I went down state to purchase my wedding gown and I didn't want to them do the alterations because it would have been too far to travel back and forth. So I googled and was taken to several websites but none really caught my attention and since I didn't know anyone that had ever used them I was a little leery. My sister took her dress to the Wedding Doctors on Michigan and the price was astronomical. Upon further investigation I found Anna and this was an angel sent from heaven. Our initial conversation was very welcoming and she seemed very warm. I was a little skeptical about going to someone's home and I'm quite sure she felt the same way about letting people into her home. I scheduled an appointment and we met and she was as warm in person as she was over the phone. She told me exactly what needed to be done and didn't try to charge me for work that didn't need to be done. I was fortunate to find a gown that didn't require any alterations, I just needed a bustle added and she made alternations to my bolero and made small hooks on it so that it would lay nicely against my skin. She also dipped the front of the gown to give it more of a dramatic look. I tried the dress on and it was absolutely perfect, it was beautiful. I was so pleased, wished that I could have walked down the aisle that day because of the wonderful job that she did. If you are looking for someone that is personable, someone who doesn't have that corporate/industry environment and disposition, this is the person you are looking for. When she is fitting you, it feels as though a relative is making alterations on your gown for you, not just someone you are giving money to. I would recommend her over and over again to anyone that I know that is in need of alterations to their wedding gown. It feels good working with someone who feels like family, you are not treated like just another customer. She also works on one gown at a time, so she is only focusing on making you look beautiful on your special day. Note: She has the best prices in town along with a beautiful personality. read more

Anna is amazing! I met with her and tried on my wedding gown to figure out what needed to be done. She took care of it more quickly than anticipated and did an exceptional job! I would definitely recommend Anna for anyone wanting to look amazing on their wedding day! read more

Bustle and Bodice - I loved Ana's work!! - Sewing & Alterations Near Me

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Anna is truly amazing and I highly recommend Bustle and Bodice! She is professional, kind, and so extremely talented. My wedding dress was slightly different since I had a body suit and skirt combination. I also had two skirts (one for ceremony and one for reception) which both needed to be hemmed pretty dramatically. I kept the train on one and then hemmed it from the other so that I didn't need to bustle it. She also took in my body suit and it fit perfectly after her alterations! Throughout the entire process, Anna's communication was great and she made everything so seamless. Plus she is so much fun to hang out with! She is funny and sweet and you can tell she is very passionate about her work. She also sells gorgeous veils which I recommend as well! During our ceremony, the wind picked up and my veil was actually floating! So beautiful and delicate. I actually have already returned to Bustle and Bodice to get my dress for my sister's upcoming wedding hemmed. Anna also suggested that I shorted the straps and it made a world of difference! I will continue to come back for any and all alterations or even if I just happen to be in the neighborhood to say hello! read more

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I am so pleased with the work that Anna did on my bridesmaid dress! Like most bridesmaids, I ended up getting a dress that wasn't flattering on my figure and required alteration. Not only was the style unflattering but it was too big due to my recent weight loss. This required major alteration on Anna's part - she had to open nearly every seam on the bodice and the skirt. Anna was extremely patient and even accommodated a second fitting closer to the wedding date to "re-pin" the dress as I continued to lose weight. She finished my dress on time, as promised, and for a fair price considering the amount work that went into it. I walked out with a perfectly fitting dress and felt beautiful wearing it! I highly recommend Anna to anyone who is looking for professional, courteous, and creative tailoring service. I will definitely return to Anna for all my future alteration needs - I have total confidence that she can make anything look beautiful! read more

I had a relatively constricted timeline since my dress came in less than 2 months before my wedding and I knew the alterations were not going to be straightforward. My dress is covered in lasercut overlays, and while I wanted my dress to fit perfectly, I didn't want the integrity of the design compromised at all. I was really nervous to give anyone my dress. I'm so glad I contacted Anna! Right from the start I knew she was going make my dress even more perfect and I never felt nervous. And rightly so! My wedding is on Saturday, and I can't wait to wear my dress. Even better, Anna is the sweetest, talking to her made me feel even more excited for my wedding. Be forewarned, the alterations will be a little pricy, but worth every $. read more

Anna was amazing! I had a bridesmaid dress that was way too big and needed several alterations. Anna quickly set me up with an appointment. First appointment was quick and easy and promised she would have the dress completed by the wedding date. Second fitting just as easy and the dress fit wonderfully. A little pricy, but the quality of work is worth it. This was obvious when I was able to compare the my dress to the seven other bridesmaids in the wedding who's dresses were altered for various prices all over the country. Anna obviously knows what she is doing. Would definitely use her again. read more

