Take a look at an early Swirl wrap dress

Lelia, who has the yellow one is getting a photo of hers to me and I think it is the same one.

Eventually, we will see a Neat 'N Tidy label, and that should really be interesting.
 
I'm happy to report that SoVeryKeri, has decided to leave her forties blue Swirl, unaltered. (She had toyed with the idea of shortening the dress and cutting down the neckline, which would have been regrettable, I and Lizzie felt.) Kudos to Keri, for understanding, and respecting the history.

I campaign about this on flickr, when the opportunity arises. At times, I may have even offended some, but sometimes, it is heartbreaking, what I've seen done to good vintage, viewing photos in the various wardrobe groups. Sometimes, I cannot contain myself, and comment, especially when someone asks for an opinion, like, "I'm thinking of shortening this dress to mid thigh..." etc.
 
I was most saddened, when I once viewed a forties child's intarsia sweater, transformed into a collar.
Thank you, Carrie. I really feel it to be an important part of the VFG mission, and
I think sometimes it is the not knowing, combined with youthful enthusiasm. Either that, or a callous disregard for aesthetics!
 
Update: The yellow swirl ended at $88.

As for shortening, I subscribe to the philosophy that you shouldn't make any changes that can't be reversed. But I've pretty much decided we are fightling a losing battle.

For example, I bought a bunch of 1940s cotton dresses at the flea market a while back, just because a young girl kept eyeing them, and I could actually "see" her wearing them, but not at the original length. I bought them to "save" them.

Several months ago one of them was bought by an ebay seller (and popular blogger), and she just resold it...minus about 6 inches. And she got about 3X what I sold it for. Granted, I did have it priced to sell...
 
That dress is sooo cute! I wouldn't shorten a dress like that at all. I'd wear it just at that length.

I admit to shortening two 1970's dresses from ankle-length to just below the knees, because ankle-length was simply impractical, but shortened they make nice, really neat looking dresses that I can wear to work. They're beautifully made and fit perfectly, but I wouldn't know when and were to wear them if I left them at their original length. They were home-made pretty surely, no label, and not expensive at all (not that I would appreciate them less for being that - I love them both!).

But normally I am not one for shortening dresses - and I'd certainly never do that to a 1950's or even earlier piece. I have 1960's dress in my closet that was actually lengthened, and I will take it back to it's original length (the fold is still slightly visible), not just because that's the way it should be, but because that will also look so much better.

Karin
 
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