Zipper Woes

" I have a one-piece knee-length dark red dress, in matte material. It
is sleeveless, with one long zipper at the front, from the neck
position to thigh-level (yes, it is ridiculously long). The neckline
and cutting is something like this :
Similar Dress

And because of this long zipper, it leaves a bump of cloth with the
zipper right at the tummy and below it, which is really ugly. I also
have this trouble with another stretchable shirt that have zipper from
neckline till the end of the shirt. How could eliminate I this problem?"


From the SOS Think Tank:

Gelinda: A long stiff zipper simply
isn't going to bend/mold to the body and doesn't work with a lightweight fabric.
It's probably a design fault that can't be remedied in a dress or blouse.

There are jackets with the front zipper and they look good
(usually heavier material) but when the wearer sits they probably have to unzip.

If the dress is fabulous and worth saving, it's remotely possible that
the zipper can be removed and a shorter one, above the problem area,
can be put in, and the remaining opening sewed closed, but that would
change the whole look and wouldn't be easy to do.

This illustrates why things have to be tried on sitting and moving
around as well as standing still. It's especially important for curvier types.
I have bought some shirts with stiff placketing/facings
and when I sit they will ride up and make a bump - or even a point! -
at the chest. I find myself constantly having to yank them down from
the bottom, not a good mannerism to have.

There are plenty of clothes out there that look great on a mannequin standing straight
and still, but don't work for life.


Ili:
i'm familiar with the zipper insta-roll. it's pretty unavoidable when
the strip of zipper is very long, i've had that happen to Gap blouses
that zipped up, workout jackets...
i had one that i was able to wear because if i didn't zip it all the
way up (and wore a shirt or cami underneath) i could stop it right at
the point where it was starting to bulge, but with a dress, and the
location (on the stomach, not the chest) that may not be possible. if
it's on the upper part of the stomach, and provided the style lends
itself to it, perhaps a wide belt may help? pushing the bubble upward
towards the chest and wearing the zipper opened at the top instead of
closed all the way? does pulling the dress down tightly help? would
spanx help? (i'm just brainstorming here). wish i could be of more
help.
Did you notice the problem when you bought the dress or did you have
it washed and then the problem began? could it be because the fabric
shrunk.