the bust measurement is about 3" too small for me. The waist and hips are about 1/2-1" bigger than I need. Do you think a corset back could be added to a dress like this to fix this problem? From reading your website, it seems like it would work, but I'm not sure because of the empire waist and the other measurements being a bit big.

Thank you,
Heather

Sure, a corset back would look great on this gown!

added November 2007

Hi
I really like a dress, but i cant find the same design with a lace up back (Venus K003W) Do you think it would be possible to alter it to a lace up back? How much does it usually cost? (approx?)

Thanks! Marie-Eve

I need to see a picture of the back of the dress to give you any kind of answer.

this is the dress
http://www.venusbridal.com/cgi-bin/description.asp?dress=K003W&dressline=VenusWoman

Thanks! Marie-Eve

The back is simple enough that it can be done. What someone in your area will charge for it I can't say, but I would give a guess-tament of about $80 and tell you it could be more when I actually see the dress and can look at what the construction inside it is.

added September 2007

Hi I am getting married in three and a half months and my dress is just too small. I don't want to go and buy another dress and I don't think I can loose as much weight as I will need to before the day, so I was considering having it lace up the back with a privacy panel under it. My question is how do I insert a privacy panel and how wide should it be. I am good at sewing but do not want to damage my dress and want to make sure I go about it the right way. Thank you so much.
Laura

The privacy panel isn't inserted. It's tacked to one side and the other side floats so the lacings can be tied as tight as you want or loosened during the day.

The panel needs to be at least 4 inches larger than the gap you are creating in the back to cover the area without worry.

It would help you to go to a bridal store and try on some laced gowns. You can see how it works and get ideas of what you can do for yours.

added July 2007

Leanna,

I have read all of your answers on your website. I can see so much of myself in so many of the people that wrote in! I noticed that you said that taking a zipper out and making a dress lace up the back can be done. This is what I want to do to mine. It fits fine in the waist and hips, but is too small at the top of my back and bust. It has stays and capped sleeves so it should stay up fine. I also have a seamstress to work on it for me. Can you just explain what materials will be used and what all will be done? Do those loops have to be sewn on individually and reinforced? I just want to make sure it will look ok. I love the dress and don’t want to mess it up! Thank you so much for all of your help! We all appreciate it!

Jenny Lin

The loops are a continuous tape of whatever I think will look good. I use rattail a lot. I do not cut each one. I sew them in a snake like fashion, reinforcing each very well. Your seamstress won't necessarily do it the same way as me but that would not make it wrong. She needs to do it as she knows how to do her best work. If she tried to follow my way she might do it very poorly.

added May 2007

Hello Leanna; I'm so happy to have found your website. I believe many people are relieved to have very good advice here. I also have a question about a satin dress, with princess seams ,and zippered back, with drop shoulder cap sleeves. My young friends wedding is in June and she is very determined to wear this lovely gown which is 6"s too small between the top of the zipper and does not taper very comfortably until it is opened fully. She would like to have lace up loop and ribbon but the waist would still pucker in the back if it were done up as far as the waist. Is it a bad idea or unacceptable to add inches to the side seams? She will wear this dress if she has to safety pin it on, and the design is truly wonderful on her. I have done many many alterations for shops in my area but do you think that side seams do not appear to have the allowance that they used too? Can you help me? I have never done such an extreme"let out" as this. Thank you so much. Annie

I really hate having to put fabric in the side seams to make a dress larger. It looks so tacky. If you have no other choice, it's best to make the pieces large. The larger they are the more they will look like panels that were original to the dress. The smaller they are the more it looks like, "Advertisement: I am too fat for this dress!".

I have done the lacing thing a few times now with much success. I do understand the pucker thing. You can try adding boning along the side of the lacing loops. This should fix the problem.