Need-to-Know Tips on Alterations

The quest for the “perfect” dress for your wedding day or prom night is tough as it is, but finding the perfectly fitting dress is near impossible. Fear not. Cape May County is home to alterations masters fully capable of making the necessary modifications to your ideal dress so as to ensure it appears as if it was tailored exclusively to your body.
The alterations pros at Court House Cleaners have built an outstanding reputation for quality service and are happy to offer some expert advice for those in need of formalwear alterations. Consult the following tips for the best fitting end result:
• You always want to have your prom or wedding gown fitted in four week increments prior to the event date. This way, when the gown is fitted, your measurements will be within exactly the same range as they will be on the big day according to a woman’s fitting cycle.
• If both the top and bottom portion of a gown require alterations, you should allow an eight-week window. Say that both the sides need to be taken in and the hem must be taken up. Within the first four-week window, the tailor should measure your top half for side alterations. The following four-week window will include measurements and alterations to the gown’s hem.
• Be sure to bring the exact shoe and any undergarments you plan to wear under the gown. The heel height is crucial to the hem measurement. Also, consider whether you plan to wear Spanx or shapewear under the gown. If so, bring it along for your fitting. It may seem like a trivial detail, but the bra you wear for the fitting can make a major difference. If you plan to wear a strapless bra but instead wear a classic bra for the fitting, this will affect the measurements taken by the tailor.
• As the date of the special occasions approaches, make plans to have the gown steamed.
• Have a great time!
In order to ensure your gown remains in prime condition for years to come, have it professionally cleaned IMMEDIATELY following the day or night you have worn it. Light colored stains that occur at the event may not even manifest themselves until weeks later, but once they become visible, chances are they cannot be removed. Girls planning on preserving their prom dresses should pay close attention to any staining that may occur due to late application of self tanner or a spray tan. The quicker the dress is dry cleaned, the more chance there is that such stains can be removed.
Finally, brides interested in having their gowns cleaned, pressed, and boxed for preservation are advised to do so immediately following the wedding. It is also important to note that you can save a fair amount by completing the process in one shot rather than first having the gown cleaned and then preserved months down the road.
For more answers to your alterations and cleaning questions, call Court House Cleaners at
(609) 463-8020 or visit the store at 1027 Route 9 in Cape May Court House.
-Meg Kummer