How to Make a Strapless Gown More Modest

Co-authored by Elle Monus

Last Updated: November 3, 2022 References

Strapless dresses can be beautiful on their own, but you may think your dress needs extra coverage. There are several reasons to want to make a dress more modest. It could be for religious reasons, personal preferences, or a dress code. A few options to make a dress more modest are to make an alteration, add accessories, or wear an extra layer of clothing.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Making Alterations

1
Buy extra fabric. Search for fabric that is either the same material as the strapless dress, or pairs well with the material of your dress. If your dress is too long, you can cut the excess length off of the dress for material. Consider choosing a complementary color or similar shade to your dress if you have to buy fabric.^{[1]
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- You can buy fabric at your local crafts store, like Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and Joann’s, depending on your location.
2
Gather sewing supplies. You need to obtain sewing materials like needle, thread, and or a sewing machine if you do not want to sew by hand. Make sure the thread closely matches the color of the fabric you are using. You will also need pins to hold the fabric in your desired position before sewing.^{[2]
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3
Choose a style. You might want to apply the extra fabric to add extra coverage to the chest, or your may want to add sleeves to your dress. Cap sleeves, three-quarter sleeves, and long sleeves are your main options. You also have the option to do both. For someone new to sewing, creating cap sleeves is a fairly simple option that provides coverage of the shoulders.^{[3]
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4
Create your sleeves. First, you will need to create your sleeves by sewing them together. To make a cap sleeves, take two pieces of fabric and sew them together to make wide straps. The straps need to be at least six inches wide. Then, pin them to your dress in the exact location that you will sew the sleeves to the dress.^{[4]
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- Make sure you leave enough room for your shoulders to fit into. You can do this by attaching the sleeves with pins while wearing the dress, or taking your measurements and attaching the sleeves according to those measurements.
5
Attach the sleeves. Sew the sleeves onto the dress according to the locations you have pinned them. You will need to remove the pins as you sew. You only need to attach the sleeves to the front of the dress on the sides of the chest area, and to the back of the dress if you are making cap sleeves. The attached areas on the front and back should line up.^{[5]
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6
Try on your dress. Make sure the sleeves cover as much skin as you desire. The sleeves should fit comfortably with enough room for movement. You need to be able to move around and raise your arms with ease. Bend your arms and raise your shoulders to be sure that the fabric will not rip.^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Adding Accessories and Clothing

1
Wear a scarf. A scarf is a simple option to make your dress more modest. There are many varieties and colors of scarves to choose from. You should consider the weather and type of dress you are wearing before choosing a scarf. For warm weather, you can wear a lacy or sheer fabric. For cold weather, you can wear a wool or knit scarf. To get the most coverage out of your scarf, you should drape it over your shoulders and arms like a blanket, or tie it in the front or back.^{[7]
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- To tie the scarf, either tie the ends together in the front, or loop the ends under your armpits and tie them in the back.
- Consider the color of your dress when choosing a scarf. A different shade of the color of the dress you are wearing, or a complementary color may go best with your dress. For example, blue is a complementary color of orange, and yellow is the complementary color of purple.
2
Put on a shawl. Shawls are similar to scarves, but they are usually larger and rectangular. A shawl is a good choice for those who do not want to worry about tying a scarf. To wear a shawl, all you need to do is drape it around your back and shoulders and then make sure it is even on both sides. Shawls come in many different types of fabrics and colors, so it is possible to find one that fits well with the weather and your dress.
- For warm weather, you can wear a lacy or cotton shawl. For cold weather, choose a pashmina (wool) or faux-fur shawl.
- You can wear a lacy shawl without sacrificing your modesty. Some lace comes in a thick enough material so that skin does not show through.
- You can wear a shawl with a pattern if you are wearing a simple dress. If you don’t want to take attention away from your dress, choose a shawl in a muted or similar color to your dress.
3
Pin it with a brooch for added flair. Add a brooch to the front of your shawl or scarf for added flair. Choose a shiny and/or sparkly brooch that complements any other jewelry you might be wearing. Most brooches need to be pinned, so make sure you are okay with putting a small hole into the material you choose.^{[8]
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4
Wear a shirt under your dress.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Elle Monus
Image Consultant
Expert Interview. 7 September 2021.} This is a good choice if you do not want to wear something over your dress, and you are not concerned about compromising the look of your dress. This is not a good choice, however, if you don’t like the style of shirts under dresses. You can choose to wear a cap, three-quarter, or long sleeve under your dress. The fabric should be thin. A thick fabric will show up under the torso part of your dress. The color should correspond with your dress or skin color.^{[10]
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- A cotton or polyester shirt will work best.
- Wearing a shirt with your dress looks best if the shirt is not too visible. You can find a nude color, or a shirt that is a similar shade of your dress.
- You can also wear a plain white t-shirt or a casual t-shirt with print of a cartoon character for a cheeky look.
5
Choose a shrug to wear. A shrug is a cardigan-like item of clothing that is either short or long-sleeved, and it usually ends above the waistline. This is a good idea for a simple and light garment to wear with your dress. It is not as bulky as a sweater, and it doesn’t hide your dress, depending on how you wear it. You can find shrugs in material like cotton, lace, and silk. To wear, simply put it on as if it were a jacket or sweater.^{[11]
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- You can wear a shrug open, partially buttoned, or buttoned up all the way.
- You can also find shrugs with sequins and patterns.
6
Don a jacket.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Elle Monus
Image Consultant
Expert Interview. 7 September 2021.} Wearing a jacket with your dress is a good choice if you are attending an event in a cooler climate or environment, but it could be difficult to wear if you there will be dancing or other physical activity. Try finding a jacket that is not too long and goes well with the silhouette of your dress. The best type of jacket to wear is a tailored crop jacket, or a blazer. These types of jackets can be kept on the entire time you wear your dress, and they add style to your dress, rather than taking style away.^{[13]
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- Some other types of jackets to choose from are shrunken blazers, short tuxedo jackets, boleros, and denim jackets. Keep in mind the material and style of your dress when choosing a jacket. A denim jacket looks great with a summery dress, but it does not usually work well with a formal dress.
7
Test out your outfit. Put on your complete outfit. If you wear a shirt, it should be worn under the dress. Otherwise, put your shrug or jacket on over the dress. Move around in your outfit to make sure it’s comfortable. Keep in mind that the temperature in your home may be different than the location where you will wear your dress.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I attach detachable straps to an evening gown?

Claudia

Community Answer

Try adding bra straps to it (you can get some from fabric stores) and wrap fabric around it to make "fake" dress straps and sew the fake straps into the dress.
Question

I'm going to a dance where I need to have sleeves 1 inch thick. I still need it to look nice, so I'm scared (but not entirely opposed) to sewing sleeves. What do you suggest?

Endless Sea

Community Answer

Look for a "shrug." This is a short cardigan that covers your arms, but doesn't hang too far down to ruin the line of your dress or hide your figure. If you can afford it try to get a cashmere one or a soft wool one, maybe a pretty light grey one with no detail except maybe buttons. Pull it close when you arrive. It can hang loose later when they have given up policing everyone's outfits.

Warnings

Only dress more modestly if it is necessary, or a part of your personal beliefs. Do not change the way you dress for anyone else.

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Buying accessories, clothing, or fabric will probably cost money. Make sure you have enough money set aside to purchase the items you need.

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