Question:
I've been asked to stand up in a wedding 7 months post-op....
Ok - I know I brought this up in chat the other day, but the situation has changed slightly. I am having surgery in a little over 2 weeks on 12/16. I've been asked to stand up in a wedding in mid-July. I thought I could put off buying the dress, but no such luck. We walked into Fashion Bug today and the bride and the other girls immediately fell in love with a dress. Because, FB doesn't keep their stock too long, I had to buy it now (besides the price was great). *sigh* Right now the size 22 dress fits me, but that won't be the case in 7 months. I bought a 16 for July, but I think that might be too big on me by then. The lowest the dress goes is a 14. The other 3 girls are two 22's and a 24. What do you all think, should I take my chances and go back and get the 14? I know it's easier to make a dress smaller than it is to make it bigger. I just don't know what to do. (Yes, the bride knows about my situation, and is trying to be considerate about it, but she really does have bigger things to worry about lol). Please help! I am 5'5" and around 280 right now. — Toni C. (posted on November 30, 2002)
November 30, 2002
Can you afford to buy all 3? If so, and you keep them tagged, just be sure
you can return the 2 that don't fit. If the 14 is a little big, perhaps
someone can alter it for you? If it's a lot big, HOLY MOLY! Even so, maybe
someone can cut it down for you? Wow, trying to see into the future is a
tough one!
— vitalady
November 30, 2002
I agree with Michelle, I would buy bot the 14 and the 16. You will most
likely be closer to the 14, BUT, it will be VERY hard to make the dress
significantly bigger, and as you said, you can always make the dress
smaller. It is better to be on the safe side, just incase you are one of
the slower losers (hate to even think that could happen to you, but it
might!!). Keep the tags on and the reciept, and they should return it with
out problem. Even if they do not, you can usually recoup most of your money
on E-Bay. Good Luck to you!!
— Vicki L.
November 30, 2002
I agree. Buy them both (if you can) keep the tags on and return the unused
one. If they give you grief about the time span claim it was a gift. Who
knows, you may keep that larger one for a very short time before you know
it will be too big! Good Luck.
— Pat B.
November 30, 2002
Hi! I figured I'd post an answer since my stats are pretty much the same
as yours. I'm 5'6", and started at 274. At 7 months out, I was at
185 and a size 14/16. Some stuff fit as a 14, some stuff fit as a 16 -
sizes differ, quite dramatically, from brand to brand. I found I couldn't
trust the numbers at all, had to go by measurements. I also found that my
waist/hip size has dropped much faster than my bust, which can also be
problematic clothes-shopping. I've gone from being apple-shaped to a
definite pear (with big boobs!!). Here's what I would do, if I were in
your situation - I would buy the size 16 dress, and find a great seamstress
who could take it in for me if it needed to be done. When I hit a size 16,
my measurements were 39/34/41. I hope this helps you sweetie, good luck
and have fun! Best of luck with your upcoming surgery! =) Sarah
— Sarah C.
December 1, 2002
I can't beleive you asked this question! Just this morning, I broguht this
issue up to my roomate who will also be in my friend's bridal party in
October. My friend wants to start looking at dresses now! I am down 149
lbs and fitting nicely in a 14 (can actually fit into some 12 dresses - but
way too tight). I am over 9 months out, but still losing (8 lbs in the
last two weeks), and plan on having a full abdominoplasty, mastopexy, and
lower body lift between January and April. I can't buy a dress now! I
have no clue what my size will be. I am shooting for an 8...I feel like I
shouldn't be too risky and get a 12, but I really feel like I'll be no more
than a 10. Humph. I really can't believe you just asked this - I just
made my roomate come look!
— PaulaM
December 1, 2002
If you can only afford one dress, buy the 16. A skilled seamstress could
probably cut it down to a 12, but no one can turn a 14 into a 16.
— Amber L.
December 1, 2002
Keep in mind that Fashion Bug clothes are cut MUCH smaller than the true
size. At least this has been my experience. A 22 in Fashion Bug is MUCH
SMALLER than a 22 in Lane Bryant.
As pointed out in another post - a seamstress can always make the dress
SMALLER not LARGER. I say buy the 18 to be sure.
— Marianne K.
December 1, 2002
You can get things cut down several sizes if you can find a good
alterations person.I bought alot of clothes at size 12/14, since that was
the smallest size I had ever been, and when I got down to that I thought I
was done losing. Boy was I wrong! I ended up a 6. I was able to get some of
the best items cut down to fit, and it was a good decision for me to do
that. It was expensive, but cheaper than buying all new stuff. However, if
the dress is *really* inexpensive, it might be cheaper to have the 14 on
hand than to have the 16 remade. If you can only afford one of them now,
I'd keep the 16, though. Good luck! hugs,
Ann rny 9/10/99 260/124
— [Deactivated Member]
December 3, 2002
Wow, this sure is a lot of pressure to put on yourself before you've even
become post-op! That being said, I would buy two dresses if I could afford
it. I would buy one that I'm sure would be big enough (i.e., a 16) and one
I think might be too small (i.e., a 12). Then I'd find a good seamstress
to have on hand for alterations! If I couldn't afford 2 dresses, I'd buy
one that I was sure would be too big (like the 16) and have the seamstress
on hand!
— Kathy J.
December 4, 2002
Original poster here~ Thank you all for your suggestions. I am a college
student (aka poor lol) so I can't afford to get both right now. I know a
couple people that are excellent at alterations so I think I'm going to
stick with the 16. Now, I hope I'll need the alterations lol - I want to
be smaller by then!
— Toni C.
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