The Dress

By American designer Anna Maier, this full train dress is constructed with stunning French corded lace in a magnolia motif. It includes buttons down the back, a hidden zipper, and boning for support. It has a low back and flattering sweetheart neckline. It drapes well, moves beautifully, and is very comfortable. I bought the dress at Saks Fifth Avenue, and it is in perfect condition (no tears or stains). The dress was originally strapless, and the straps can easily be removed.

Alterations

I typically wear a size 0 or 2 in street clothes and a size 30DD. I had the dress taken in around the bust and added cups. I am 5"4 and wore 2" heels, so I shortened the dress accordingly. I also removed the lining from the train to highlight the gorgeous lace. The dress was initially strapless, but I used some of the leftover lace from the hem to add delicate straps; the straps can easily be removed if you'd like to wear a strapless dress. I also used leftover lace to add a subtle wrist strap for ease of movement (this is invisible when you're not using it). Finally, I added a French style bustle.