Anna was incredible! Such a talented seamstress and so kind as well! She did an incredible job on my wedding dress alterations! I can't say enough about how accommodating she was and easy to work with. She doesn't take short cuts and she has excellent technique (this is coming from my mom who is familiar with the craft). I would highly recommend Anna to anyone! read more

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Anna has been the easiest most stress free part about my wedding so far! She is so experienced and helpful in everything down to what to make sure you bring for your dress on your wedding day! She is worth every penny and then some. I would recommend her to any bride. Never for a second did I not trust my most valued possession (my dress) in her very capable hands! She's exactly what you want in a wedding dress seamstress! Go to Anna!! She's the exact right choice for any bride! read more

Anna altered my wedding dress and did an absolutely beautiful job. I emailed her about 3 months prior to the wedding for availability and she called me soon after to schedule a fitting. My dress was from Jcrew so fit pretty well, but she made it fit like a glove with a nip and tuck here and there. I couldn't be happier with her work and would gladly refer her to anyone who is looking! read more

Bustle and Bodice - Post alterations! So pleased with how it fit! - Sewing & Alterations Near Me

Anna was great to work with! She works from her home, but still very professional. It was easy to get an appointment with her and she was flexible with time (offering evening hours). I think she was fairly priced for the wedding dress I had her work on. She finished the work on time. No problems! read more

I haven't had anything altered here, but I called to see if this woman could alter something for me, and she balked as soon as she heard it wasn't a wedding dress, even after I explained that the skirt of my garment had puffs that are filled with tulle, just a like a wedding garment might be. I noticed her website doesn't specify that she only works on bridal items. She said on it that she designs clothes and attended Columbia College, so I was surprised by her unwillingness to even look at what I was talking about in an email. I was very unimpressed altogether with her communication skills. read more

Anna was a dream to work with! I had a lot of concerns about a bridesmaid's dress I ordered from David's Bridal. She listened to all my concerns before placing a single pin. Once she understood what I was looking for, she worked from the top to the bottom of the dress and created a beautiful silhouette for me. When I went back to try on the dress, it fit beautifully! Oh, and she's very personable and sweet. I'm so happy with my experience working with Anna. I highly recommend her services! read more

Anna is fantastic. I had to get alterations done for a bridesmaids dress and she was nothing but professional and prompt. She did a beautiful job and I felt great in the dress all night long. I'm so happy to have found such a wonderful tailor -- I'll be going to her in the future for sure! read more

I purchased my wedding dress from a consignment shop, and I did a ton of research before finally deciding to work with Anna at Bustle and Bodice. It was a great decision. Anna has an excellent eye, and is obviously passionate about her work. I needed to get my wedding dress shortened, which was a fairly complicated job because the bottom of the dress was covered with lace, which we couldn't just cut off. Anna did a beautiful job. Also, when we decided to make a last minute change to the dress at the final fitting, she made the changes right in front of us while we waited so we wouldn't have to make another appointment. Finally, the price was very reasonable, and actually a little lower than she initially quoted. read more

Anna made the entire alterations process enjoyable and stress-free! Her skills with altering my detailed dress in the chest region kept the shape of the dress in tact while still highlighting my features. Anna was also able to evenly hem my dress to ensure I could walk with ease on the day of my wedding and provided an elegant bustle to dance the night away! I highly recommend Anna and her work after working with her! read more

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I decided to get my bridesmaid dress altered about 2 weeks before my friend's wedding. I called Anna after seeing her website and a few reviews and she was able get me in and altered my dress in one week. She works out of her home, and she is extremely professional and does a great job. Her prices are also fair and I would recommend her services. read more

I can't put into words how happy I was with my wedding dress. I had an Allure mermaid dress that had a lot of beautiful applique. The size I bought was pretty close, so it made the alterations extremely difficult because there was so little room, but needed to get so close in many areas, all while carefully treating the applique. Anna has had years of experience and made me feel so comfortable. I was 100% confident in her style and suggestions. My dress fit like a glove! I can't count how many compliments I got! I purchased my dress in Michigan, for our wedding in Michigan - but wanted to have local alterations. I found Anna through Yelp after scheduling other appointments - happened to have been able to see her first, and stopped at our appointment. So so happy with the results! read more

