Dear Previous Owner of this fantastic, vintage Victor Costa Dress,
Thank you for donating this dress to Talize. I am duly grateful. But what the bad word did you do to the neckline and sleeves? And why????
Signed,
Jentine
I am all about reworking and altering thrifted garments to make them work for you. Just because the 80's and Balmain love shoulder pads, that doesn't mean you do. So buy that hot pink blazer, take out the shoulder pads, replace the clown face buttons and wear it next time you buy a slurpee at your local 7/11.
What I can't handle is thoughtless brutality against beautiful vintage clothing. Sometimes I can be dramatic... but seriously, there is no reason that someone needed to take scissors to the neckline and sleeves of this dress. Does the 'Holt Renfrew' label inside the dress not garner a little more respect than that?
I am guessing there was a costume party and a last minute fit issue that resulted in the quick snip of the lace... It's not unsalvageable, I plan on cleaning up the cut edges and perhaps finishing them with a thin ribbon trim... but sewing with lace is painstaking. I hope to wear this to my brother's wedding in Holland this summer and maybe I will even remove the sleeves to make it more festive looking. After all, nothing says festive like bare arms, just ask those kids from that show that made fist pumping far too popular. The difference is, if I do remove the sleeves, I will keep them intact in case I ever want to put them back on and I won't just hack off the sleeves with little regard for the history of the garment.
The thing with high quality, classic, vintage garments is that they can be worn in any decade. A slight tweak, a new shoe and whatever little dog is popular that year and the dress/jacket/skirt is current again. That's why it's important to keep the integrity of the original garment. Do the alternations to make the garment fit, carefully make little changes to keep it flattering but don't just hack it on a whim. Respect the dress. Especially if it's got a surprise sexy back...
36 comments :
I a very guilty of altering thrifted pieces, hacking a hem line here, removing sleeves there. But NOT to actual vintage dresses. I think the last lady who owned this saw pretty in pink one to many times.
Oh, what a gorgeous dress! It hurts my heart to think of someone just hacking away at it.
The Whimsy Factory
This dress is lovely! I love the laced neckline and that gorgeous surprise sexy back!
I recently found a vintage red lace dress! Unfortunately it's not designer, however I've been looking for a red lace dress forever. So I'll take it.
I totally get you when you say garments such as these should be treated with respect! The dress I found has some weird last minute stitching on it. I'm not sure if the thread's color faded away or if they were color blind or something. Because the thread is closer to coral than red (so doesn't match the lace).
Anyway I hope my tailor can help with this dilemma. Although mine doesn't have that fab surprise sexy back, it does have a lovely scalloped hem at the skirt.
I also hope to wear this to my brother's wedding this year! Are we blog soul mates or what? lol
Your dress is lovely! Can't wait to see what you do with it!
That dress is totally amazing and classic!! I have a very similar dress that I got at Zara, which speaks to the utter timelessness of this silhouette! Eeesh, but with a little hemming that neckline and sleeves should be just fine :)
What the whaaa?? I want to find the person that demolished that neckline and give them a noogie. I'm in love with that dress though.
This is a true crime of fashion. But if anyone can fix it, you can.
The hack job makes me ill! But the dress is so gorgeous anyway and I KNOW you can make it work! You could even take the sleeves and make a (not matching, but coordinating) purse for something else!
i want to kill whatever mindless grandchild dug this out of grandma's attic to finagle a halloween costume. respect is right! UGH. i find solace in the fact that it found its way to you! i know you'll do this dress a solid and make it gorgeous again!
This dress reminds me of something Grianfranco Ferre did a few years back. What a dreamy silhouette indeed!
Lovely and gorgeous find! Congrats!
Such a gorgeous dress!! Lucky you.. and yes removing the sleeves will make it more festive :).
Oh, I love the pretty lace fabric! And the back is just gorgeous! Remember to enter my £100 ASOS giveaway!
x
www.lostinthehaze.com
Hej! I have go nearly the same!Its soo amazing that even going to the opera people go wild...
se here:
http://sigrunsfeelingforfashion.blogspot.com/2010/11/100.html
Bias tape could work wonders here...what a fabulous find. Please share the after photos when it's ready to party again.
Wow, this dress is sooo beautiful!
So sad! But the dress is so very lucky to find a (second...third...fourth??) owner like you :) Even with the damage, it is such an amazing find--I can't wait to see it in action!
Aw, so sad. I am glad you can fix it, though! Can't wait to see!
crazy people.
luckily the dress is in your safe arms now and you can fix it!
Gorgeous dress! Maybe a little bling would be nice around the neck.
Wow what an amazing find! I feel your pain with that hack job on such a beautiful piece.
Good luck.
xo L.
That dress is lovely! I hope you can fix the sleeves and neckline ... the lace is gorgeous!!!
That dress is really very gorgeous. I can't believe someone hurt it so. But I am guilty of modifying vintage, but not a lot: hems and taking it in mostly...otherwise, it wouldn't fit.
Didn't expect the back of that dress to be so sexy! Also, jealous you are going to HOLLAND this summer.
Oh my gosh, I nearly died when I saw this dress on your blog. I had almost the exact dress for my highschool grade but with organza instead of lace but with really expensive ornate trim sewn along the bust and hemm. My mom meticulously sewed it from a Givenchy Vogue pattern and I loathed it. I begged and pleaded for her to buy me a spaghetti strapped polyester number like all of my friends but instead I got to wear what I thought was an awful dress. Now looking at this dress I wished my size zero dress still fit me. I can't wait to see how you rock this.
Kirsten
that dress is great! I would love to know how much you pay for the things you buy there. Also I just found out that you live in Hamilton! I live in Burlington and follow all these fashion bloggers from NYC. It's so awesome to see a cool blog from home. I can't wait to hit up Talize and see what I can find. Thanks again!
marta: arlette_valois@hotmail.com
You are going to look fabulous at this wedding...even without the arms.
I agree. I always rip stitches. I never cut into the cloth. I do truly symapathize with your message and your saving the dress from further degradation.
That is a crime that someone did that to that dress! I alter dresses, though none of them look like that when I am done with them as I make sure to do it well! And I don't mess with perfection!
I can't wait to see how you fix it and know you will be lovely in it for your brother's wedding.
Rochelle
I am SO JELLY that you found that AMAZING dress!!!!! *ugh*
That is a straight up beautiful dress. I can't wait to see how you rescue it!
You're coming to Holland? I love that! Which part will you visit?
Love the dress as well :)
Marjolein- we'll be in Utretch and a little town near Amsterdam... so excited... I love Holland!
This dress is AMAZING! I love the back so much. You mentioned removing the sleeves... my first thought was shortening to just above the elbow. Long enough not to be tee like sleeves but not covering the elbow for showing your full forearms. Just a thought, I think whatever you do with it will look lovely!
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