Altering vintage dress to improve fit?

E

EAC

Registered Guest
Hi there! I own a vintage late 1930s-early 1940s day dress. I was wondering if it would be completely verboten to alter the dress just to improve the fit?

Now, I'm not talking about remaking a Schiaparelli here. This dress was probably made by a home seamstress - it's got no label, non-matching facings, and very homemade looking shoulder pads. The alterations I have planned would be to bring the dress in around the waist/torso and to...maybe...add a zipper. (Currently, the dress slips on over the head and is brought in at a high waistline with a belt; there is no zipper.)

Is this sacrelige, or OK for this piece? Fellow vintage collectors, what are your thoughts? Thanks!
 
As long as you stitch well and don't cut any fabric off, I don't have a problem with it. I've altered many vintage dresses (sssh, don't tell anyone) in this way and as long as it can be restored by a future owner and you don't damage it, I think it's just fine and dandy.
 
Keep in mind that taking in the torso too much might alter the era-specific designs of the garment. Once you move too many of those design elements, you're not really in an authentic 30s/xx's dress, but more in a restyled dress made of old fabric. Does that make any sense? I dunno, it's getting late and I had a nip of wine.
 
OK heres my opinion. Let me start by saying I am not a purist about preserving all vintage but I do have important rules.

In this case I would say....if the dress is poorly home made. If it doesn't look to have any iconic or historical significance. Then chances are there will be no market for it either for collecting or wearing. If that is the case then I would not worry about restructuring it for your own purposes. Since I have not seen it it's hard for me say for sure but to my mind... if a garment has little chance of finding a home AS IS then I would rather see it recycled than in a land fill.

Melody
 
Thanks so much, everyone! All your responses are great food for thought. To share some more info with you...

The dress is homemade, but not badly - it's even got some very well-done sleeve pleating at the elbows.

The fabric is incredibly gorgeous - this heavy russet silk that is embroidered in black. The dress is in good condition and I paid good money for it.

I wouldn't be "remaking" the dress. It would be the same dress. I'd be having a professional tailor add two darts to bring the waist/torso in, which, as noted, can be done without removing fabric. It's adding a zipper, which would be required to get in and out of the svelter version of this dress, that is my concern.
 
I had the wrong impression, it sounds like a beautiful dress and worth preserving.

Having said that, if you are maintaining the style but just want to have it fit, that is something that would have been done in it's own day so I see no problem with the described alterations as long as the zipper goes into an existing seam

To cause less stress I would have the zippered finished by hand (pick-stitch)

Melody
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top