Vintage Revamped

Before

Believe it or not, this dress graced the cover of a magazine in 1985. This dress is an ode to one of the most popular dresses of its day, Princess Diana’s wedding dress.

The puffy sleeves and large bows can be frightening; however they are very easy to remove. We decided to keep the rosettes from the sleeve to give a sweet Cinderella drape off the shoulder.

Don’t be discouraged by dated design. The blue inserts had to go, and so did the big bustle. The result is a much sleeker dress that is still beautiful.

The blue detailing was cutting edge, and the large bustle in the back made it a top design. This gown’s simple lines made a good base for all the changes we made to make it fabulous.

Be aware of raw edges when you start removing aspects of the gown. We encountered this when we removed the bustle from the back. Our seamstress took the lace from the discarded bustle, and reattached it to the bodice. She then matched the hand beading to complete the design.

The flowers on the train were distracting and unnecessary. Removing them allowed for an elegant streamlined look.

After

The finished gown is much more modern and the design isn’t too far from the original look. It is an updated version of the classic. Simple alterations were all the dress needed to transform it into this unique result.

Remember, vintage can coexist with contemporary. Just open your mind, and don’t be intimidated by what you see at first glance. Now finding your unique gown will be a breeze, even if you have to dig through the bows and bustles to see it.

Details: Gown and redesign by Victorian Lace. Gown transformation and alteration by Connie Cotton, (251) 626-7366. Jewelry provided by KD Glamour. Bouquets designed by Ribbons & Roses. “After” hair and makeup by KD Glamour.