Create a more flattering backline

Do you need to create a more flattering backline because  your body shape or size changed since you first made or purchased your dress?  

Watch this video to learn how to design or alter your Dancesport or Country ballgown (or your skating dress, Latin dance dress) to create a more balanced look and figure-flattering back neckline.

Our model is Marlaine, one of my Portland customers for whom I have made several ballroom dance dresses. 

I originally made this black and white Smooth dance dress for a Phoenix customer who wore it once and then sold it to Marlaine.   After Marlaine purchased this Dancesport ballgown, I changed it into a Standard gown by adding a removable accent color underskirt and a new set of Standard dance floats: one set in black and white, and a second set in the same accent color as the new underskirt.  You’ll see this bit of coolness in the video.

WHAT WORKS ON THIS BALLGOWN

• The dress is in excellent condition.
• Although this gown was nor originally made for Marlaine, it fits her very well.
• The asymmetrical design of organza lace camouflages her uneven hips which have shifted due to scoliosis.
• The classic black and white always look good on a ballroom dance floor.
• The sides and arm areas fit well, plus it shows off Marlaine’s beautiful arms.

In 2022, Marlaine officially retired from competitive ballroom dancing.  The ballgown featured in this post is for sale.  If you are interested in buying it, please message me at teresa@seamssensational.com

ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED TO BETTER SUIT HER BODY

• The front neckline is a good shape, but Marlaine would like to cover or camouflage the low-cut opening. This can be remedied by adding flesh-color mesh and decorative criss cross straps.
• On the back neckline, the right side of the dress gapes due to Marlaine's scoliosis.
• The back neckline also makes too wide of V shape for the amount of skin Marlaine prefers to show. We'll remedy this by adding decorative straps to camouflage the skin creases that show on the right as well as flesh-color mesh on the right side only, creating a more flattering backline.
• On a design note: This black & white ballgown was not originally made for Marlaine. If it had been (and if her scoliosis had been as pronounced as it is in this video,) I would have reversed the black accents so the lower black lace was on the opposite hip to make it look less curvy.

ALTERATIONS TIPS TO USE ON ANY BALLGOWN

1) If neckline is too low, you can fill it with flesh color fabric or a matching color.  

Place rhinestones over the mesh insert or the criss cross straps to disguise the addition and make it look like it was part of the dress all along.  

If you don't have any scraps of the original dress fabric, add more rhinestones! 🙂  Or, you can steal a little bit from the underside of a multi-layered skirt.

2) For more tips on how to make an open back look good, check out my blog on different ways to change an open back.

An alternative correction (instead of the straps we added to Marlaine's dress) is to add fabric to make the back V to cover more skin by making the V less wide. This is considerably more labor intensive than adding straps but it is a sound solution for making a more flattering backline. 

3) For an easy, economical new look, consider adding a detachable skirt and float options!

In this video, we once again recreate this classic black and white gown for a new look as well as to accommodate her dance styles and body changes. 

Request a downloadable PDF of all 55 fabric stores be emailed to you.

RE-DESIGN: a bargain dance dress gets a make-over

Big Impact With Only Three Alterations