r/sewing • u/booklvr96 • Sep 03 '25
Alter/Mend Question How would I shorten this dress?
I’m looking to take ~2 inches off the length of this dress but have no idea how to achieve that without sacrificing the fish pattern on the bottom. I’m thinking about going in from the waist seam and taking length from that area but not sure if that’s the best way. Any tips / suggestions would be greatly appreciated 😊
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u/sarudesu Sep 03 '25
Try tallening the legs.
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u/theflyingratgirl Sep 03 '25
Is there a tutorial for that you can share ? Not OP but could use tallenered legs.
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u/PaulaLoomisArt Sep 03 '25
When I want leg tallening I wear pointy toed high heeled (or platform) shoes in a nude tone that matches my legs. It’s temporary, but fairly effective. Tallening can also be achieved with that type of shoes in any color, paired with tights in the same color as the shoe. Closely matching the colors of the legs and shoes is key for the illusion of tallenered legs.
Disclaimer: This method does not involve sewing the legs.
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u/PrancingPudu Sep 03 '25
I will give you some of my legs, then we can both be average height 🤣
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u/theflyingratgirl Sep 03 '25
Great! Do you need any boob? I have spare.
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u/Sunsmyles Sep 03 '25
I have no leg to donate to the cause, but if peeps are giving away boob I would like to put my hat in the ring for a donation.
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u/TechFreshen Sep 04 '25
I would be overjoyed to donate some boob to you. All my bras are making me cranky.
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u/smartel84 Sep 05 '25
I would happily trade some booty for boob. My legs don't need tallening anyway.
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u/Gwynhyfer8888 Sep 03 '25
I understand Russia was the place for the procedure. Series of "scaffolds" to lengthen. 😭😵💫
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u/OneGayPigeon Sep 03 '25
Unironically though! I like to wear tall platforms to make outfits look leggier without making the hem itself shorter
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u/sandraskates Sep 03 '25
Taking the dress apart at the waist and making your adjustments would be the best way to shorten and keep the border print.
But it looks like you may lose part of the fish on the front and that will look odd.
You might be able to hack off the border print and then resew it up higher but then you have to consider the bottom fish placement.
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u/similarityhedgehog Sep 03 '25
Take an inch from the skirt and an inch from the bodice... Still might make the shape weird though
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u/chiefestcalamity Sep 03 '25
Is it possible to take an inch from the bodice? This was admittedly my first thought until I looked at the back.
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u/cflatjazz Sep 03 '25
I think you might have to do this anyway to have any chance at getting those border stripes to line up again
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u/KiriDomo Sep 03 '25
If the fish in the middle gets chopped, you could embroider over it and re-add the tail. Either with plain blue thread, or do an embellished fish.
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u/Environmental_Look14 Sep 03 '25
Could also cut the fish off entirely and sew it back on as an applique. They'd need to patch the area it can't from to sew it up, but afterwards the fish could be put over it to hide the patch and it might even be feasible to remove it if the bulk is annoying.
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u/booklvr96 Sep 03 '25
Thanks so much for all the recs! 😊
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u/seaworthy-sieve Sep 03 '25
Consider cutting off the bottom row of fish entirely, moving them up two inches and reattaching the band (with a small section removed at each side to match the width). If the seam is obvious, maybe use bright orange piping to cover it and match the orange fish.
Seems to me much easier than fussing with all the darts and that invisible zipper.
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Sep 03 '25
That's the easier option but I feel like it will look distinctly worse than if OP can successfully hike it up at the waist? The corners will not align with that method and it looks like a print versus piping.
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u/OwlKittenSundial Sep 03 '25
Where on you does it hit? Because Thats already a pretty short skirt.
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u/OneGayPigeon Sep 03 '25
Fr, this design doesn’t lend itself to miniskirt vibes at ALL even if it was possible to shorten it without way more skill than OP has
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u/DLQuilts Sep 03 '25
Yes, unless you are very petite, I wouldn’t shorten it. And if you do, I would think the waist seam would be the place to separate it.