Anna did a great job on the alterations for my empire waist wedding dress. I went in to get a bustle added and the straps shortened. When I tried the dress on, she suggested taking in the seams on the side a little to give it more of an hourglass shape. The price she quoted was reasonable and within my budget, so I took her advice. I am so glad I did! It took it that little extra from being a dress I loved to being a dress that made me look fabulous. She was very nice and very professional. I would recommend her to everyone! read more

I came to Anna with a sketch and two off-the-rack wedding dresses, with the hopes that she would help me make my one dream dress. I can't say enough nice things about how professional and reassuring she was! She did beautiful custom work and walked me through every step and decision. I was so completely happy with my wedding dress, I recommend Bustle and Bodice for anyone looking for alterations or custom clothing construction!! read more

This review is way overdue. Anna worked on my wedding dress last year. After searching high and low for a trustworthy person to work on my gown, I came across Anna. I had a couture ball gown, and surprisingly many people were not willing to work on the dress or had very little experience tailoring ball gowns. The dress was not east to alter as it was much longer in the back than the front with 6 layers of material. The outer layer being taffeta, which is very delicate. I am only 5'2 so about 3 inches needed to be cut from the bottom without cutting the back of the dress due to the crystals lining the back of the dress. Anna was heaven sent. She is an incredibly skilled worker who is truly talented. She had the ability to tailor my gown as if it were made for my body. She took her time and was very careful about not changing so much of the dress as there were many Swarovski crystals embellishing the gown. We met a total of three times to be sure the dress was perfect, and it was exactly the way I hoped it would be. Highly recommend going to Anna! read more

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I was searching high and low for somebody to do my wedding dress alterations in the city and came across all of the amazing reviews for Anna. So, I reached out to her and the rest was such a breeze. She communicates quickly and clearly, is flexible, and is easy to get in touch with... More importantly, she did a perfect job on my alterations. My dress looks unbelievable and it was done in record time for a very fair price! She had some great ideas for my dress and made it exactly what I wanted. I would recommend her to anyone needing any sort of work done on their wedding dress. Plus, she is fun and so kind - you can't go wrong! read more

I almost didn't alter my wedding dress - thankfully, I did, and I cannot imagine anyone who could have been better than Anna. She was SO precise on every detail, and SO friendly, and SO accommodating. I came in rather late for my first fitting (in relation to my wedding date) and she did all the alterations so fast, and so well. Everyone said my dress fit like a glove. And her home is beautiful, which really was such a nice change from hectic day-to-day life. And her prices are SO FAIR. Really, I can't say enough good things about her - don't wait, call her today if you need alterations! I promise, you will not regret it. read more

Anna is amazing! I had a short timeline and some weight fluctuations and Anna still got my dress done 3 weeks before my wedding! I also had straps added and not to mention the dress was way too big on me but she made it all work! The dress is beautiful and she is such a lovely person to talk to. I looked forward to chatting with her during our appointments. read more

My wedding dress looked amazing when Anna was done with it! My dress was a strapless lace, fitted, trumpet style. I purchased the dress a few sizes too big to fit my largest measurement in the bust. I was really concerned when i tried it on in the store when it came in because obviously it was too big and they didn't want to clamp it and mess it up(understandable). I loved it when I tried on the sample, so I knew with a lot of work it would look great again. Anna did a great job! She listened to everything I said and my concerns. She showed me how different things would look and told me why I may or may not want to do different changes. I was so nervous going back to my second fitting with Anna because I wanted to love my dress again, but it went great and I loved it! The whole process was a little more expensive then I originally wanted to pay, but I also know that the dress had a lot of layers and the hem on lace is a more difficult process. Anna also took the time to fix a bridesmaid dress for another wedding i was in the month before my own. She had a lot on her plate but she helped me out and did the simple alterations. read more

Anna was recommended to me by a co-worker to alter my wedding dress for my wedding this past May. This recommendation was by far the BEST decision of my wedding. She made me feel very comfortable during fittings which is extremely important to me & the quality of her work is superb! My dress fit perfectly & she ensured we had everything we needed including steaming the dress & showing bridesmaids exactly how to bustle it for the big day. Her prices are very reasonable & scheduling is easy. Do yourself a favor & hire her, it will eliminate so much stress since the dress is the biggest part of the day! read more

I decided to work with Anna based solely on Yelp reviews. I had moved to Chicago 6 months before my wedding so I took my chances with the great reviews and she didn't disappoint. Working with her was so incredibly easy and I trusted her professional opinions throughout the entire process; she really put me at ease and was just a great person to get to know. We only had to meet twice (including final fitting) and she accepts checks, cash, and credit card so payment was a breeze. My dress looked flawless on my wedding day and I owe it all to her! Thank you so much, Anna! read more

