How to Fix a Strapless Dress That Is Too Big

Written By
Aksana Nikolai
Aksana Nikolai
Published: Aug 21, 2009
Updated: Dec 13, 2021
1 minute read

Revealing without being overly risque, strapless dresses are beautiful. However, the dress must fit you well or it will instantly lose its appeal. Bulges of extra fabric and wrinkling can ruin the effect of a strapless dress. With that said, do not panic if you realize right before an important event that your dress is too big. Fortunately, you can easily fix the size of the dress on your own.

  • Pins
  • Thread
  • Needle

Put the dress on to get an idea of how much width you will need to take in to produce a good fit.

Remove the dress and turn it inside out. Use your hand to fold the extra fabric at the left side seams to create the illusion of a well-fitting dress. Use pins to secure the folded fabric in place.

Turn the dress right side out and try it on. If the adjustment has produced a suitable fit, use a straight stitch to secure your alteration and prevent it from coming undone.

Use a basting stitch to taper the excess fabric into the waistline.

Add extra padding to the bust of the dress or to your bra if the top does not fit properly. This is a quick, do-it-yourself solution that does not involve altering the seams at the bust.

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Aksana Nikolai

Aksana Nikolai is a graduate of the New York Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in language studies and international affairs. Nikolai is currently working in online marketing and communications. She has been writing since…

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