To make a wrap dress more secure, particularly at the bust or skirt overlap, you can add discreet closures or layer garments underneath.
Wrap dresses are celebrated for their flattering silhouette and adjustability, but they can sometimes cause concern about accidental openings. Fortunately, there are several straightforward ways to add extra security and wear your wrap dress with confidence.
Securing the Bust or Cleavage Area
This is one of the most common areas where people seek extra security in a wrap dress. The V-neckline, while stylish, can sometimes gape.
Method Using Snaps or Hook-and-Eyes
Adding a small snap or a hook-and-eye closure is a popular and permanent way to keep the top overlap in place. Based on steps described on neon-star.com, here's how you can determine the best placement and add this closure:
- Positioning: Put on your wrap dress as you normally would. Use a safety pin to temporarily hold the two overlapping panels together at the exact point you want the closure to be. This spot is usually just below where you prefer the neckline to fall or where gaping is most likely.
- Marking: Carefully take off the dress over your head, making sure the safety pin stays attached to mark the position on both overlapping fabric panels.
- Sewing the Closure: Lay the dress flat. The safety pin now indicates where the closure parts should be sewn.
- On the fabric panel that sits closest to your skin (the underlayer), sew one part of your chosen closure (e.g., the 'ball' side of a snap or the 'eye' side of a hook-and-eye). The reference suggests starting with the "pokey end of a snap or a buttonhole" on this inner side.
- On the fabric panel that sits on top (the outer layer), sew the corresponding part of the closure (e.g., the 'socket' side of the snap or the 'hook' side of the hook-and-eye) so that it aligns perfectly with the first part when the dress is wrapped and the safety pin's mark is met.
Using a small, color-matched snap or hook-and-eye makes the closure virtually invisible when worn. This method is a subtle yet effective way to prevent the neckline from shifting.
Other Options for the Bust Area
- Fashion Tape: Double-sided fashion tape can be used to temporarily adhere the fabric panels to each other or to your skin. It's a quick fix for a single wear but can lose its stickiness.
- Camisole or Slip: Wearing a camisole, bralette, or a full slip underneath adds an extra layer that covers the chest area, providing security even if the dress shifts.
- Alterations: A tailor can add a small stitch or dart to the neckline permanently reduce the depth if desired, though this changes the original drape slightly.
Securing the Skirt Overlap
The flowing nature of a wrap skirt can sometimes lead to the front flying open, especially in windy conditions.
Adding an Internal Button or Snap
Similar to securing the bust, you can add a closure point to the inner part of the skirt overlap:
- While wearing the dress, locate a spot inside the skirt where the two panels overlap sufficiently to prevent the skirt from opening too high when you move. Mark this spot on both the inner and outer panels.
- Sew a button onto the outer panel's underside and a corresponding buttonhole or fabric loop onto the inner panel's underside at the marked spot. Alternatively, use a snap closure.
This creates a hidden point that keeps the skirt panels anchored together below the main waist tie.
Other Options for the Skirt
- Shorts or Slip: Wearing a pair of slip shorts, cycling shorts, or a half-slip underneath your wrap dress ensures that you remain covered even if the skirt panels separate.
- Weighted Hem: For heavier fabric dresses, adding small weights to the inner edge of the skirt panel can help it hang straighter and be less likely to fly open.
By employing one or a combination of these techniques, you can easily make your wrap dress feel more secure, allowing you to move freely and comfortably.
