June 3, 2011 by admin
Whenever, during a styling consultation, a bride-to-be says she wants to wear a vintage wedding dress, the first thing I do is have her clarify specifically what she has in mind. Is she looking to invest in a genuinely old vintage dress or would she instead prefer to buy a new but vintage-inspired gown? Next I show her a range of photographs depicting wedding gown styles from the different eras and get her to choose the style that appeals to her the most. As with everything, once you clarify exactly what you are looking for, the easier it is to then find. Different eras are synonymous with different looks. For instance the 1920s were associated with flapper dresses and feather headpieces, whereas the 1950s embraced the curve hugging fishtail gowns and ornate jewellery. So if you have your heart set on wearing vintage for your big day, don’t be vague about it. Specify what you have in mind and know what you are looking for. It will save you so much time in the long run.
Just remember, vintage does not usually come cheap, (although there are many exceptions to the rule!) Most of you will be lucky enough to find ‘the one’ for a great price, some of you however may have to incur the expenses of travelling further afield in search of the perfect show stopping vintage gown. The other option of course is to commission a dressmaker to create your gown. If you haven’t yet found the dress of your dreams, don’t lose heart. There’s always a way to make it a reality.
Here are some suggestions however to help you in your search:
WHITNEY HOUSTONS DRESS
TO BUY: http://www.antiquedress.com/item4907.htm
—- 1950’s / 1980’s / 1990’s
A branch of Mrs Quinn’s Charity Shop situated on Main Street Loughrea currently has a large range of beautiful wedding dresses in stock. They range from very modern to very vintage in style, however not all dresses in stock are second hand. A bridal boutique donated its gowns to the charity shop after closing down.
Here are four vintage inspired dresses from the shop that recently caught my eye:
(note: all wedding dresses in Mrs Quinns are priced in the region of €100-€350)
1990s
DRESS A:
1980’s
DRESS B:
1950’s
DRESS C:
On the other hand, if you shortened the dress and used some navy dye, you would have yourself a dress similar to the iconic one worn by Britney Spears (except nowhere near as see-through!)
DRESS D:
Statement piece:
Genuine Vintage:
When you buy vintage, you are essentially buying quality.
Think about it. The item has lasted this long not because of chance, but because of the craftsmanship behind it. The attention paid to every detail and embellishment is reflected in the longevity of the item.
Don’t be disheartened however if your vintage piece does not have a designer label or any label for that matter. It wasn’t unusual for women to remove the labels from their designer garments so as to avoid paying duty at customs. As a result, many high quality vintage couture garments are without their labels today.
I would highly recommend that you avoid buying garments that have stains or may be in need of major repairs. Firstly, there is no way of knowing how long the stain has been embedded in the fabric and as such, it may be incredibly difficult to remove. Secondly, the chemicals and heat used in the dry cleaning process may actually end up damaging the vintage fabric. With regard to repairs, just remember it may prove very difficult to find fabric that matches the kind used in your vintage piece. It may also be tricky to find a seamstress with the skills necessary for repairing delicate vintage. For instance, I know a lady who bought a beautiful green 1960 Balenciaga evening gown. It cost less than $100 but she cannot wear it because it is too difficult to clean. The fabric is silk gazar which holds its shape because of a special coating that would actually melt in today’s heat-based dry cleaning. It therefore cannot be properly cleaned.
Lastly, if you are travelling to London, New York, or Paris, keep on the look out for vintage fashion auctions. Some of the larger and more established auction houses hold vintage haute couture auctions every few months, so if you’re planning on taking a trip, check the web first to see if any upcoming vintage auctions will be taking place in your vicinity.
Fortunately it’s not absolutely necessary to travel to these places in order to find genuine vintage items as there is a surprisingly large selection available right here in Ireland.
Here are seven wedding dresses from the vintage couture bridal boutique ‘The Goddess Rooms’ in Greystones County Wicklow.
Brides with a specific style in mind will be pleased to hear that The Goddess Rooms team can re-style or re-design the vintage dress to the taste of the individual bride.
http://www.thegoddessroom.net/TheGoddessRoom/index.php/2010/07/chanel-wrap-dress/
(This dress would look even more amazing when paired with these ornate style earrings from Miss Selfridge in Terryland Shopping
1950’s Cahill shelf busting wedding gown with tulle underskirt.
Jacques Griffe organza white stripe bridal gown.
1970’s vintage open work lace.
1950’s embossed bead and lace gown from 1950′S Lanvin original pattern.
1950′S Anne Fogarty cotton summer wedding dress.
Storing vintage
1/ Treasured fabrics such as antique lace will damage easily if not cared for properly. To prolong their life, place a sheet of greaseproof paper between each item as this will help block any light as well as preventing the transfer of fabric dyes.
2/ Always use padded unscented hangers when hanging up your vintage clothing. If the item is particularly heavy, fold it up or store it flat so as to prevent it from falling and tearing. Remember, some vintage items may already be quite weak so never leave them exposed to sunlight.
3/ If you want to store your clothes in the attic without running the risk of moth holes occurring, then place some pencil shavings in a mesh bag and use it as a sachet. The shavings act as a moth repellent and your clothes will be free of moth holes when retrieved from storage.
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