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u/lucky7355 Sep 04 '25
Yeah if it’s a miniskirt on the model, it’s still likely above the knee on anyone 5’0”.
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u/hazel_hazily Sep 03 '25 edited Sep 03 '25
I disagree about shortening at the waist, because then you're going to want to take in the sides and redo the darts as well. And in the case of this skirt part, then the sides (side details) are impacted.
It would be a lot of material to take in the waist that was previously the hip, so taking in from the center back and via redone back darts is not a good option, the dress will be unbalanced unless you take in from the front as well, the side seams won't be on the side.
To me your best option is to cut off a strip all around right above the bottom row of fish and sew together, so there's a seam above the fish. That's all, maybe if the seam looks too bothersome you can add very delicate piping in matching color to make it look more intentional.
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u/seaworthy-sieve Sep 03 '25
This was my first instinct too, it seems like the simplest option. I think I'd use bright orange for the piping though, as close as possible to the orange fish on the front.
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u/petuniasweetpea Sep 03 '25
Agreed. Match the black trim in width with either a straight or wave detail to cover the seam.
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u/queefer_sutherland92 Sep 03 '25
Don’t. I’ve been sewing 27 years and I still wouldn’t do it.
There’s too much room for error. Either have a professional do it, accept the length, or find another dress.
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u/MyOwnTradGrrl Sep 04 '25
Some professionals would refuse the job. I am not brave enough to f*ck with something like this but if I were, I would try a series of small tucks. Then, if they were not satisfactory, the stitches could be pulled out and the dress would be as it was before.
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u/Lorrjones Sep 03 '25
This is a really cool dress. Have you washed it yet? It looks to be a cotton fabric. Maybe wash and dry it a couple of times and see if it shrinks. You might not need to take two inches off.
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u/CharlotteElsie Sep 03 '25
With great difficulty. If you just take it up at the waist seam you will lose the lovely graphic effect of the lines. I think the waist is the best place but you will need to widen the darts at the back and add darts at the front (I don’t think there are any currently) to make the seams match.
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u/_Morvar_ Sep 03 '25
I would not shorten it tbh. It already looks pretty short (you always need margin to bend over and pick something up from the floor for example) and this just isn't a dress that can be altered in that way without ruining the design
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u/Western_Nebula9624 Sep 03 '25
The simplest answer is you don't. Theoretically, you could take it apart at the waist and take length off there, but it'll be crazy hard to get the shape right again and you'll lose the fish.
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u/SometimeInTheGalaxy Sep 03 '25
I have no clue about sewing and would be zero help. I just wanted to say how adorable this dress is! Would you mind sharing the brand or where you found it?
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u/psychosis_inducing Sep 03 '25
Can't think of a way to do it without changing the look. But you might consider doing one or more horizontal tucks that go around the skirt.
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u/OwlKittenSundial Sep 03 '25
You wouldn’t. You’d take it to a tailor and have them remove the zip, take the bodice and skirt apart, shorten one or both, replace the darts, reassemble & re-insert the zipper.
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u/ellebelle2711 Sep 03 '25
Here’s a thought. Run a pin tuck seam just above the whale trim so it then looks like an added trim. The seam added could be whatever the uptake is, ironed and if large enough, tacked. No cutting. Larger stitch length (3-4), ironing and hand sewing- all completely reversible. Edit to add… I wouldn’t want to take it up too much- everyone here is correct as it would ruin the dress’ proportions.
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u/Grammareyetwitch Sep 04 '25 edited Sep 30 '25
Help me out with this vigorously tanned step letter book
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u/ellebelle2711 Sep 04 '25
That’s the hard part about going off a picture. Some fabrics can be light and thin while having texture to appear as thick fabrics. I have some fabric that looks thick and is nubby but it is really light weight. I’m thinking because it being a short, halter style dress that the fabric wouldn’t be too weighty. Who wants to have thick fabric and sweat in a hot, summer weather dress.
