Prom dress styles are getting sexier every year with backless gowns and hyper-plunging necklines. So we can tell immediately when looking at a gown that we are going to have some "bra issues." Some of us are blessed and can get away without wearing a bra. But the rest of us need one at all times, even in a several hundred dollar gown.
The goods news is that there are options. Some dresses have built in bras that may or may not do the trick, but another option is the adhesive bra cup. There are self-supporting, adhesive bras that stick to your skin or your dress and they can be backless, strapless or both. Another great thing about these types of bras is that they don't leave any glue residue and they can be worn multiple times.
If you find yourself in a bra dilemma, these self-adhesive cups really seal the deal. Check out Tiza's own self-adhesive bra coming October 2007.
In order for your prom dress to look absolutely perfect, alterations are a necessary step to creating the perfect fit.
The first step is finding a good seamstress. Many dress shops have a seamstress on staff and she has plenty of experience altering evening wear all day. Bridal shops are another place to find a talented seamstress. These women are constantly working on difficult wedding dresses and your prom dress will probably be extremely easy for them.
For hemming, expect to pay $10-$20, but every seamstress is different. It wouldn't hurt to call ahead for a bid or drop in for a consult with your gown.
If you have some height and want to add length to your gown, consider making the dress a high-low hem line. This kind of hem is short in the front and low in the back. This style is rather popular and is in style just as much as floor length dresses. You could also consider wearing flat ballerina shoes or designer flip-flops instead of heels. But if you are set on wearing a floor length gown with high-heels, you can always order a shawl that matches your gown and have a seamstress add it to the bottom of the dress. This usually costs about $20.
If you are ordering a dress from the Internet, order one size bigger and see a seamstress to take it in. It's very easy and inexpensive to take a gown in a few inches, $10-$20. But if you order a size too small, it is difficult and sometimes impossible to let out the dress. The fabric will either expose pin holes or there may not be enough material to let it out.
For trains, ask your seamstress to keep the train, but craft something so that it can be brought up for dancing. You can ask for a small pearl to be sewn on the back of the dress for a very elegant look then sew some loops of thread to wear the gown would need to be brought up. Now when you are ready to dance at the prom, you just attach the threads around the pearl and you are ready to go without causing any damage to your train. This can cost between $5 and $10.
With just a few alterations, you are ready to paint the prom red!
