Comments on: Dress forms

By: Brina

Brina — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:57:36 +0000

Nikki,

Yes the price difference reflects the quality. I’ve worked with a number of brands and the more expensive are more well made from their stands to the symmetry of the forms and how well they are finished and how sturdy. If they have mechanisms such as collapsible shoulders or a stand that height adjusts, they work better. Which is not to say that you can’t get by with a cheaper form.

As far as fit–that’s something that may or may not come straight off your form.

By: Nikki

Nikki — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:39:55 +0000

I am searching for the best professional dress form in order to get the fit perfect for my first collection. Why are Global/New york forms, and wolf forms around $800 while PGM and Fabulous fit are around $400? Is it a quality issue? Does anyone have experience with any of these forms?

By: Claire

Claire — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:24:21 +0000

I also have been doing a lot of research on forms. I think I need one of the forms designed for the, err, mature figure (a thicker middle and lower breasts). The Ronis Royal Woman form and the Dress Rite Gold form–both in size 12–seem to be what I need. Has anyone had experiences–good or bad–with either of these products or companies?

By: Jocelyn

Jocelyn — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:12:25 +0000

I just started getting into making dresses, since I’m such an amateur I did A LOT of research before I decided my best investment would be with a Fabulous Fit (www.fabulousfit.com) dress form. I was definitely right, I got it about a few months ago and I absolutely LOVE it. I got a misses bridal form, it came with a fitting system for me to match my own curves. Because of it, my form is my exact double. Which is great because the dresses that I’ve starting making feel so perfect on my body. I would recommend their forms to anyone!

By: Lotta

Lotta — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:32:51 +0000

Hi,
I don’t own a retail mannequin, but bought a hard plastic shell dress form which really wasn’t pinnable, so I had to fix it (it’s a Dritz Sew Easy dressform, it’s plastic with only a thin knit cover which can’t be used for pinning). In the process, I wanted to also make it more anatomically correct, to match my own shape. I started by adding two cups from one of my bikini’s, since that for some reason fit better than cups from one of my bra’s. I then added foam to the waistline to make the form a bit less curvy. Then I draped fine muslin over the form, to make a cover with princess seams ready, with a wide seam allowance at the sides. Finally I gave the whole form a layer of poly batting (retrieved from a new cheap duvet), cutting it on each side to correspond with the side seams. I put the cover on top of the batting and used thick and long pins to pin the side seams real tight, flattening out the batting in the process. I then hand sewed the cover in place. Finally I cut a top cover from sweatshirt fleece, giving it shoulder seams, side seams and “arm plates. I hemmed the top to match the edge of the plastic on top of the form and made a 2-piece bottom cover with a hem and drawstring to tighten around the stand pole. I chose a dark taupe fabric to make it more practical than white, but that of course is just my preference. But, I find that I can trust that the dressform gives my clothes the correct fit and pinning goes real well. I am very happy with my choice of top cover fabric, as I think it is really nice to pin into. I have added standard style lines of cotton twill tape, pinned down, but after seeing a form with what I think is cords, I’m considering to give that a try as it would be way easier to feel through fabric, something that sometimes would be real nice – at least for the side seams which on my form isn’t as easy to feel as I think they are on a professional form. I don’t think cord would be as easy to pin down (or keep pinned down) though, I think I might sew it down instead, but maybe it would be too impractical if I need to remove them for some project…

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:11:56 +0000

I am just today finishing a plaster body cast — the mistake is not understanding it is a MOLD not the finished dress dummy.

That means you need a snug NOT tight fit (remember to wrap your body in a plastic bag).

My neice did mine on the hottest day this summer and I had no problem. But since we had done this before she had an assistant to cut and dip and she worked quickly.

This is not a precise mold though and after I cut it off (pretty dry) I closed it back up and I let it dry throughly, I whipped out my measuring tape and made adjustments (and since I have Hooray! lost weight in my abdomen) I actually cut it up the center of that area and pulled it to the right size and using a clamp to hold it, I then just used more plaster to seal it up. I used a cut up blanket bunched up to support the shape when wet so it dried in the right shape. Do not be afraid to do this because after the moldi is made it will be discarded.

Next do a little smoothing inside, trim or use more tape to smooth over.

Next you use foam — this time I am using the expanding foam in a can — and when I have finished with this I will check back in in a few days with the rest of my journey, while fresh in my mind.

I have done this before with a pourable type and although you need to practice with this canned foam to understand how SLOW to go I think it will be easier.

I have had my neive so a duct tape body double and am much more pleased with this type — you still need to stuff the tape one to make it stable.

By: Peesh Rewak

Peesh Rewak — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:42:21 +0000

Thank you all! It is so helpful to read all the comments. I was almost ready to try to finagle money from the household budget to order a Fabulous Fit form with the foam padding. Now after research I realize that I am just procrastinating… there is not much wrong with my sloper comparison and pattern fitting on the real me in front of a full length mirror. I just saved myself a bundle and can fantasize about my next desire (don’t know what it is yet) Thanks again.

By: kate

kate — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:01:14 +0000

Hi! I am trying to find vintage dress forms with cage bases and I don’t even need the top in good condition or at all. Preferably dress forms from the 1940s and earlier… Does anyone know where I could salvage these Items? I need to take the fabric/ paper busts off and replace them with something else so I stress that any condition is ok. I wish there was a salvage place I could find that offered the bases only… Help! Thanks you so much for any information! I will check back…. and GREAT info above already!!

By: April

April — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 07:41:57 +0000

I had a Fabulous Fit dress form that was mercifully ‘lost’ while on loan last year. I hated it. It was absolutely impossible for me to customize the fit by wedging the special contour pads under the form cover. The bust was way too big and the shape generally weird and did not even seem to be standardized. The pole that attached to the base was never quite right, and then it caved in bit, leaving the form with a permanent list. To be fair though, my poor results could be attributed to my lack of experience.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:07:02 +0000

Hi Michaela, you might be able to find a used form for that price. Industrial forms are pricey by comparison.

I have a man’s PGM form, it’s okay. The PGM forms aren’t the best quality, the kind you buy to get in the door when you’re poor but not one you consider to be a lifetime investment.