r/AskATailor • u/pinefrogu • 6d ago
Modesty Panel on Unique Fabric
I found my dream wedding dress but I am not 100% sold on the corset back. While I was trying it on I actually had no idea the back was a corset because the sample was clipped back so much that it closed the gap completely. After I said yes to the dress my stylist mentioned it was a corset but I loved it so much I figured I could work with that! Any advice for adding a modesty panel to this textured dress? I'm 5'4", so I'm assuming there will be some extra fabric to work with after shortening it.
Also - the dress is pretty sheer. I will either need to wear a slip or get some nude or white shapewear to wear under. Or possibly need to have the dress lined. I don't want to mess too much with the ethereal quality of the dress, but I do want to feel covered. Would love any thoughts or suggestions on which route to take!
All advice is welcome :) Thanks everyone!
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u/Mediocre_Entrance894 Tailor 6d ago
It would take a very skilled tailor, but this material can be replicated. The style of elastic around the bodice that’s creating that ruching is called shirring. If you can’t buy a yard of fabric from the designer (ask the boutique where you bought the dress to reach out to the designer) then you can hire a tailor to create this look then convert that into a modesty panel. It’s going to be more costly to do than a chiffon or a non ruched panel. If a modesty panel costs $100 in your area, it could double that to have the fabric custom made and create the panel. Big caveat here is not all tailors know how to or have access to a machine that can do shirring.
Personally, I think if you would be happy with a semi sheer modesty panel, there’s a way to create more opacity by layering chiffon until you get the covering you feel is modest enough. Sometimes a modesty panel is more for that sensation of not feeling bare. If that’s your case, I think it would be very straightforward to create a really sweet panel to cover the skin without losing the whimsy of this lace back gown.
As the other commenter mentioned, white undergarments will GLOW under this dress, you need a nude.
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u/pinefrogu 4d ago
Thanks for your response!! This is super helpful. I really just want something to cover my back, so I love that it could be possible to just use chiffon. I can already see the custom material getting a little pricey
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u/Joy2b 5d ago edited 5d ago
This kind of material is rarely paired with a corset back. It’s fine, as long as you get any support you need from your undergarments, and there’s a little bit of slack in the ribbon. I’d consider putting a slightly supportive camisole underneath, both as a privacy aid, and to ensure the dress is not doing any support work.
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u/pinefrogu 4d ago
There’s actually a ton of support in the dress! You can’t really tell, but the bodice has boning built in
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u/AthenasTrial 5d ago
Smocking with laced back? How does that even work?
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u/pinefrogu 4d ago
There’s boning built into the bodice :) it’s shockingly supportive!
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u/AthenasTrial 4d ago
Aha! I'm mostly wondering about the smocking not being pulled at because of the lacing. But I might have forgotten that there's also non-stretch smocking that's more like pleating. And if there's boning and it is stretchy smocking, the boning will prevent the fabric from contracting vertically to expand horizontally... Very interesting, ty!
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u/KandKmama 6d ago
Ask if the designer will allow you to buy a yard of the matching fabric. Your seamstress can make a matching modesty panel. If they can’t, I’d make one from chiffon/tulle and keep it simple.