I received a question from Kristin about restyling her grandmother's vintage wedding dress. This is what she asked:
"I'm thinking of wearing my grandma's wedding dress, but modernizing it a bit. Do you have photos or before and afters for inspiration? I think that would make a great post! Thanks."
This was part of my reply to Kristin:
You’ve asked a great question about restyling vintage wedding dresses. I agree with you that some before and after pictures on redesigned wedding gown would be great. But sorry, I don’t have any pictures.
Here is a vintage wedding dress before and after it was restored. In order to restyle a vintage wedding dress, you must start with a dress that is in good enough shape to restyle. So check with your wedding gown specialist about your vintage dress to see if it can be restored to a condition that you will want to wear. Miracles, like great wedding memories, are possible with wedding gowns.
As experienced vintage wedding gown restoration specialist in Birmingham, Alabama, here are some of the problems we often see with wedding gowns that have not been cleaned, preserved or stored properly over the years:
- Yellowed spots on the wedding gown resulting from not removing sugar stains from the dress after it was worn
- General discoloration of the wedding dress, as in the picture above, due to long-term storage in high temperatures or high humidity areas, like attics and basements. Storing a dress in an area that gets no air circulation can also cause discoloration as well as storage of the dress in plastic or with items made from plastic, leather (with glue present) or metal.
- Fabric damage due to insects and their larvae eating the fabric or food spilled on the wedding dress and not cleaned before storing.
- Damage to beading or discoloration around the beading resulting from glue used on the beads or the deterioration of the beads themselves.
- Streatched seams from leaving the wedding dress on a hanger in the closet for an extended time.
Some of the spots and discoloration problems can be corrected or at least improved through garment restoration techniques. Beads and sequins can be a problem but can sometimes be replaced if necessary. And seam stretching can sometimes be reduced by an experienced dressmaker. But other times these problems cannot be completely corrected. Let an experienced wedding gown restoration specialist take a look at your gown and give you an opinion on the likelihood of success restoring your vintage wedding gown.
Once you have determined that you can use your vintage wedding gown, here are some ideas of how you can go about the restyling of your vintage wedding gown.
First, decide on the basic features you desire such as length of the gown, sleeved or strapless, type of train and veil, etc. Then look for pictures of the features you like within each of the following areas:
- Get pictures of styles for the bodice area of gowns that you like…front and back.
- Get pictures of the styles for the lower area of gowns that you like…front and back.
- Get pictures of the trains you like.
- Get pictures of any accessories you might like (including those that might use portions of the gown) like a veil, etc.
- Then take a look at Grandma's dress. Make a list of what you’d like to accomplish with a re-design. Be specific. List features you don’t like in the current dress and those you do like.
The purpose of this exercise is to get you to think about the specific features of the dress…and then write them down so you can think about them and discuss them with an experienced wedding gown specialist/dressmaker.
Understand that there are some things you can change and some things you can't change with the existing dress. Talk with our dressmaker and get an idea of what's possible. Plan early on this so you're not pushed to make a quick desision. Plan and be prepared for several fittings to get your dress just right.
You can end up with a special dress and really make Grandma and the entire family proud.
And when your wedding is over, remember to get your wedding dress cleaned and preserved so maybe one day your daughter can wear your wedding dress.
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Get Wedding Dress Alterations from a Specialist. From simple hems, to adding a bustle, altering the bodice to a redesign of a vintage gown. We can do it and you can relax.
Learn more about our wedding dress alterations services here.
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(C) 2009 - 2010 Champion Wedding Gown Specialist. All Rights Reserved
In follow up to my recent Wedding Gown Care blog posts, I've been asked several questions about wedding dress alterations...as well as Bridesmaids Dress alterations.
Can you complete a wedding dress or bridesmaid dress hem in a week?
My answer is ABSOLUTELY YES! As a Certified Wedding Gown Specialist in Birmingham, Alabama, we are committed to getting what you need, when you need it...including a wedding gown hem. This assumes an initial fitting and a final fitting without complicating factors like excessive layers, beading issues or other significant structural changes in the bridal gown. But please call for an appointment for a fitting at 205.588.4120 and make sure we know when it's needed at the time you make your appointment. But we can do it and we won't gouge you with extra charges for a rush job.
Shoot...we can do it in a day if you really need it that quick!
How long will it take to size a wedding dress?
My answer is...it depends. It depends on the wedding dress, the number of fittings required, how available you are for the fittings and the type of changes required with the bridal gown. A simple wedding dress with a hem and/or sleeve change along with a change in the bodice and waist will usually take a minimum of two weeks (this assumes 3 fittings at one week apart). But again, this is with a simple wedding gown. It can...and often does...take longer. See my earlier post about beads, layers, etc.
(C) 2009 - 2010 Champion Wedding Gown Specialist. All Rights Reserved
"How long will it take to do my Wedding Dress alterations?"
We get questions all the time asking about the time it takes us to complete Wedding Dress alterations at our gown care shop in Birmingham, Alabama. The same questions also come to us about Bridesmaids Dresses, Mother of the Bride Dresses, Maid of Honor Gowns and Prom Gowns. These questions are often in the form of e-mails and phone calls.
