Can bridesmaid dresses be let out or taken out?

Short answer

Yes, bridesmaid dresses can often be let out, but only if there is enough seam allowance. Taking a dress in is usually easier. Check the inside seams with a tailor before buying, because some styles have very little extra fabric.

Letting out a bridesmaid dress means releasing the seams to give a little more room. This works well if the dress has a generous seam allowance, usually about 1.5 to 2 centimetres. Some cheaper dresses have very narrow seams, so there is little room to let out. A tailor can tell you quickly by looking at the inside of the dress.

Taking a dress in is almost always possible, because fabric can be removed and seams resewn. This is useful if a bridesmaid loses weight or if the dress is too loose. However, taking in a dress too much can change the shape, especially around the bust or hips, so it is best to buy as close to the correct size as possible.

If you need more room than the seam allowance allows, a tailor can sometimes add a panel of matching fabric, but this changes the look. For this reason, it is safer to order a size up rather than down. Always ask the shop or brand about their return and exchange policy before ordering, and keep the original tags until after the first fitting.