Many brides wonder if wedding dresses run small. It’s important to know, especially if you’re ordering your bridal gown online. The sales associates at Pritchétt Bridal in Utah explain below why it seems sometimes that bridal dresses run small.
What Is Your Size?
As a woman, you likely know that even if you know your size, you always have to try on clothes first to see if they fit. Sizing is more like a suggestion than an absolute, so it can help direct you to the spot to start in, but you may need to go up or down a size, depending on the manufacturer.
And of course women are different shapes. You could have 20 women who were all a size 8 and a dress would look good on only one of them.
It was only during the industrial era that clothes began to be mass-produced. Before that, each individual had their own patterns and either made their own clothes or had them made for them. But mass-producing jeans and sweaters is much cheaper than making custom-tailored clothing. That’s one reason bridal gowns cost more than dresses you buy off the rack at the mall — they are tailored to fit you exactly.
European Sizing vs. U.S. Sizing
One of the reasons the tag on your bridal gown might say your dress is a few sizes larger than what you usually wear is because many wedding dresses are either made by European designers or use European sizing, which runs smaller than U.S. sizing.
A Time magazine article talks about how sizing has changed in the U.S. over the years. What was a size 12 in 1958 is now a 6, and the waistband of a pair of size 6 jeans can vary by as much as 6 inches.
For these reasons, your wedding gown might not be the size you usually wear. But don’t let that bother you! It doesn’t matter what the tag on your wedding dress says, only that you love it. Besides, all wedding gowns need alterations, and that’s when we make sure your gown fits you perfectly.
Wedding Dress Alterations
Many websites try to pigeonhole women into a certain shape — “apple,” “pear,” etc. While your body shape might resemble one of these categories, you still have your own unique body type. And that’s why we do alterations. Our seamstresses take tucks around the shoulders, bust, waist and hips, so you look perfect on the most important day of your life.
At Pritchétt Bridal, we also offer modesty alterations for Utah brides who want their wedding gown to provide more coverage.
Top Bridal Boutique in Utah
For a selection of some of the most beautiful wedding gowns in Utah — regardless of size — visit Pritchétt Bridal today.