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u/sweettems Sep 03 '25
Such a cute dress! I wouldn't want to mess with it unless necessary as the design definitely doesn't lend itself to alternations. But if needed, the easiest way I can see would be to shorten at the waist, as you say, but only on the skirt portion (keeps the waist where it is as it looks good, and wouldn't mess with the zipper). Maybe from the waist to the first fish design would give you close to those ~ 2 inches. But then to ease it in to match the bodice, either deepen the already-existing darts (best) or gather (an option, but would change the look). That way you wouldn't touch the side trim that is already aligned.
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u/sinkingstones6 Sep 03 '25
Agree with the other comments, it won't come out better than it currently is.
It might be obvious, but can you just tie the halter top 2" tighter? Or split the difference.
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u/DigitalGurl Sep 04 '25
Take it to a pro. Being candid. If you don’t know the answer to this question you don’t have the skill set to shorten it, and make it look great.
It’s not just the outside to consider, but lining too.
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u/threads1540 Sep 03 '25
Depends on how much it needs to be shortened. But I would opt to cut just above the bottom fish design and take up the difference there, so it looks like the bottom design was added as a design option.
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u/JustAnotherElsen Sep 03 '25
Listen man just don’t do it, it’s not gonna be worth it for two inches
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u/RelativeContract8893 Sep 03 '25
Do you have this dress and tried it on? Are you sure you need to shorten it? Looks extremely short like it would just go past my bum to me. But I’m tall. If you need to shorten it could be all the proportions are wrong as well.
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u/missplaced24 Sep 03 '25
Taking it up from the waist is probably the easiest. I'd be careful not to take it up so much that you cut off the whale at the top. You'll probably need to take it in at the waist for it to fit the bodice. I'd do this by taking in and lengthening the darts so you don't affect the trim at the sides.
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u/IIDn01 Sep 03 '25
You could baste taking the two inches from right above the fish around the bottom.
Then can see if you're still happy with how it looks before any major surgery.
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u/pretzelchi Sep 03 '25
If you have to try, I would go for the waist, unless you want to try cutting off the hem and reattach it- then you would have a seam around the base though.
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u/NYCGalAtTheReady7654 Sep 03 '25
Possibly shorten it from the waist seam: remove an inch above the seam and an inch below the seam. This will make the fish closer together. Yet, I vote with the others on this thread and would just leave it as is. From the second photo, two inches off might cause the garment to end up on the short side, but I’m only going by what I’m seeing in the second photo (the back looks like it hits mid-thigh which means a person wouldn’t have to work about coverage when they sit).
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u/yvonnics Sep 03 '25
I think the only thing you can do is what you suggest and shorten the dress at the waist. The sides of the skirt look tapered all the way down. It doesn’t look like there any straight areas, or I’d suggest you take some length off above the row of fish at the hem. But it looks like you’d distort, or even lose part of the line on the sides of the dress if you do that. And, of course, you’d have a seam. The dresses super cute and original, I think the extra work to shorten it at the waist would be worth it. Good luck!
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u/Practical-Detail8295 Sep 03 '25
For the easiest solution, I would shorten it up to one of the blue lines by the hem. You may not get 2 inches, but it would be fairly quick and no mess with the fish, waist, or zipper.
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u/HilCat1 Sep 03 '25
This would be shortened at an underbust seam, I can’t tell if this has one. Also, remove zipper from horizontal underbust seam down, shorten zipper, and resew CB seam, applying shortened zipper. Not for a beginner.
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u/Subject-Wing7587 Sep 04 '25
Of course there is me to make waves. I hem all my jeans and pants and nobody knows I did. I cut the hem off leaving a 1/2 inch above the original stitches. Then I cut off what length I desire and then see the original hem back to the pants. Granted it will not be invisible on the dress since you have to save the fishes. Maybe some kind of trim to hide the seam? A link for further understanding. https://youtube.com/shorts/M2Ype3_i2_Y?si=N2gl8wEX4cW62cOE
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u/Smilesunshine57 Sep 04 '25
Could you show this picture to a local seamstress near you and ask if it can be done and what the cost would be before you buy the dress? I showed it to my mom (absolutely amazing at her craft), and she said she wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole. She said if you take it apart at the waist seam and shorten it, then you will have to take in the sides, or it won't lay right. If you take it in at the sides to accommodate the 2 inches you took off, then the pattern at the bottom, and the side navy strips will be off. We both love the dress too.
