Hustle and Bustle

Have a gown with a train? Clueless about bustles? Here are some ideas and things to consider when talking to your seamstress. ( Most gowns do NOT come with a bustle in place, so you'll need to have one put in. A good seamstress will have ideas about the bustle too, but it’s nice to have thought through it a little before you go in.)

1) Security: Chances are, even with a bustle there may be just enough dress trailing behind that someone can step on it if they really want to, or catch a bit of the fabric, etc. So make sure that the bustle loops or hooks are reinforced as much as possible.
2) There are two main types of bustle: Standard and French. With a standard bustle, the train is fastened up to lay on top of the skirt. If you have a lot of detail on the train, this can be a good way to make sure that detail is still seen. The French Have bustle loops underneath the skirt. Sometimes one is clearly more appropriate than the other, in other cases it will be a matter of taste which type you prefer.
3) On gowns with a sheer or lacy overlay, it can work well to bustle the two layers separately. The underskirt can be pulled under in the French way, and then the overlay can be done in a standard bustle so that the fabric falls in soft folds. This can be a great way to show off the fabric and won’t look as bulky as it would if the both layers were done in the standard bustle.
4) If possible, bring whoever will be helping you with the train to a fitting so they can see how your bustle should work- they can get complicated! Practice before the big day so that you won’t waste any precious celebration time!