another dress wobble - button and zip v's lace up back

Welllllllll I'd say it depends.

At first glance you think oh they can never pull you in that much. But if they are altered to fit correctly, and fit your 'pulled in' shape, then they take quite an effort to button up and DO pull you in.

However, once your dress is altered, you will never be able to 'pull it tighter' like a corset back if you lose weight in the last couple of weeks. My dressmaker said (and she is a corset maker too) that your dress will stretch with your body heat and movement over the day, and recommends another tying session after two hours wear to pull it in again. Or I might have eaten loads by then!

I would say it is up to you and try one on. I personally LOVE what corset back can do for your figure and already have a small waist, but I'm planning on having a teeeeny waist on the day! It does pull in, and it does support the boobage really well too (F-cup here). However, some say a button up back shows skill that the dress was made to fit one bride's body only.

And I purposely didn't comment on your parents as I really don't know what to say! My thoughts are with you and them x

Sorry to hear about your parents hope you get some good news soon and they are both on the mend. I have got a zip dress, I tried both on and tbh I didn't see much difference in the two of them. I think its what you feel comfortable in

The zip dresses I tried on had corsets in them that did up first before you did the zip up and the buttons, I was concerned the zip would break open whilst walking down the aisle but the internal corset is what pulls you in and takes the pressure. Check your dress as you may find u have the best of both worlds x

Sorry to hear about your parents! Hope things get better soon.

I think I watched that same episode of DTTB and it did work wonders for her.

I'm probably a similar size to you and would've had similar issues with the sizing of dresses.

Most of the dresses I tried on were lace up and did give me a good waist and great support. However, I did have the "back fat" issue!

The dress I've gone for has quite a low back, to about my waist, with a small zip. Even though it's a zip and doesn't have much support from the back, it give me an amazing waist. It's got boning around the waist area which helps, but no internal corset. I haven't had to have it taken in at all around the waist, just at the bust area as it's a halterneck. In fact, the first thing my MOH said when she saw it was "you've got a waist!". (I've lost about 3 stone over the last 5 years, so not as harsh as it sounds, lol!) Anyway, what I'm trying to say is just because it's a zip up doesn't mean it won't fit amazingly.

HTH

My dress is a zip back, overlaid with lots of buttons. Inside all that there is an internal corset with hook and eye closures (sort of a giant elasticated bra strap thing) tthat pulls me in and accentuates my waist. Lots of dresses I tried on had similar internal structures.

All the best to you and your parents, by the way

Sorry to hear about your parents :-(

I'm having a zip and buttons, I didn't really consider the back of the dress when looking but I'm glad I've gone with buttons as I prefer the look of them. As for them sucking you in I don't know and won't know until May sometime, I hope it does though!

My dress has lace up back (its a sample dress half price in sale) and it was pulled much tighter when I had my first fitting last week and all of a sudden an attractive figure I didn't know I had appeared from nowhere. Very flattering. I'm a size 14 (but looked more like 12 in it) with "moderate boobs" size D.

I can't comment on any other types as I only tried on two dresses and bought the first one I tried on and both were lace up.

Only you can tell how something feels on you and whether you like the different styles - does your dress come with the option to change if needed?

(Thinking about you & your parents though - must be tough to have all that going on)

Hope your mum and dad get better soon!

My dress is currently a zip back with buttons, however at the moment it does not fit. I'm getting there and still have a while to go but the dress is stitting on my stomach, after two operations on my tummy I'm not sure how it's gonna go. I have been to a seamstress as I have the dress at home and she has told me that she can chnage it to a corset if I need to. I did try on corset back dresses and they did show a figure I thought I had lost years ago but they also put a bridal corset on me. My dress also has a low back so I may be heading for a spandex body - nice and sexy (hehe).

I'm sure your dress will look stunning once one and altered.

Hope your parents are better soon as, must be such a horrible time for you.

Personally, I think zip and/or buttons are much better visually as they are neater and I think a bit classier. However, corsets will pull you in tighter and give a better effect. But if your dress if fitted to your shape then there shouldn't be too much difference.