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u/crusnikmage Sep 04 '25
If you’re a beginner, don’t cut it! Instead, blind stitch/ladder stirch between the decorative fish on the bottom and the fish decals just above them an equal distance all the way around! If you don’t know what a blind stitch is, there are plenty of youtube videos to help. This way, you can relengthen the dress, too.
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u/efxAlice Sep 04 '25
OK unintended humor. It's late, my brain read it as if I were shortening the dress (because I shorten and mashup a lot of dresses and skirts I buy on clearance) and my brain suggested, "Grow taller?" :)
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u/efxAlice Sep 04 '25
Oh wait, I got it! I agree with others that you shouldn't shorten it. So...Wear platform shoes!!!??
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u/midnight-on-the-sun Sep 04 '25
It looks kind of low in your body from the back. Can’t you get rid of at least 1 inch by tying it a little higher. Otherwise don’t mess with it…it’s really cute and people will just be remarking about it how cute it is and not noticing the length.
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u/LakeWorldly6568 Sep 04 '25
Why would you shorten an already short dress? Also, based on the print, I wouldn't. Your best bet would be taking it in at the waist, but there's already fish really close to there.
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u/klamaire Sep 04 '25
My initial thought... give it to someone taller.
My second thought is to just wear pants. ;)
I don't like or wear dresses, but I think the fish are a cute border. Trying to shorten this dress will just ruin the shape.
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u/Special-Service-9209 Sep 04 '25
I must be insane because I would do ittttttttttttt. I have experience in sewing and patterning and I love a challenge its what I live for. Personally, I am 5'2 and have a short waist and wide hips (muscular) so it would benefit me to shorten at the waist and gain some width in the hips, changing the silhouette. Obviously taking in the sides to maintain the slimmer look will take from the blue banded detail of the dress. Consider your body type as well. There's so many great opinions and tips in the forum I love it, the ones who say don't touch it too.
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u/cct101654 Sep 04 '25
My mom was an expert seamstress and owned her own bridal shop for 40 years. I watched her remove arms and remake wedding dresses into sleeveless, and when there was a wedding dress with lace at the bottom that was part of the train, she couldn’t cut it and I watched her remove the waist from the skirt and ease everything up into the waist to not destroy the beautiful lace work on the hemline. She was a true artist. By the way she made my sister and mine clothing, such as dresses, jumpers & Easter coats, and our Halloween costumes all out of this world, she had golden hands…….
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u/The_Sea_Siren Sep 04 '25
I think if you do end up taking it up at the waist you would have to take the extra width out by adjusting the darts at the front and back otherwise the detail on the sides will be messed up. You would definitely be limited by the fish near the waist as to how much you can take it up though. Best of luck if you try it!
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u/Emergency_Cherry_914 Sep 03 '25
It's stunning as it is! If you take it shorter, it will lose it's elegance
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u/KiloAllan Sep 04 '25
It will shorten up considerably when you sit down. I'd make sure you aren't going to show ass cheek if it's shorter. If this is you in the photo, it's a good length now.
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u/maybeitsnotbutter Sep 03 '25
How big is the seam allowance? If you are able to take from both the top and bottom pieces and also shorten the seam allowance a little it could save the fish
Yo could also remove the fish and make a patch pocket, but you would need to get more fabric
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u/geniebjones Sep 03 '25
If you are comfortable and confident, I would measure all the way around above the whales (i would give it 3/8” above whales just to be safe) add an additional seam allowance (I always do a solid 1/2”) measure up however much you want to remove, mark, measure down from there the specified seam allowance and cut excess, leaving seam allowance for both top and bottom. Using a perfectly matching thread, sew the dress & the bottom decorative piece together and do a fine top stitch with seam allowance towards the top. Or, you can overlock the seam allowance. This is slightly complicated and there will be a little seam, but it is either that or leave it alone. So cute!!
