Sash Solutions

added June 2009

Hi Leanna-

I am so happy to have found your site!! Your work is fantastic. I am in a wedding where we are having difficulty figure out how to bustle the dress

It is a bill levkoff dress style 966 (in case the link below does not work)

http://www.billlevkoff.com/#/9/bill-levkoff-bridesmaid-dresses/bridesmaid-dress-style-966/876/

The dress has a train which is easy to bustle. It is the sash that is presenting a challenge. In the picture on the website there is not any beading. However, the dress that we are wearing has beading at the bottom of both sash pieces going up over a foot. We want the beading to be visible when bustle. Both pieces of the sash are coming from one side of the dress. We tried making large loops but it just isn't sitting correctly. Any suggestions?

Thanks! mel

Hi Mel,

This style of sash is becoming popular and it does make for problems. One wedding I did recently, we simply shortened the sash at the waist seam to hang just above the hem when bustled

~Lea

added March 2008

Leanna,

I've been reading your website with great interest -- I never thought much about bustles until my daughter got engaged and I became Mother of the Bride-to-be, but I can see that there is a lot to know. The dress she bought has a partial pick up skirt in the front and the back. We'll be going for the first fitting soon, so I was wondering if you could suggest the best way to put up the train -- we want to keep it very simple in back so the beading will be visible. Also, are there alternatives to tying the sash in a bow? My daughter is not a 'bow' type of person & would like something more sophisticated. The site below has a picture of the gown with two views -- it is Oleg Cassini CT203 at David's Bridal.

http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridal_gowns_detail.jsp?stid=2660&prodgroup=92

I'd appreciate any suggestions you can provide.

Sincerely, Bonnie

For this style of gown I try a French bustle first. If the bride doesn't like that then we go on to other ideas. 

Bows have been out for about a year now. Most brides prefer a simple knot. 

~Lea

added October 2006

I'm wondering if you can help me...I came across your site while searching for some help on my bustle.

I am getting married in 11 days and am struggling with a bustle that I like. My dress has a sash but I do not want it tied into a bow or have any loops when bustled.

I really like the mini under bustles or pickup type look but can't figure out what to do with the sash...I can't take the sash off after the ceremony because my dress is very simple.

This is my dress: http://davidsbridal.com/bridal_gowns_detail.jsp?stid=2027&prodgroup=10

You can leave it the way it is but it will be dragging on the floor where your guests might step on it. Other than cutting it with scissors, you have to fold it up somehow to shorten it if you don't want it dragging on the floor. That will result in some kind of loop or bow effect. 

I once had a bride like you. She ordered an extra sash from the bridal salon. I shortened that sash and fixed the original sash so it could be removed and the shorter sash put on the gown for the ceremony. It was a very expensive option. The bridal salon charged her over $300 for the duplicate sash because it had much beading on it and I had to charge her for fixing them to work in this way. But she was happy with the result. 

~Lea

added May 2006

I came across your website and thought you may be able to help me. My gown has a long sash that loops at the back of the waist and hangs down the train. How would you recommend bustling the sash?

The easiest thing to do for a sash is tie it into a big bow and you can tie it upside down like the one pictured above.

~Lea