Anna was amazing. I visited 2 other alterations places before deciding on using Anna's services. My dress was much too big on me, and every other place I visited was very nervous to take it in. One place straight up wouldn't do it. Anna right away said she would have absolutely no problem. She was extremely knowledgeable and confident which made me feel comfortable right away. The alterations seemed a tad pricey, but after our entire experience together, I would gladly pay the same rate again. I received countless compliments on how my dress fit me like a glove, which is sometimes hard to say for a strapless gown!! I was married in September 2016, and she was flexible with scheduling fittings, even though it is an extremely busy time of year! read more

Bustle and Bodice - Fit like a glove! - Sewing & Alterations Near Me

If I could give more than five stars to Anna I would! My dress was not the easiest to alter; There were a lot of little pleats on the bodice and fabric was a very delicate silk chiffon. Anna was able to complete the alterations quickly and the dress looked like it was made for me! I am very petite and Anna was able to take my size 2 dress and scale it down to fit my body perfectly. It also had a lot of tulle underneath and Anna made the suggestion to take some out so the dress wouldn't overwhelm my tiny frame and I am so happy she made the suggestion and we did it. The dress looked so much better! I could not recommend Anna more! read more

Bustle and Bodice - After alterations! - Sewing & Alterations Near Me

Anna was my first choice for wedding dress alterations. She is patient and amazingly knowledgeable. She fitted my dress to perfection and did not stop tweaking until every seam laid flat and I looked like the bride I was born to be! i could not be more pleased. Thank you for your professionalism, fair pricing, and attention to detail. read more

Anna was a true pleasure to work with leading up to my May 2014 wedding. She is experienced, talented, and professional! Her alterations to my lace bodice, bustle, little wristlet to carry my train, and steaming were beautifully done, and I am so thankful (and relieved) to have met her! I e-mailed Anna seven months prior to my wedding inquiring about her willingness to work with me as an out-of-state bride. I grew up in Chicago and was planning a Chicago wedding, but I had recently relocated across the country for my job. Due to my work schedule I only had time for one fitting (in January) prior to my May wedding when I would return to Chicago and pick up my gown only two days prior to the ceremony. Anna was incredibly accommodating considering my unusual circumstances! During the fitting she was honest and clear about not losing or gaining any additional weight between January and May... And I couldn't have agreed more since I had no other opportunity for further alternations! Anna was direct, but she was also so warm and kind to me, my maid of honor, and my dad who helped carry my dress up to her studio on a snowy, blustery, freezing January day. My dress fit beautifully on my wedding day four months after the initial fitting. Anna's detailed work is fantastic. I absolutely recommend Anna and her services to future brides! read more

Anna is absolutely amazing!!! I bought my dress in CT and my designer has no contacts here to recommend for alterations. I did a ton of research to try to find somebody who I trusted with my beautiful and very expensive gown. The moment I met Anna I knew I had chosen the right person. She is kind, patient, extremely professional and amazing at her job. My mother and mother-in-law who attended my first fitting with me were also blown away by her. Don't look anywhere else for a seamstress for your wedding dress. Anna is incredible! read more

Absolutely above and beyond does not even begin to cover it. Anna is absolutely wonderful and I will tell you why. I purchased a dress at Brandy's Bridal in Rockford that was a size or two too small, but it was a wonderful price and I could not pass it up. After talking to the woman at Brandy's Bridal, she convinced me that it wouldn't take very much to do the few "tweeks" here and there. Like adding in a corset in the back and hemming the dress slightly. I did some research on bridal alterations and found Anna. After the first phone call I knew I would like her immediately. Well, after a few fittings it turned out that we actually needed to, pretty much, reconstruct the entire dress. It was a lot of work and I even asked for the dress a couple weeks early. I felt horrible for putting all that work on her. But there was always a smile on her face and a reassuring word. I will only go back to Anna if I need anything altered. One of my bridesmaids is having her alter two of her bridesmaids dresses (one for my wedding and another one of her friends' wedding). Anna is absolutely wonderful. She worked with my schedule and made me feel great about my dress and the way I look in it. read more

Anna did an amazing job! I called around a few places on alterations for my wedding dress, but Anna gave me a quote that was better than anywhere else I found. When I met with her, she found a couple other alterations to make the dress fit perfectly. It was a reasonable price, and she did it quickly - and only needed one fitting! It fit like a glove! read more