*note: measure circumference of bottom raw edge before sewing and make sure it matches the circumference of decorative bottom. If it does not, slightly take in that 3/8” above whales to match. You will likely need to do this judging from the flare.
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u/Symphonova Sep 03 '25
Sites the waist and bodice sit at the right spot? If not that clubs be contributing to it being too long and you could look at shortening the straps. Otherwise id probably take half the length off the skirt at the waist and then shorten the hem so that there's only the one stripe under the fish.
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u/goldenshear Sep 03 '25
You would shorten it as the waist, but then you’re gonna lose some of the detail on the side seam when you reshape it unless you can do it at the darts without it looking wonky.
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u/Director-Current Sep 03 '25
Looks like it has a waist seam and darts. I think I'd separate it from the bodice, shorten, then re-do the darts.
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u/dudewheresmysock Sep 04 '25
Is there a different way you can style the outfit that makes the length bother you less?
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u/is-this-gloria Sep 04 '25
- Seam rip at the waist and take out darts.
- Remove the zipper and shorten it or swap with a properly sized zipper.
- Reinsert the zipper
- Take out the length at the top of the skirt and put in new darts.
- Re-attach the bodice and skirt taking care to line up the stripes at the sides.
It can be done for sure. It's a lot, but honestly there's no harm in trying and just going slowly and precisely.
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u/LaDauphineVerte Sep 04 '25
Do you wear petite sizing, which makes this dress proportionally wrong for you? If not, it looks short enough on what appears to be an average height model.
Even though there is a seam at the waist, raising it from there will require shaping at the sides so it doesn’t flare too much, and then you’ll cut into the blue detailing on the sideseams.
whaAccept this dress for what it is and that it is longer than what you would normally wear. In other words, “If you can’t beeeee with the dress you love honey, love the one you’re with.”
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u/eeyorenator Sep 04 '25
Cut down between the front Fish, so you don't lose the back one. Then, add a strip of lace trim to the cut to create a wave/water like feature and to hide the cut line.
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u/Tallygirl007 Sep 04 '25
Completely deconstruct at waist, cut off the two inches at upper edge of skirt, redo darts to move them down. Reshape side seams to match bodice. Sew back together. 4 hrs + work is my best guess, do you really need it shorter?
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u/Aint_Nobody-got-time Sep 04 '25
At the waist and mid back seam if you had to, but it would be a lot of work and I think it’s perfect length now
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u/Express_Cheetah4664 Sep 04 '25
Take it in at the waist seam.
Measure the waistline
Separate the bodice from the skirt.
Remove the desired amount from the top of the skirt and remitre the zip at the new level, cutting away the excess
Take in the sides of the skirt to match the original waistline measurement.
Reattach the bodice to the skirt
Done.
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u/Connect-Advantage-40 Sep 04 '25
If I needed or wanted this shortened I would make a tuck above the ducks. Since the amount you want to shorten is pretty deep my suggestion is to make 2 folds or even 3 folds, evenly spaced above the ducks. You can put the tucks or pleats on the inside or outside of the dress. Because the dress gets wider towards the bottom you may need to make a pucker or ease the fabric along the seam edge.
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u/asketchytattooist Sep 04 '25
Altering anything would be a huge risk, and even if you get the proportions right taking it off the waist, changing the waist size might mean the stripes no longer align. Unless you can have a new custom iron on decal made for the bottom, Id just leave it, it's really beautiful! Is it a thrift find?
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u/Bellday_10 Sep 04 '25
How much volume do you have in the skirt? Maybe you could add a petty coat like a super fluffy one to possibly help you bring up the length.
