Christian Dior wt/1955-1963 Union Label.

EndlessAlley

EndlessAlley

Alumni
Thanks for your help with two questions I have regarding this dress.

I think this Dior is from the early 1960s and was wondering if this is correct? Dress was re-hemmed and covers a small part of the Dior label.

Buttons on bodice are sewn to both sides of the opening in the neckline. The top two have been torn from one side leaving two small tears in the fabric where they were once attached. Can anyone suggest a good re-weaver? Or how to go about finding one. I live in the central Ohio area. Maybe I need to contact someone out of state?

Thank you for your help. Alice

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Alice, lovely dress! Can you show us a close up of the two tears? I ask because you may be able to take this to a local tailor to have done. Depending on the size & location (i.e., will they be under the button when repaired?) of the tears and the weave of the fabric (loose or tight) a tailor might have the skills to do this, especially if you can find an "old guy" who's been around for decades.

We have two "old guys" in town here, and while I've never used them, I've spoken to them, and if I had a situation like this and didn't feel comfortable doing the repair myself, that's where I would start. If they couldn't do the work, then I'd expand my search. Might be a seamstress in your area who could do it, but my experience is that we have a shortage of seamstresses locally who are very good. I can do better work than most of them. That's not saying a whole lot (!), but I've done some reweaving--and I'd trust myself before I'd trust them.... It could be different where you live, though. But I'd start locally and work my way out from there. If you find a good old tailor who can't do the work himself, he may be able to refer you to someone trustworthy.
 
Will those tears need to be invisibly rewoven? If you sew the bauble buttons back to he other side of the neckline, won't that cover up the damage? Also, I would take down the hemline to its original length. Date looks right to me. Christian Dior New York clothes were made in New York from 1951 until the label ended (which was about 1969) so the union label helps to narrow it down. I would have said 1963-65 from what I see, but part of that is the shorter hemline. I suspect the dress is 61-63 then.
 
Thanks Anne, there are two tears, each about 1/2" long and both are located on the fold. Yes they will go under the buttons when re-attached. My concern is, with this being a place where the buttons are going to be re-attached, it needs to be a strong mend. I never thought of the difference between a seamstress and a tailor. Columbus has a lot of resources, I just haven't had the need to look beyond having a good dry cleaner and seamstress. I'll start with my seamstress and see what she can suggest. Do you think the Dior is 60s?

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I totally agree with your first impression and with Jonathan on the dating--early 60s, given its overall shape and what must have been its original longer length.

I don't think those tears need to be "invisibly" rewoven, just very neatly mended. Yes, if you have a seamstress you work with and she's good, that's where I'd start! And to be clear, my earlier comment wasn't meant to imply that seamstresses aren't as good as tailors, but tailors work with woolens all the time. As well as the fact that in my area, I wouldn't trust any of the seamstresses I know to do this job (or many others). If you are very handy with needle and thread, you could probably do it yourself, but if not, I bet your own seamstress could handle it!
 
Thanks Jonathan, the hem was shortened by approx 1". I agree it would be good to return it to what Dior originally intended. Yes the repairs will be under the buttons. My concern is strength of the repair as much as appearance. And thanks for helping with the date.
 
Just checked with my seamstress and she does not re-weave, so now to check with some top quality, been around for ever, dry cleaners to see who they would suggest.
 
If you do decide to re-weave (not sure you need to), there is an AMAZING weaver in downtown Cleveland. VERY old school and pretty expensive. I cant think of name right off hand but will get info from my seamstress again and report back. I have a pretty amazing seamstress here too - also very old school (she is from Russia originally and still has very thick accent and I love her to death) - she would whip that back into shape with no problem.
 
Yeah, Alice, I really don't think you need a re-weaver to do these repairs, based on the size the one in the photos looks.... This is a job I'd do myself if the dress were mine--it's more of a very neat, meticulous mending job that's needed, which can be done very sturdily. Perhaps you should take it to your seamstress and have her look at it in person, at least before exploring other options....
 
The re-weaving prices I've received so far are not worth the cost. Yes, Ms Grossmyer I would love to know how to contact your seamstress and the Cleveland weaver. Thank you!!! Can you leave the contact info on this tread or would you rather contact me via my email or etsy shop?

Good idea Anne, I will stop by my seamstress and show her the areas that need mended, it may be something she would do. The only sewing instruction I've had was in 4-H. I can make pretty nice tea towels!!! Maybe I should send this dress your way Anne???????? :USETHUMBUP:
 
Maybe I should send this dress your way Anne????????
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Oooh, that would be lovely, Alice! You can teach me to make a tea towel, which I do NOT know how to do, but wish I did--really! And I'll mend the dress! But, oh dear, I'm afraid it would get (in)conveniently "lost" in my stash of repair projects and um, I would never find it again.... :horny:
 
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