(no subject)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_annihilate/]

I ordered this dress for my school's homecoming dance. I knew it would be too big, but it was the last size so I planned on altering it. I've been sewing for a couple of years, so I'm not totally lost, but I was wondering if anyone has any tips on altering formal dresses? I've been googling for an hour and it's gotten me nowhere, so any suggestions would be great.

I'm not sure if it would be best to take it in at the sides or to take it in at the back, if that makes sense. I guess taking it in at the back wouldn't work so well because of the zipper. I could use a seamripper to seperate the skirt from the top, and take the top in (it's mostly too big in the chest and the hips, it fits in the stomach) at the two front seams, and then resize the skirt or put darts in it and sew it back together, but the bow on the top is in the way. I could take that off before I resize the top and sew it back on after I'm done.

I've got a week and a half to do this. If anyone has any helpful suggestions, that would be fantastic. Also, if you can point me in a community specifically for these kinds of alterations, that would be great.