I agree with this. I feline the bust seam isn’t hitting you under your bust line, and the overall amounr of fabric is overwhelming you.
I do like the fabric (as others have said)
Thanks everyone. I guess I knew it really wasn’t me. It sold for $150 on Poshmark. So I’m actually considering reselling it since it’s new. I just love that fabric. I’m even considering having my alterations lady make a skirt out of it or alter the entire dress somehow. But those voluminous skirts don’t look good on me either. I found it in this style on Google search but can’t find it for sale. My alterations lady is a wizard so maybe she can think of something
4 Likes
I’m a fan of the renovated dress! The Ross one isn’t nearly as flattering. My H would prefer the bottom dress too.
Are you wearing a bandeau bra under your dress? I found that a bra that scoops and somewhat lifts the ladies (not to be confused with the girls of yesteryear 
) helps with fit. My favorite is this one by Wacoal.
https://www.nordstrom.com/s/wacoal-halo-lace-underwire-strapless-bra/4367866
1 Like
I’m wearing a strapless bra.
Hmmm… then a bra obviously wouldn’t help. The front view looks fine to me. It is the side one that kind of makes it look that the dress is a bit off. But I still like it.
I know. I think I’m going to have to take it back. I think that style would look best on a young woman. Bummer.
Would some sort of belt help?
With the seam above the waist, probably not. But worth worth a try!
1 Like
Here is my belief on empire waists, which may or may not be accurate. I believe this style works best on someone who has a small bust and/or has a more straight up and down figure.
I am not all that busty, but the struggle I have with that type of dress (or any kind of dress that doesn’t have at least a seam at the waist) is it makes my whole person look the same size as my chest. My waist is relatively small in comparison to my chest, so anything, “swingy,” or overly full with no waist defining feature makes me look like a tree trunk.
YMMV
6 Likes
Generally, I also have difficulty wearing empire waist because I just don’t find it flattering on me. I like things that have a natural waist so it looks like I have a waist instead of the entire body looking like a long column draped in fabric.
2 Likes
I love the print of the dress. It would be perfect for Napa in the summer. I think it looks big on you. I wonder if your seamstress could reduce the fabric volume through the lower part. My sister lives in Napa and in the summer it’s nice to have something flowy and not structured in the heat. When she lived in SF she dressed more form fitting in the summer but in Napa she has switched to lightweight dresses.
2 Likes
That’s how I feel.
100% agree on the empire waist style being unflattering (for me). I just look big all over. I guess on some people it looks good… def not my style!
1 Like
I am relatively flat-chested and straight, and this is a challenging cut for me too. Empire waists really need to fall straight from the seam beneath that bandeau part in the front to be flattering. If they fall from the fullest part of the bust, eek! And if there is fullness in the skirt, a fabric that has any stiffness will happily fill that space. It’s hard to get a drapy fabric and precision tailoring through the chest.
They also seem to look less like they are hiding something when they are shorter and expose attractive legs. For me, that look is too baby-doll ish.
3 Likes
An empire waist with a flowy skirt always had me worried that I looked pregnant (in my child-bearing days). Ideally, I think this style looks good on tall, slim women.
I do love the print of that dress, conmama. You’re fortunate if you have a gifted seamstress who can alter it for you. I’m finding alterations to be so pricy lately, it’s sometimes hard to justify the cost vs. the cost of the garment. Younger D’s alternations to her prom dress cost more than her dress! Makes me wish I had paid more attention to the sewing part of my home economics class in HS.
8 Likes
Even though I can sew & hem & have hemmed some of our garments, I paid to have D’s chiffon bridesmaid gown lined with satin hemmed by seamstress. Yes, I COULD have done it but we were happy to let a pro do the work. The company that sold the dress paid part of the hemming, making it less costly.
1 Like
I love the idea of making a skirt out of that fabric (if your seamstress could also make it a little less bulky) and pairing it with a more form fitting dark (can’t tell if it is navy or black in the dress) sleeveless top. The pattern is really pretty and different.
4 Likes
I think the straps on the dress we have been discussing might need an adjustment. Judging by the side view pic, it looks like they are pulling the empire waistline up past the point where it is supposed to be. Also, the bust area might be a tad too small, but it is hard to say. Might be a simple fix or might be not!
Agree with the above idea of making a skirt out of the fabric and pairing with a darker top like a halter neck one.
2 Likes
I had tried it on in a smaller size. The bust seam did come in more towards my abdomen but was just too tight in the armpits.
I’m not much of a full or circle skirt wearer, so I’m rethinking that alteration. I think it’s going back. I tried putting on a wide belt and the silhouette looked so much better. But I can’t do it with that high seam, it looked weird.
7 Likes