Post # 1
Member
5 posts
Newbee
Hi all I’m new to to this and hoping you can help! Any brides around 5’4″ had a fishtail gown? I’ve found they suit my hourglass figure but am really worried they make my legs look short and out of proportion (not got long legs at all!) whereabouts should the torso section end to make legs look longer and keep in proportion? I love pronovias gowns but am concerned as to whether they do a shorter version and if so do they just chop length off or do they alter the body section too? any help would be much appreciated!!! If it helps I will be going with a strapless gown and am a size 6-8. Would love to see pics of similar proportioned brides! Thanks so much!
Post # 2
Member
1327 posts
Bumble bee
- Wedding: February 2015 - Mount Hermon
Sarah90: I’m a little bigger than you, but same height. I found that true mermaids made my legs look a lot shorter, but a trumpet was gorgeous.
Post # 3
Member
1125 posts
Bumble bee
Not much help, but call the dress shop to see if your designer will do hollow to hem. The dress will be custom made to your proportions vs you having to just chop the bottom of your dress off.
Post # 4
Member
5 posts
Newbee
Hi both thanks so much for replying! I will call them tomorrow – so far I’ve been given different stories by 3 different stores! One said pronovias only do standard length, one that they will do shorter but this means some will be chopped off the length only and another saying when you order a shorter gown that the torso will also be shorter. I am in the UK – not sure what size this is in the US?MrsYellowDaffodil you look lovely in your gown! Is that the one you picked in the end?
Post # 5
Member
112 posts
Blushing bee
Hi! I’m 5’4” and I ordered my mermaid dress in a size 8 (I’m a size 4 in regular clothes). The flare portion of the dress should hit just above the knees. Any good seamstress knows this and will shorten the dress proportionally — not just chop off the bottom. 
Post # 6
Member
112 posts
Blushing bee
Also should have added: I’m wearing 3.5” heels here, and this is the sample. It’s obviously a little long, but the consultant explained to me how they take up the length from the hem.
Post # 7
Member
1200 posts
Bumble bee
I think it also depends on the dress. If there’s a sort of line where the skirt starts, they can easily take it up a bit. But if it all sort of swooshes out with no line (not sure if this description is helpful haha), then they can’t change it and can only cut from the bottom. So for example, I bought Mori Lee 5108, which doesn’t have that line at the skirt so alterations said they couldn’t make the skirt start higher. Fortunately, once I put 3 inch heels on, it looked alright but I’m also 161cm (think that’s about 5’3?) to begin with.
Post # 8
Member
2352 posts
Buzzing bee
I’m 5’4 and my dress was a size 10 for boobs but altered down to a 6/8 for waist and hips. Mine flared just above the knee and I wore 4 in heels. An extra layer of tulle underneath enhanced flare. I had no issues whatsoever with the gown making me look short.
Post # 9
Member
305 posts
Helper bee
Some dresses, granted not all, have a seam right about where you knee would hit, and they actually undo that seam and take length from there rather than just chopping 10 inches off of the bottom. Then, they reattach it to the body of the dress. My dress is all lace and i had no idea the seam was even there to begin with. It helps keep the dress propotionate.
Post # 10
Member
1327 posts
Bumble bee
- Wedding: February 2015 - Mount Hermon
Sarah90: yes, it’s mine! It’s a Sophia Tolli, and was ordered in petite. It still has to be hemmed, but the flare is in a better spot.
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