A side zipper in a dress is elegant and discreet. It creates a nice, clean back (or front) by doing away with the interruption of a center seam to break a beautiful print or plaid fabric or the lovely silhouette. It’s also easier to zip yourself into a side-seam closure, especially when you don’t have someone handy to help with the back zipper and hook. Despite its benefits, the zipper needs some consideration when moving it from center back to the side seam. With that said, if you see this zipper as a part of your future, this article from Threads #154 (April/May 2011) will show you how to adjust your pattern.