Help over dress fitting disappointment..

US 4 is a size 8 in the UK

Yeah, US sizes are 2 sizes lower than the UK, so a US 4 is a UK 8.

Would you just pay the £120 for the alterations or argue that it was not size 6 like they wrote on the receipt I got? How could I get past their argument that designers have different sizes?

On Tuesday, I think you need to get it pinned, and see if the shape looks ok to you. Tightness, and in length. Pins all over.

From online pictures, it looks like it's supposed to start flaring out above knee height. If it starts doing this below knee height for you, you need to check whether you can still walk in it. It may look just as lovely whatever height it starts to flare out, so that's not necessarily an issue - but check the walking practicalities.

If you're happy with how it looks / can walk in it when pinned, then you can argue about the alterations cost. If you tried on a size 6 UK / size 2 US and it completely fit, AND you asked for that same size to be ordered, they have made an error by ordering a size 8 UK / size 4 US. So you could ask them to only charge you £60 alterations cost instead.

I don't think you can argue much about the petite length issue if you didn't explicitly agree this with them beforehand. You have said "thought the dress would’ve been ordered in a short length (pretty sure it comes in a petite length)". Well, if you didn't have that actual discussion and check, you might not be able to argue much about that. If it makes you feel better at all, if you're wearing 3 inch heels on the day, and are 5ft 2, I suspect you aren't petite length anyway. If you were planning to wear flats, then yes, I'd assume you'd need petite length at that height. You could always chuck on 4 inch heels and be 'taller than average' height for the day!

When I ordered my dress I signed paperwork that ststed my measurements and my agreement as to what size to order...to match the designer size chart. If you signed something similar then. Hey cannot arue that they ordered the correct dress if you signed for a uk 6 and they ordered a us 4. It is true that wedding dress sizes are sometimes beyond bonkers.......I had to order a us12 to accommodate my uk12 figure because the size chart was based on someone with massive bust and tiny hips lol. When you tried on the dress before did you ask for a uk 6? Its entirely possible that the other shop factored in the bonkers sizing,didnt tell you the official size of the dress bit the real size, and gave you the us 4 in a short length.

I really feel for you. I managed to avoid alterations to the length of my fishtail by getting a fishtail petticoat. You will prob still need some alteration to the length but hopefully not enough to spoil the silhouette of the dress.

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll just have to pray the length looks ok, I'm glad that with heals this should be... It flares at knee height on me.

They measured me and signed that they had ordered a uk size 6. I'm so not a confrontational person and normally hide behind my OH if there is an issue with anything but I do feel like I should say something.

If the paperwork says UK size 6, and they ordered US size 4 (UK size 8), then that's their error and they should cover the cost of the alterations. If they were under the impression that US size 4 = UK size 6 (some conversion sites say there is only one dress size difference, not two), then they should still have checked that the measurements matched before ordering.

You don't need to be confrontational about it. Think of it as a problem - the dress has been ordered in the wrong size - which needs solving. Approach it calmly and logically, and you'll be fine. Just stick to your guns if they get difficult. It's their error, it's only reasonable to expect them to fix it.

Agree with above. For extra ammunition look up the size chart for the designer of our dress......should be on google images. You can thwn compare that to your measurements and query why the ordered a size that didmt match. I also hate confrontation but thinking about what else that money could go towards should spur you into action. Good luck. Xx

My dress is a sort-of fishtail shape and my dress shop said the seamstress would shorten it a bit at the waist (actually, just under the bust line) rather than all at the bottom, to avoid the 'flare' bit being too low once shortened (and making me look too long in the body). It's more work for the seamstress (she effectively has to take it apart and make it again) so might add to the cost, but maybe worth asking about if you are worried about losing the fullness and shape at the bottom?

Agree with others that you should complain if they ordered the wrong size.

PS Sorry if formatting weird - using the iPhone app...