And the answer is......
...we need to see the dress first and then we can answer this question.
But let me try to explain the factors that enter into the answer to this question.
There are many different needs when altering and fitting a wedding dress. The actual amount of time it takes to do the alteration typically depends on three primary factors:
- the style of the wedding dress,
- the complexity of the desired alteration, and
- the backlog of work to be done by the wedding dress alterations specialist
Style of the Wedding Dress
A heavily beaded gown will require more time for an alteration affecting the beaded area than a simple wedding dress. Beads must be handled with care to make sure the gown keeps its look when altering an area of the gown involving beads and other adornments.
Hemming sleeves with buttons and beads require more time than sleeves without buttons or beads.
A wedding dress with multiple layers will likewise require more time for a hem or bodice alteration than a simple wedding gown. We must hem each layer when hemming a wedding dress...and the more layers, the more time it takes for the alteration. The number of layers and the structure of the wedding gown will also impact the job of replacing a wedding dress zipper.
Complexity of the Alterations
It often takes less time to hem a bridal gown than to take it in or let it out. Removing straps in a wedding dress can be simple, but if combined with a bodice alteration...and it often is, the process can become more complicated and more time consuming.
Adding a bustle might be simple. But again this depends on the complexity of the gown, especially the number of layers and type of fabric. Beading can also affect a bustle. When adding a bustle, I recommend adding more than one, even on a simple wedding dress. If the Bride steps on the hem or sits the wrong way, a single bustle can break...so always add more than one. Add even more when the train is heavy and extra long.
How Many Fittings?
One other common factor that can affect the time it takes to do bridal gown alterations is the number of fittings required to make sure your wedding dress fits perfectly. Again, a hem on a gown without extra layers or beading should take fewer fittings while changes to the design or taking in or letting out the bodice typically requires more.
As I've said in my previous wedding gown blog posts, the best solution is to purchase a wedding gown that most nearly fits you. But our commitment to our Brides is that we'll do whatever it takes to get your wedding gown alterations in Birmingham done right and on your schedule. All I suggest is to make arrangements ahead of time and meet with with your alterations specialist. Let her see the wedding gown to get a good idea of the complexity of the wedding gown and the required wedding gown alterations.
Backlog
A person can get only 8 hours of work done in 8 hours. But an experienced seamstress has fewer "start-overs" and can get more done than a less experienced seamstress. However, a major issue for completing wedding dress alterations is to make an appointment with your wedding gown specialist and keep the appointment...and all subsequent fitting appointments That will help insure timely completion of your wedding dress alterations
Experience Counts
One last bit of advice is to make sure your seamstress is qualified and experienced with wedding gown alterations. For successful wedding dress alterations, experience is critical. A seamstress or even a tailor who spends all of their time hemming pants and sleeves...or even making men's suits... might not be able to handle a wedding gown correctly.
My suggestion is to make sure your wedding gown specialist is a qualified dressmaker and has years of experience with wedding dress alterations. This will reduce the number of fittings required and get your wedding dress alterations completed on schedule. And you'll stand a better chance of getting it done correctly when your wedding gown specialist is qualified.
(C) 2009 - 2010 Champion Wedding Gown Specialist. All Rights Reserved
Choosing the right size wedding dress will save you money and time. I don't mean the "right size" dress will fit you perfectly off the rack, since this almost never happens. I do mean you should select the size that will minimize wedding dress alterations. And don't get me wrong here...I'm in the wedding dress alterations business. But there is no point in spending money if not absolutely necessary.
Not the same size.
Many brides, for whatever reason, insist on ordering a bridal gown in the same numeric size as their everyday clothing. These same brides are shocked to learn that their wedding gown alterations can cost hundreds of dollars.
Three Tips For Buying Your Wedding Dress
Here are three tips from our dressmaker and a Birmingham wedding gown alterations specialist to help you choose wisely. These ideas apply equally to bridesmaids dresses as they do to wedding dresses.
First, be prepared to order a size you might never have considered. Formal bridal gowns are designed to fit close to the body with little margin for error. The waist and hips are usually easier and less expensive to alter than the bust, so bust measurement is generally used to determine correct size. Dress styles vary, however, so it is wise to consult with an wedding dress alterations specialist before deciding which size to purchase. She might see that a particular style is easier to alter in one area than another. She may also direct you to a more flattering style of bridal gown for your figure. Don't feel insulted if she suggests a larger size. Professional wedding gown specialists really do want to get you into the optimal size so they can alter the gown to your satisfaction. If the size tag bothers you, the wedding gown alterations specialist will be happy to cut it out of the dress!
Second, be sure to try on your dress with the undergarments you plan to wear with the dress. Undergarments make a big difference in the fit of a bridal gown, and you will need those same undergarments for your alterations fittings. If you change bras or crinolines after ordering your dress, you may find that you need more alterations than you anticipated, although sometimes you may need fewer alterations, e.g. a fuller slip may make a hem unnecessary if you are already tall.
