How to shorten a lace wedding dress without losing its details
Natalia3 min read
A lace dress is rarely shortened with a simple snip. To keep its charm, the alteration has to respect how it was built.
Why lace needs special attention
Many dresses have a scalloped border at the bottom of the skirt. Cutting below it would make it disappear. Instead, the border is detached, the fabric shortened, and the border hand-sewn back at the new length.
Appliqués and layers
Appliqués that run down the skirt are removed and repositioned to keep a balanced pattern. Each layer — lining, tulle, lace — is shortened separately to the right length so the skirt falls naturally.
What's possible
In most cases the original look can be preserved when the construction allows it. It takes longer than a simple hem, which is reflected in the quote given at your consultation.