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Quite often the decision of how to bustle a gown is complicated by creative decoration. In the past few years it has become very popular to add color to wedding gowns. Though beautiful, the colorful patterns can create an interesting challenge for the bustle placement.

I can't tell you how many questions I have answered about this particular design. Alfred Angelo is an incredible designer with many beautiful gowns to his credit. When I happened to have 2 brides entrust me with the altering of their Alfred Angelo gowns I took the opportunity to stage some pictures to show you that there are options even when it seems that designers are doing their best to make our job difficult.

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January 2008
Hi! I too am a sewist who makes and alters wedding gowns for customers (located in Maryland). I have a gown that has me a bit baffled for bustling...
Gloria Vanderbilt strapless gown. It has two panels coming straight down from top bodice seam (no waistline seam) that are not attached except at the side back seams. Each panel has a wide row of beading straight down the finished edge of the panel and each panel is tacked at the edge of the train. The look is similar to the Alfred Angelo dress in your website, but the panels with beading are loose along the center back except at tacks at bottom.
Would you recommend your ballroom bustle style? I've tried bustling with the French style and it doesn't really fall correctly or smoothly. The train is chapel length.
I'm thinking that I need to tack the panels on to the dress at several points and then pick up closer to the bottom of the skirt rather than near the waist.
Any thoughts would be great.
BTW -- I did the AA dress same as yours (red) but a bit lower...bride was very happy. MoB didn't like all the hooks but ...oh well!
Sheryl

You have guessed correctly. You do need to tack the panel. I have done this style both ways depending on what the bride wants. They don't always want my first choice. 
I would need to see the dress to tell you where the points need to go.
~Lea

My Butt sticks out.

July 2007

I didn't start thinking (until now,) what options to consider for my wedding dress as far as bustling is concerned. What thrilled me was the coincidence that you have MY EXACT DRESS posted on your site (Alfred Angelo #1516 -- the red and black dresses.) I wasn't entirely sure which bustle to choose since I don't want to lose too much of the back detail, so you opened up a number of options for me! 

However, I do have a small question: I am a bit full figured (rather...well...ok, my butt sticks out quite a bit.) Will the bustle I choose make my butt look bigger or does it not effect that? if it does, is there one bustle option that would be suitable for the dress AND my figure? 

Thank you for providing this link! If you have a comments section for visitors to see, you can put anything from this letter in there! This was a fantastic site with great pictures and descriptions, and I am VERY happy to have stumbled upon it.

THANK YOU! -Dawn

Back in the day when bustles were the popular style for everyone it was because all that fabric hid the true shape of the behind so people could not tell if it was fabric or your big butt back there. 

What ever bustle you choose is going to be placing a lot of fabric right on your butt area. Usually a Ballroom bustle is less fluffy because the fabric of the train lays on top of the skirt fabric and has the effect of weighing it down. A French Bustle is more fluffy and many brides think it makes their butt look bigger. I think it's better to give your guests more credit than thinking a bunch of fabric can change your butt size. 

~Lea

Yes, you're right about that fact -- I should give them more credit. They should be paying more attention to my dress anyway and how cute my hubby and I look that day ;) (hehe!) 

I was thinking of doing the ballroom bustle (which is also the over bustle, is it not?) I figured that would look kind of flow-y and would still show the best feature of the dress. Your pictures were really helpful though! I am very grateful that I found your website! Thank you for replying to my message. You must run a great business. =) 

Thank you again, Dawn

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My Butt sticks out.

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