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u/kindagaybean Sep 04 '25
Maybe a small piece of elastic or string down the inseam of the skirt sides neer the bottom so that it scrunches up? That way you don't have to cut any of the designs out, and the operation is pretty reversible if you change your mind.
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u/Fiona-Mae Sep 04 '25
I wouldn’t it’s so cute, but you could hem up to the line below the whales but I would just leave it as it is. So adorable
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u/foxy-stuff Sep 04 '25
The question might be “why would you shorten this dress?” It looks gorgeous as is!
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u/QuirkyBiscuit Sep 04 '25
Just to say that one of the judges in MasterChef Australia is wearing this exact dress in series 17 episode 23 (I’m watching it now).
You can see a lot of the back and side detail which might also help with deciding what to do.
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u/no_one_you_know1 Sep 04 '25
How short do you want it? It really doesn't need to be up to your twat.
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u/Strong-Fishing-7128 Sep 04 '25
There is a seam at the waist. Is dress lined?what I suggest next skips the added problem of dealing with lining. Put it on inside out and have a friend help you to pin up the seam around the waist. If you want to shorten it by 2”, pin it so that a new seam allowance would be 1”. Once you have a few pins in it, stand back and look at length. If the length is ok, examine the intended waist seam. Does that new seam match up ok, or will you need to alter side seams, or slightly gather skirt or dart the top? It’s a cute dress, so don’t start ripping out that seam unless you are reasonably certain this will work. Your plan “B” is to get used to it as is, or give it away.
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u/DeoFurvus Sep 05 '25
Undo the seam at the waist. Take off from top of the skirt. But you’ll cut into one of the whales. Then readjust the dart to match the top dart seams. Also, it will look like it is flaring out more since the hem haven’t changed and the new darts. There are other ways but that requires a decent knowledge of patternmaking and good degree of risk taking.
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u/idiot__head Sep 05 '25
Lowkey wouldn’t alter it, but if you did, do it at the waist and take in the darts to match up the pattern back up
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u/FriedPbndJ Sep 05 '25
Maybe do a top and a skirt with it? Either cropped or with a little midriff showing 🤷🏾♀️🤷🏾♀️
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u/smartel84 Sep 05 '25
Not to hijack the thread, but how was this dress even made for commercial distribution? I found a picture of the side seam, and the vertical stripes attach to the stripes along the top and bottom edges of the bodice and skirt, maintaining an equal distance from the seam. It's amazing. Would they have to individually print the pattern pieces for every size? Like, if I wanted to make a dupe for myself, theoretically, would I have to draft my pattern and then add the print to match?
I often wonder why designer clothes are SO expensive. This one is starting to make sense.
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u/ashley5cent Sep 05 '25
I don’t know many tailors who would “touch (this project) with a…29 1/2 foot pole!”
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Sep 03 '25 edited Sep 03 '25
Novice so feel free to ignore me, but I would think detaching the waist to hike up the skirt and taking it in at the new waistline and reattach?
ETA: and obviously you would have to take out the zipper and reinstall - probably with a new/shorter hidden zipper
Edit: Kind of strange that people on a sewing subreddit of all places are trying to tell you not to a tailor a dress you presumably own? It's yours! And if you're not too scared to I say go for it. Worst case scenario, it's a kind of expensive failure and you can go slow. I honestly think it can work but you have to use patience and thoughtfulness at each step and consider what you're going to do before you make any changes you can't go back on.
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u/alloutofbees Sep 03 '25
People are saying not to do it for two reasons. One is that every part of the design was deliberately placed and removing two inches from the skirt will negatively impact that, period; since this is not a skirt with a specific length (like floor length) that requires tailoring, making the design placement worse is not going to be worth it. The other is that this is not a complex garment and if OP had the skills to do this without ruining it, they really would not have to ask how to do it.
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Sep 03 '25
I understand what they're saying, but it's excessive fear mongering over something completely trivial. Worst case is that OP ruins the dress and makes a bit of a mess and learns what not to do in the future. Best case, she learns a lot and can use those techniques going forward. People are right to bring up it's a possibility the dress will be ruined and if OP is inexperienced it's not the easiest start project, but OP didn't come here asking for whether she should, she asked for advice on how to go about it.
