Do I risk it?

Pinkcoke

Pinkcoke

Alumni
I've found this lovely dress on a market stall from a lady that seems to think it's older than it really is. I want it for stage use in a show later this year so I'm not looking for vintage per say but something that can emulate the period between the world wars.
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I know Vera Mont are still a fashion brand today so I think it can't be older than 80's. My query is she wants £25 for it ($40 USD roughly) and in my opion it is quite badly stained on the front in 4/5 places and on the end of one tie in a blotchy black inky way and has two very small holes in the fabric below the knees. (having said that you can't actually see this on the photo as it's only stained on the chiffon layer and needs the contrast of the lining before its visible)
Other than this it is in fair condition but the dry cleaning will cost me £16 ($26) because it's classed as an evening dress. So total cost would be £41 ($66) and I can't decide whether or not to buy it. :help: what would you do? If I wore it once do you think it would still break even when sold?
I'm hesitant because the lady let me try it on and it was a perfect fit, though I could only see it in a half mirror it's rare I get an evening dress long enough for me (I'm 5'9") but the staining looks awful and I've no idea if it will come out.
 
Polyester can really hold onto stains. Personally, I wouldn't spend that much on a stained modern dress. And I doubt you will get $66 back if you sell, especially after any fees you may have to pay off the top. Because it is still going to have holes in it, and when something is this modern, it has to be in perfect shape to be desirable.

If you have time to keep looking, perhaps it would be better to put the $66 toward a dress in better shape?

But I speak as a seller. So, on the other hand, if it fits and you love it, that's makes a huge difference.

Hollis
 
Hi,

I agree that getting stains out of poly is near impossible, and it may have already been dry cleaned and those stains are set for good. The dress looks quite modern and does not look like a between the wars dress to me.

If you have time, keep looking for a dress that is worth the price and that you can resell after the show.

Frankly her price is way too high for a stained dress. Yikes.



B
 
I'll sometimes take a chance on a polyester garment with stains if the price is really good, I like the overall design, and I think I can machine wash. I've had fair to good luck with as long as I stick to my rules. Your dress would fail 2 out of 3 of my criteria, price and washability.

As to recouping your investment, I think Hollis is spot on. Is Vera Mont a particularly expensive and/or desirable label in the UK? If you'd be selling online, picture yourself taking the photos of all those flaws you mentioned and painstakingly describing them so the buyer has an honest idea of what they're buying. A long list of even minor flaws can make a garment sound depressingly bad. For 80s - modernwear, most buyers don't want to go there.
 
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