Altering a dress -- help!

[Lady_V]

Argh -- I have to admit, I am shaped like a pear... a fluffy, bumpy pear, but bigger from the waist down because of the stomach stapling.

I have a dress that 'fits' if I don't want to breathe... the top part fits wonderfully... the bottom, well, doesn't!

How can I alter the dress to make it bigger? It has side seems I can take apart and add panels, but I am afraid it may look like a 'fat chick' dress. I even thought about taking the bottom off completely and trying to make a flute-ish flare with it, switching off between the patterned and plain fabric... but... how do I put it back together?

The top is that elastic fabric which means it's smaller to begin with... help, help, help!

I may have to make some skirts or jumpers too, but I will create those from scratch... but, I am kind of desperate here (crosses fingers) I was offered a job, but the dress code is black and white, so I am limited as to what I can wear, and I don't have anything right now... so, I will have to make them since they don't sell my size in the normal stores and Lane Bryant closed *sniffle*.

[PrairieRose]

I think it would be difficult to alter, personally. You might try just letting out the seams as much as they will allow and maybe that will offer you some breathing room. I'd take the side seams apart and stitch them back together leaving as little as possible but being sure to catch the edges with a tiny stitch or zigzag for reinforcement. I might actually stitch it twice if it helps enough to be able to wear it. I don't think you'd be able to match the black closely enough to not be noticable as blacks are very hard to match. You could find some different textured fabric that would coordinate well enough to use as insets there and maybe even cut out and place one in the front and back to make it look as if it were meant to be that way.... . I'm sorry I'm not more help, maybe some other more experienced and innovative seamstress(es) can help you here. (you might go to Walmart and find a simple, easy pattern and whip up a couple out of bargain fabric for not much at all)