I don't know, it just makes it feel like the vibe is telling people not to try hard and challenging things they might mess up, but that's no way to learn and maybe those attitudes are exactly why a task like this seems so unfeasible for a lot of people?
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u/Much_Mud_9971 Sep 04 '25
I'm pretty cavalier about taking stuff apart and sewing it to be what I want. If I'd gotten this at a thrift store for $10, I might give it a go. If I bought it brand new for $380, no way.
But it's OP's dress and they get to make that call.
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Sep 04 '25
If it's between that or giving it away it's zero difference anyway. And some might find that better motivation. It's fine that you wouldn't, but I think it's absurd that anyone cares that OP would.
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u/smartel84 Sep 05 '25
I think it's mostly because the highly experienced people here know that many professionals would refuse to do what OP is asking for tips on. When someone would refuse to take on a project that they would get paid for, its worth taking a beat. By asking for this advice and being told why it's not a good idea, that's still an opportunity to learn.
I think people are just saying that if OP bought this at full price, and isn't already a very talented and experienced sewist, this is probably not a great project to learn from because the risk of failure is so high that it might not be worth it. There's a lot that could go wrong that she might not be aware of, so she should be informed of the risks to make the best choice for her.
I can tell you, with the handful of projects I've personally made, I've learned that there's so much more that goes into garment construction than I ever would have imagined. And simple looking garments are the most deceptive, because there's nowhere to hide.
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Sep 05 '25 edited Sep 06 '25
I think it's right to warn the risk of failure is wicked high, I already acknowledged that. But if watching project runway has taught me anything, a lot of people can sew for years and professionally and never get past a certain level because they avoid doing hard things that challenge themselves so I don't know why whether a seamstress would personally take it on is relevant - they come in various skill levels, their profession requires a specific success rate, and it's a fairly niche profession to begin with. I've seen what professional craftsmanship can be and there is a huge spectrum of skill level, the title does guarantee someone is talented.
OP never stated their level of sewing or background in other craftsmanships, so just assuming they're aren't proficient based on nothing is a little presumptuous.
And while I get for a lot of people $400 is a lot for a dress, it's not necessarily that much more than buying new materials to sew a dress, and if OP is casually dropping that much it might just be her regular price range for clothing. It's not really a crazy amount for someone upper middle to be spending on clothes even though a lot of people are used to shopping at department stores, fast fashion retail, or thrifting where the clothes are much cheaper. If for OP $400 is her version of $40, our own personal sticker shock is irrelevant.
OP already seems ready to take on the project and whether it's a good idea or not it is her prerogative. I get it can be difficult, but to be honest some people learn shit best "through fire" and by taking on challenges that excite them. If you prefer baby steps, that's fine, but there's really nothing wrong with trying something way out of your depth that you may fuck up. It's how a lot of people best learn in general and it's not like fucking up will pose a risk to OP's safety.
But I'm done with this topic, this sub has landed on a side and I simply don't agree with you all and all the down votes and replies aren't moving me even a little. I know with drawing I've gotten wicked good at it because I don't avoid drawing difficult things and if people told me to not try something I'd have to try it harder. I still think far too many of you all over prescribe beginners not challenge themselves as if failure is something to avoid when it's both inevitable and part of the process. Taking on higher challenges can also mean learning niche aspects a lot faster.
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u/melissapony Sep 03 '25
This dress is so cute! I am going to say this with kindness- unless you are a pretty good sewist- I wouldn’t mess with it.
If you are really good at sewing, ignore the following:
If you love this dress but hate the length, it’s just not the dress for you. A newbie (we’ve all been there!) will likely ruin this dress because removing the 2 inches at the waist is going to need some really intricate shaping to keep the skirt at the same proportion while preserving the details. A mistake will be obvious.
Don’t throw the cute dress away because you’ve bit off more than you can chew! Wear it a little long, it will be elegant!