Sartorial decisions

[starlady]

Back in Jersey. I did not default on Yuletide, at the price that almost nothing has been done for Christmas. We got new phones, so I am now a bemused owner of a freakishly large Galaxy SIII. Students whining about grades was old yesterday.

I went to Target for Christmas shopping tonight and tried on this dress. I don't know where Target gets its garment silhouettes, but it was tight in the waist and there was too much material in the shoulders and upper back. But I liked the dress ($50 is the upper limit of what I would want to pay for it, though), and I'm sort of tempted to buy one and get it altered. Is that feasible? Are there still people who do that? Is this dress worth doing that, materials-wise? I know nothing, internets, instruct me! The most I've ever done is gotten pants hemmed.

Comments

[via_ostiense]

Yes, you can still get alterations done, but it's best to look for a tailor or seamstress rather than taking it to a dry cleaner that does alterations if it's more complicated than hemming pants (and sometimes, even if it's just hemming pants, grr). In SF, Victoria in Lower Nob is great. Taking material out of the shoulders and upper back doesn't look like it'd be difficult, but letting out the waist may be a problem; check the seam on the inside and see how much fabric there is. If the seam allowance is too small, you can't let it out, and that's often the case with clothes these days.

[starlady]

I was honestly planning on just buying a size up to avoid that problem, if they'd already be cutting down the dress. Thank you!!

[metaphortunate]

Thanks for the location rec!

[lilacsigil]

It's much harder to take a garment out than take it in. I have a relatively small waist compared to my hips, so I buy to fit my hips then take in the waist. You'd be best to get something that fits correctly at the smallest point, then take in the bigger areas.

[kerrypolka]

I do that with all my dresses, and for very similar reasons (especially too much material in the back - I think they're all made for taller people than I). They always look smashing once they're done - I definitely recommend it!