Since there seems to be a lot of interest in / use of boleros for modesty with formal dresses, I have created a couple more web sites specifically for shrugs / boleros:
www.boleropattern.com - This web site is dedicated to sewing boleros. Right now it has the three free patterns from ModestProm.com, with more to come. There will also be full-size patterns you can print for a nominal charge. And I've started on a gallery of commercial shrug/bolero patterns, so you can see what's available in the current pattern books right from your computer (minimizing time running to the cloth store and looking through the books). I'm really excited about this site and hope to beef it up significantly over the next few months!
www.shrugclothing.com - This web site has a store where you can buy shrugs/boleros online. They are in all styles, sizes, and colors. Also good for getting ideas.
www.boleroblack.com - This web site is exclusively for black shrugs/boleros, and has a store where you can buy them online (also good for getting ideas as to various styles & what's out there).
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
What I've Learned so Far
I have now altered approximately 20 dresses for modesty (not including all the alterations posted on the "Makeovers" section of ModestProm.com). And now I'm coming to some conclusions about the whole process. Here are my thoughts on modesty solutions, from most to least easiest.
Buy or sew a modest dress. It's really easiest and best if you can just find or sew a dress with a full bodice and sleeves in the first place. Obviously, it's less work. But there are fewer fit and coverage issues, too. Altering a dress by adding something to it, can be a tricky business. The wide straps I've been showing in these posts are harder to fit than you'd think. They almost have to be draped right on the individual girl, because the shoulder slope and shoulder width have a great effect on how they fit. They aren't a bad solution, but they still have the issue of not providing full under-arm coverage.
Buy a bolero. I think the next easiest solution, for a strapless or spaghetti strap dress, is if you can buy a bolero that works with the dress. Boleros are usually inexpensive, they come in many styles, and they have almost no fit issues. If it's the right style, it has almost no modesty issues (just have to be sure it's long enough, and that the cut in front is such that it won't show bra straps). This past formal dance that my son went to, I noticed that a lot of the girls were wearing boleros. A lot of those boleros were black. (Note: I just created a web site dedicated to black boleros, you can see it at www.boleroblack.com.)
Sew a bolero. The next easiest solution would be to make a bolero. Boleros are very easy to sew and to fit. You just have to be sure (as mentioned above) that the bolero is long enough and that it's cut right in the front, to provide the coverage needed for the dress.
Alter the dress itself. A final solution is to alter the dress itself - add sleeves, a wide strap, an inset, etc. (see examples on www.modestprom.com, under the "makeovers" section). The biggest challenge here is to find matching/coordinating cloth. (You don't have as much leeway cloth-wise as you do with a bolero, because the addition will be an actual part of the dress.) Additions right on the dress, take more skill (both design and sewing wise) than boleros do. But they can work pretty well if you can sew, and you're willing to take the time and trouble.
Buy or sew a modest dress. It's really easiest and best if you can just find or sew a dress with a full bodice and sleeves in the first place. Obviously, it's less work. But there are fewer fit and coverage issues, too. Altering a dress by adding something to it, can be a tricky business. The wide straps I've been showing in these posts are harder to fit than you'd think. They almost have to be draped right on the individual girl, because the shoulder slope and shoulder width have a great effect on how they fit. They aren't a bad solution, but they still have the issue of not providing full under-arm coverage.
Buy a bolero. I think the next easiest solution, for a strapless or spaghetti strap dress, is if you can buy a bolero that works with the dress. Boleros are usually inexpensive, they come in many styles, and they have almost no fit issues. If it's the right style, it has almost no modesty issues (just have to be sure it's long enough, and that the cut in front is such that it won't show bra straps). This past formal dance that my son went to, I noticed that a lot of the girls were wearing boleros. A lot of those boleros were black. (Note: I just created a web site dedicated to black boleros, you can see it at www.boleroblack.com.)