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1. She decides to work with you over email. Evaluates your dress via email, provides quotes via email. 2. She had me send over 8+ pictures of details of the dress. Her quote came back stating the dress had several layers that would need hemming and hand stitching. The dress has 2 layers, 1 lace and 1 fabric. 3. I was very specific from the first email that I didn't want the lace panels chopped at the bottom. After several back and forth emails not understanding what I meant, her last email said she would need to cut the lace at the bottom. When I asked a question addressing the concern again she said she could not work with me and recommended 2 other places. 4. The alterations she quoted me on were more than I spent on the dress. It looks like she does a beautiful job with dresses she is comfortable working with. I do not like the email back and forth. I appreciate the recommendation on other places on her last communication, but wish it would have happened a month ago, or would have had me come in to clarify what I repeatedly asked about. UPDATE: When I brought my dress into another person, they had no issue with what I was asking, and their price (which according to yelp was typically higher) was almost $200 less than what Anna quoted me. Make sure you get other quotes when you are shopping for alterations! read more

Anna made my wedding dress alteration process stress free and enjoyable. Anna was able to give me a quote with just a verbal statement of what needed to be altered and an internet photo of my dress. Aside from Anna's amazing alteration skills her personality is warm and kind and she provided me with the confidence and reassurance I needed to feel amazing on my wedding day. Anna also went out of her way to explain to me how to make my Indian dupatta veil and it turned out absolutely amazing. I am so pleased with my decision to have Anna do my alterations and I recommend her to any bride that needs a talented, professional and patient dress tailor. read more

I'm writing this review two days after my wedding so that any bride reading this does not hesitate to secure Anna's alterations services. I cannot say enough about how amazing she is. I didn't understand how much time was necessary for alterations and how far in advance I'd need to book my first appointment. Lucky for me Anna still had space on her schedule (I contacted her just shy of 3 months before my wedding for a quote and booked her 2.5 months before the big day). April isn't a peak month for weddings so keep that in mind as for my timing. Based on her Yelp reviews and my first appointment with Anna, I immediately trusted her. It was clear that she was extremely knowledgeable. She gave her opinions and also made sure I was comfortable with everything as we went along. The first appointment (two months prior) was the longest as I needed quite a bit of alterations with an intricate dress - taking it in around the hips, shortening it (with multiple layers on the bottom), and a bustle. You'll stand a long time - bring your shoes and ideally whatever bra you're hoping to use. I ended up choosing to sew in cups which was the best decision - one less thing to worry about! The second fitting happened about a month before and the last "fitting" was 1.5 weeks before to try it on before I took the dress home. The price, which seemed reasonable to me, was worth every penny. My dress fit like a glove and you can't put a price tag on the sense of relief and lack of worry when you hand over that dress to someone. Contact Anna now! read more

Anna is a true professional seamstress. She needs less time than most shops or seamstresses to alter a dress and knows what she is doing. She is on the pricier side of alterations, but for peace of mind, I was willing to pay a little extra. Anna has an incredible eye and made my dress fit perfectly. She also added in a dress label for me last minute that I received as a shower gift without an issue and it turned out beautifully. She does charge extra for steaming and pressing as well. Overall, excellent seamstress but prepare to pay for her work. read more

Anna did a beautiful job altering my wedding dress. She made sure it fit like a glove and when it was done you couldn't tell it had been altered at all, despite having to take it in several inches and the gown being all lace. It turned out just gorgeous! Anna was also much less expensive than the alterations quote I received from the place I bought my dress. I am so glad I went with her! read more

Anna was fantastic in altering my ornately beaded dress. I was told by other alterations companies that many of the requests I had were too difficult to do and it wasn't possible to keep the beading pattern to bring the dress in as much as it needed to be. Anna was able to make all of the adjustments I needed on a fairly tight schedule, and my dress fit perfectly on my wedding day. read more

When I first contacted Anna I was in desperation. Five weeks from my wedding day, after falling out of love with my first dress, I was looking for someone to help me with dress number two. I count my blessings every day Anna said yes. From the first time we met, I could not have been more confident working together. Anna spoke with me at length about the first dress and my challenges throughout those alternations, wanting to ensure I didn't have the same experience twice. Throughout our appointments she educated me on the process and help me understand potential limitations. She asked, confirmed and double-checked every inch of the dress was to my liking. Not only did Anna perfect my dress in time for my wedding, it only took her one appointment and twelve days to finish. I could not have asked for a more talented, creative and kind partner. I cannot say thank you to Anna enough for making me feel (and look) amazing on my big day. read more