So I was recently giftet this strap-less H&M dress by my mom, and I absolutely ADORE it. Only thing is, it fits me perfectly everywhere expect the chest area. In the pictures I’ve attached, you can see how it sits naturally, and how I wish it sat (cinched in). 

Granted, I’m not wearing a bra in the pictures as that’s how I would ideally wear it, so it is incredibly loose, but I’m not opposed to wearing a padded bra also if that’s my only option. So the altering can be less dramatic if need be. I’ll try to attach as many relevant pictures of the dress, both inside and out, as possible. 

So. What’s the best way to go about altering this dress? Where on the dress, would it be easiest to enter, cut, re-sew and leave most unnoticeable, when it’s only the top half I need fixed?

A little more info:

\*Im basically a beginner, but I have altered other clothes and sewn stuff before, and I’ve not been completely horrendous at it yet. 😅

\*The fabric is thick, stretchy, and velour-like, and “smooth” on the inside. It’s not double lined (if that’s what it’s called) all the way through, only at the chest area. Which is lined with a thin and stretchy fabric.

\* I’ve attached the material-label last, if that’s something to take into account for the choice of altering-method.

\*The dress has a rubber line going all the way around the top- from zipper to zipper. I don’t mind cutting through that whatsoever, if it can be sewn together again decently seamless. 

\*Im not opposed to sewing in straps (I have some cute pearl ones in mind already) if that’s easier. The chest is still too big for that at the moment. So it would still require altering the fit around a bit first. 

Thanks in advance 🙏🩷

How to alter this dress?