Strapless Dress nightmare - foundations or alteration?

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Patentleathershoes

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For dress up occassions I wear a lot of 50s dresses because they best suit me. I shouldn't admit it, lest people want to throw tomatoes at me, but i don't wear period apropriate foundations because quite frankly, my waist is tiny (though i wish other parts of me would be the same lol) and I don't need any enhancing/decreasing for the dresses to look completely aprorpiate.

I have recently ventured into strapless dresses, the very brave soul that I am - and the bust measurements are just a bit smaller than I wear in regular formal dresses because they are supposed to be worn tighter, but the waist measure is the same. In fact, I would say it would be even 3-4" smaller in the bust.

Anyways, there is a dress that i would really like to wear and it is fitted, but fits just fine and comfortable in the waist. It does appear that it fits fine at the top edge and the bust. BUT the only problem is i can't quite get it zipped over my second rib from the bottom. When i hold it together across my back there is enough material to fit me around the bust and all other areas...it is just that ONE little spot.

My question is....is this an alteration situation (either mildly take out or pass it on and get a dress that i have to alter down) or is this a foundation/period corselet situation? I know if this were an antique dress then it would obviously be the second but not sure here.

In this case also, it seems to be with strapless dresses that one inch up in the bust in size makes it bigger all around and then it would dit in the bust, but not fit me at the top of the bodice or sometimes the waist....it has a gap that would definitely need altering.

So what do you all think..obvious foundation garment fix or should i just face the reality that i can't cram myself into something lol ??
 
I probably wont get around to any photo until midweek but its a fitted strapless bodice w/ stays (artificual boning?) and a very full skirt - ballgown like. clear as mud right?
 
I don't think a girdle would get your rib in, only a corset would.
I would try to find the less bulkiest underbust or waistcincherb corset you can find (just a unlined one made from one layer of fabric) and that should do the trick.
The lower ribs are bendy as they are made from cartilage so a corset will get that pesky one in. :USETHUMBUP:

Lei
 
lol! thank goodness for bendy ribs. so where would one find such a thing? i have been investigating very simple corset and waistcinchers and got very confused (easily done for me) as i am a little timid of such things but would like one to wear when necessary! necessary probably being after my christmas indulgences, lol :)
 
You are on a roll today, Lizzie. :hysterical:

I have a waist cincher around here somewhere but I think it is a size large so won't help you.
 
Lizzie, I would laugh if i didn't know that women really do have surgeries to take out ribs! Who am i thinking of...(i don't remeber but it will come to me) who was a very well known fashionista or maybe it was the designer writing about her mother. One of them actually did that maybe in the 50s?

It gives me shivers!

Leigh, I will take a look. I wouldn't even be asking if it was a major amount but it is a fraction of an inch i would need (maybe 1/4 or an 1/8 would even do). Perhaps with proper garments all around it would even be less.

I will show the dress....after I am finished with the class i am taking this week I will have time to give it a proper mannequin debut
 
Oh i almost forgot.

What should i look for in sizing?

I know Lei that you said i should look for maybe a an 18 inch corset. I am sure a waist cincer would be bigger and more like the waist measure?

My waist measurement is 25" (before you throw rotten tomatos at me, keep in mind i am only 5') - i don't know what other measurements i would need to determine the size to get.

Chris
 
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