The client loved the beaded bodice of this evening gown, but the long fishtail skirt did not feel like her. She wanted to keep the top of the dress but make the lower half shorter, cleaner and easier to wear. So instead of replacing the dress, I reshaped the skirt into a knee-length pencil silhouette.
RESHAPING THE SKIRT
I first pinned the new length and shape on the client so we could see where the skirt should finish and how narrow the new silhouette could be while still allowing comfortable movement.
The original fishtail volume was removed and the side seams reshaped to create a cleaner pencil skirt line.
REBUILDING THE HEM
Once the new silhouette was established, I removed the excess length, reshaped the side seams and rebuilt the hem. Because the original skirt was designed as a fishtail, shortening it was not simply a matter of cutting it straight across. The proportions had to be redrawn so the new hem and skirt shape worked together.
THE FINISHED DRESS
The finished dress keeps the original beaded bodice and waist detail, but the new pencil skirt gives it a completely different proportion and makes it much easier to wear.
Have a dress you love but a silhouette that does not quite work for you?
Send me a few photos on WhatsApp and tell me what you would like to change.
Royal Blue Gown Restyling: Corset Back & Hand-Shaped Bow This