Sew a bolero. The next easiest solution would be to make a bolero. Boleros are very easy to sew and to fit. You just have to be sure (as mentioned above) that the bolero is long enough and that it's cut right in the front, to provide the coverage needed for the dress.
Alter the dress itself. A final solution is to alter the dress itself - add sleeves, a wide strap, an inset, etc. (see examples on www.modestprom.com, under the "makeovers" section). The biggest challenge here is to find matching/coordinating cloth. (You don't have as much leeway cloth-wise as you do with a bolero, because the addition will be an actual part of the dress.) Additions right on the dress, take more skill (both design and sewing wise) than boleros do. But they can work pretty well if you can sew, and you're willing to take the time and trouble.
Monday, December 7, 2009
A Piece of Good Luck!
The biggest challenge with modesty alterations is finding appropriate cloth. It has to match or coordinate. Finding matching cloth is almost impossible, so you usually have to use a matching wrap or cut the material from somewhere on the dress (I have been cutting it off the skirt bottoms for many of these alterations).
But every once in awhile, you find a dress that has an obvious solution. This was one such dress. Notice the sash down the front (it's kind of hard to see in the picture, but it's to the right). It screams to be used.
I cut the sash off from where it was attached under the folds. I discovered, to my delight, that it was bias-cut (bias-cut is great for shoulder straps because it will stretch, thus fitting and molding to the shoulder - but bias-cut takes more yardage, and you usually can't get it when you're cutting off the bottom of a dress).
I used the sash to make a wide, pleated strap for the alteration. It was already the right width, sewn and pressed and everything, and this piece of good luck made for a very easy alteration.
But every once in awhile, you find a dress that has an obvious solution. This was one such dress. Notice the sash down the front (it's kind of hard to see in the picture, but it's to the right). It screams to be used.
I cut the sash off from where it was attached under the folds. I discovered, to my delight, that it was bias-cut (bias-cut is great for shoulder straps because it will stretch, thus fitting and molding to the shoulder - but bias-cut takes more yardage, and you usually can't get it when you're cutting off the bottom of a dress).
I used the sash to make a wide, pleated strap for the alteration. It was already the right width, sewn and pressed and everything, and this piece of good luck made for a very easy alteration.
Brown Dress with Bolero
This is a beautiful dress, with lovely beading all over the bodice (the picture doesn't do it justice). I snatched it up because it had a bodice (not strapless or spaghetti straps). Unfortunately, not until I got it home and looked at it more closely did I realize that it was cut to sit off the shoulder.
The best solution I could think of for this was a bolero, and I was VERY lucky to find material that was almost an exact match at JoAnn's (this doesn't happen very often!) So I made the bolero, cutting it as short as I could, so as not to cover up any more of the beading than I had to.
I am not 100% satisfied with this solution, however. When I get more dresses done and feel less pressure, I might loop back to this dress and see if I can find a solution that satisfies me more.
The best solution I could think of for this was a bolero, and I was VERY lucky to find material that was almost an exact match at JoAnn's (this doesn't happen very often!) So I made the bolero, cutting it as short as I could, so as not to cover up any more of the beading than I had to.
I am not 100% satisfied with this solution, however. When I get more dresses done and feel less pressure, I might loop back to this dress and see if I can find a solution that satisfies me more.
Two Black Dresses with Cap Sleeves
These are two beautiful, understated, classic black dresses. They were both sleeveless. I added a small cap sleeve using the instructions in the "Makeover" section of Modestprom.com, except I made the "footballs" a little longer and narrower (9" x 2.5" instead of 7" by 3"). Here is the URL for the instructions: http://www.modestprom.com/modestmakeovers/sleevescap.htm
I should probably note that the necklines on both of theses dresses gap a little on the mannequin. If they also gap on the girls, I'm going to stitch around the inside with bracelet elastic and then pull them up a little, so they hug nice and tightly to the body (avoiding the 'I can see down to my shoes' syndrome).
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Purple dress with wide, gathered straps
Gathered straps this time, made from the dress's matching wrap:
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