Mrs Roper Romps ... looking for suggestions

This is my style

Instead of my usual t-shirt and skirt, I want to change to the muumuu or caftan style like Mrs Roper:



So I bought this:



Unfortunately it must have been owned by a giant.

I know I can just cut the bottom off though I would like to make the neck opening smaller.

Any suggestions?

I would take gussets or box pleats at the back and the top of each bust at the front as one approach.

How much are you thinking of taking off the bottom? Because the neckline is curved, it would take some creative piecing of the hem fabric to physically make the neck opening smaller. I suspect that would be a *lot* more work than the box pleats/darts approach, but there are many factors to consider.

In the picture, it looks like the black cord is for gathering the neckline. Have you experimented with that approach?

Your photo doesn't load for me, but I recently resized a neckline to make it smaller.  First I removed the bias binding (neckband) with a seam ripper (tedious);  I ironed this to be ready to reattach at the end.  Then I carefully folded very small pleats at regular intervals around the front and back neckline, securing each one with a pin--about five pleats each in the front and back, maybe about 1/4" each.  I then sewed closely around the neckline, securing the pleats;  and finally reattached the bias binding, which was now about four or five inches too long.  It was a pretty easy fix and didn't take too long.  It could have been done by hand too, very neatly.

Jay Angler wrote:I would take gussets or box pleats at the back and the top of each bust at the front as one approach.

How much are you thinking of taking off the bottom? Because the neckline is curved, it would take some creative piecing of the hem fabric to physically make the neck opening smaller. I suspect that would be a *lot* more work than the box pleats/darts approach, but there are many factors to consider.

In the picture, it looks like the black cord is for gathering the neckline. Have you experimented with that approach?

Since I wear mostly long skirts, I also wear long nightgowns down to my ankles.  My plan is to lay a nightgown over this dress after I fix the neckline.

Then cut the dress the length of the nightgown.  I am expecting to cut off at least two feet if not more.

I like the suggestion of pleats or gussets as that was what I was thinking.

I also might look at my patterns if I can remember where they are to see if I can use one to make an insert for the neckline.

Very observant about the black cord.  I am not sure the reason for it .  It is just tacked to the front of the dress, will not gather anything.

I am using the black cord to keep the dress on a hanger.