Finally, remember it is not about the size of the bridal gown; it is about the fit. Wearing a size 10 if you are a size 12 will not make you look smaller. Wedding gown specialists know that you look your personal best in a gown that fits you perfectly.
Follow this wisdom from an experienced Birmingham wedding gown alterations specialist and you'll look better...and save money.
Our wedding gown alterations specialist is available by appointment in Vestavia Hills on Rocky Ridge Road and in Hoover at Highway 280 to help with your wedding dress and bridesmaids dress alterations needs. Call us at 205.588.4120 for more information.
Next to you and your bridal shop, we're more interested in how you look in you wedding dress and your brides' maid dress than anyone else! We specialize in last minute and emergency wedding dress alterations in Birmingham, Alabama.
Find us on the web at www.ChampionWeddingGownSpecialist.com.
(C) 2009 - 2010 Champion Wedding Gown Specialist. All Rights Reserved
Mom's Wedding Dress
I talked recently with a Bride-To-Be from Vestavia Hills, Alabama. She was asking about our ability to restore the original color to her Mother's wedding dress and wanted to know about our skills in making some changes to better fit her style and personality. The gown had yellowed over the thirty-four years it had been hanging in Mom's closet but I felt reasonably sure we could return the color to near its original color. And with an effective wedding dress cleaning, her Mom's dress should be in good shape. The alterations she had in mind required dress-maker skills...a skill level we regularly provide. Mom's wedding dress was a classic style which helps when restyling an older wedding gown. But sometimes an older gown has a personality different from what the Bride wants. My suggestion was to not try and make the "old gown" into a "new gown" by making extensive stylistic alterations. If you like the basic look of the dress, and the dress will fit, even with required alterations, you have a great candidate for your wedding dress. And you can save a good bit of money in the process.
We cleaned and restored the gown using a wet cleaning technique and a special bleaching process. She changed the straps, added some lace and a bustle but she didn't try wholesale changes in the style. She respected the personality of this vintage wedding gown and ended up with a beautiful gown that both she and her Mother loved.
Trouble Areas On Previously Worn Wedding Dresses
With many second generation gowns or previously worn wedding dresses, there are often trouble areas if the gown has not been properly preserved or stored. A skilled wedding gown specialist can often find ways to handle these trouble areas without making wholesale changes. Some lace can help cover discoloration in local areas. And a creative dress maker can suggest other ways to hide many faults in a second generation wedding dress.
These same concepts can be applied as well to second hand wedding dresses, including consignment wedding dresses. I suggest that you always respect the gown and don't try to do more with the gown than its personality can handle.
Don't Forget...
My final suggestion is to clean and preserve your gown immediately after your wedding. Meet with your wedding gown cleaning specialist before your wedding. Get someone to deliver your wedding dress to your selected specialist while you're honeymooning. Some specialists will even pick up your gown for you after your wedding. Just ask your wedding gown specialist! But get your gown in to a certified wedding gown specialist for a proper cleaning and preservation...because you never know who will wear your dress next.
(C) 2009 - 2010 Champion Wedding Gown Specialist. All Rights Reserved
As a specialist in wedding gown cleaning and preservation, I was recently asked by a very nice Bride-To-Be from Mountain Brook, Alabama about restoring a wedding gown worn by her grandmother in the 1960's so she could wear it in her wedding. Since she lived near my store, I was able to take a look at her vintage wedding gown. It is a traditional wedding dress, and she told me her story of how the gown had been passed down and worn by different family members. Her Mother and an Aunt had both worn the gown and she was considering this as an option as well. This wedding dress had been cleaned over the years, but probably not the last time it was worn.
The wedding dress had yellowed a bit and had been hanging in a closet. As a result, the seams had stretched but not beyond repair. I believe we can restore the gown to close to the original color. And a little time by our dressmaker (who happens to be an expert with wedding dress alterations here in the Birmingham, Alabama area), we can get the seams back to where they should be and make a few changes for a better fit and style for this Bride.
The seams had stretched because the gown was hanging in a closet for a couple of decades. This is why I recommend all gowns be cleaned and preserved and placed in an acid-free preservation chest. The seams will not stretch and the wedding dress should not yellow when it's properly cleaned and preserved in a museum-quality preservation chest.
The yellowing of the wedding dress is the result of exposure to the elements, such as plastic that emits a fume that can cause yellowing. Even metal hangers kept near the gown when hanging in a closet can cause yellowing. However, qualified and knowledgeable wedding gown specialists can often get the yellowing out of a vintage gown like this.
Please let me know if you have any questions about your wedding dress, whether you live in the Birmingham, Alabama area or not. You can reach me at 205.902.1093, or...
david@ChampionWeddingGownSpecialist.com.
www.ChampionWeddingGownSpecialist.com
You should always get your wedding dress cleaned and preserved...because you never know who might wear it next!
(C) 2009 - 2010 Champion Wedding Gown Specialist. All Rights Reserved