Wanted: 50's wedding dress!

P

Pinova

Registered Guest
Wanted: 50\'s wedding dress!

Hi!

I'm new to this forum and I hope that someone here can help me find a wedding dress from the 50's.

I recently got engaged and now I have to start the search for my dream dress. :wub:

I imagine the dress to be strapless or strapless with lace overlay, and the dress to be full, so I can add a tulle petticoat. I also imagine the dress in either brocade, lace or chiffon.
Does the description make any sense??

The problem is the sizing. :(
My size is: 32D bust size
29 inch waist
43 inch hip

Can someone please help me find my dream wedding dress?
 
Hi Pinova & welcome.

I don't think your size should be a problem as you can always buy a dress to fit your bust area & have the waist taken in by a seamstress. If you get one in time, that is! What is the actual measurement of your bustline without the cup siae? I'm guessing 38-ish?

Since you want a full skirt, the hips won't pose a problem, either.

Does the dress need to be white-white, or are you open to off-white?

What you describe sounds like maybe a 50's dress. Is that what you had in mind?

I wish I had one for you. But someone will be around soon, I bet!

Best of luck.
 
Congratulations on your engagement!

I don't think 50s brides typically went strapless, although some 50s wedding dresses look strapless with a lace overlay - I did a quick VFG member search using the google box on the upper right side of the forum page and came up with this pretty one from vintagevixen.com as an example of what I mean.
http://www.vintagevixen.com/itemDisplay.asp?itemID=20624

If you are set on strapless, you may want to consider looking at 50s prom dresses in white or pale pastels.
 
Congratulations on your engagement!

I have a 50's pink lace & tulle full-skirt strapless dress here that would make a fabulous wedding dress:

http://www.rubylane.com/item/384096-PT-3221/Vintage-50x92s-Strapless-PINK-Tullex2c

But the waist looks just a bit small.... though with a waist cincher, it might work. (In case you do like it, though, I have a 50's pink cocktail hat that would make a great wedding cap with it!)
 
You will probably find that you have a lot fewer choices in strapless when it comes to wedding gowns in the 50s. Postwar and in the 50s, wedding dresses tended to have sleeves - the whole fairytale wedding thing - and in 1956 and later brides wanted to look like Princess Grace - and maybe that is more of what you are talking about - full sleeves but sheerer/lace. Be sure to search "illusion" if you want the look that appears bare but actually has a lining under the lace that just gives that impression, as well.

For sizing, you will have a lot more luck listing your actual bust measurement - measure the fullest part around the bust wearing the bra you intend to wear - rather than giving a bra size. I would also find out your underbust size because it may make a difference in some fitted styles and of course 50s dresses are going to fit differently because of the undergarments that were intended. I would also invest in a good foundation garment. Depending on how you are shaped, you might be able to nip 1/2-2" off your waist as waists on 50s formals tend to be a bit smaller in proportion to bust and hip than today. i will also give you some nice posture :)
 
Thanks for helping me! I hope I find my dress somewhere. :)

Originally posted by Leisa
Hi Pinova & welcome.

I don't think your size should be a problem as you can always buy a dress to fit your bust area & have the waist taken in by a seamstress. If you get one in time, that is! What is the actual measurement of your bustline without the cup siae? I'm guessing 38-ish?

Since you want a full skirt, the hips won't pose a problem, either.

Does the dress need to be white-white, or are you open to off-white?

What you describe sounds like maybe a 50's dress. Is that what you had in mind?

I wish I had one for you. But someone will be around soon, I bet!

Best of luck.
Click to expand...

Thank you, Yes a 50s dress! And I don't mind if it's a bit off-white or silver-like.

Originally posted by mag-rags
Congratulations on your engagement!

I don't think 50s brides typically went strapless, although some 50s wedding dresses look strapless with a lace overlay - I did a quick VFG member search using the google box on the upper right side of the forum page and came up with this pretty one from vintagevixen.com as an example of what I mean.
http://www.vintagevixen.com/itemDisplay.asp?itemID=20624

If you are set on strapless, you may want to consider looking at 50s prom dresses in white or pale pastels.
Click to expand...
Thank you!
I have looked at tons of pictures now of wedding dresses with sleeves but I'm afraid that my arms won't fit - because I have quite muscular arms. :( That's my reason for choosing strapless as a first choice. Did the wedding dresses have lace overlay but no sleeves in the 50s or was it just the party dresses?

Originally posted by Pantherleathershoes
You will probably find that you have a lot fewer choices in strapless when it comes to wedding gowns in the 50s. Postwar and in the 50s, wedding dresses tended to have sleeves - the whole fairytale wedding thing - and in 1956 and later brides wanted to look like Princess Grace - and maybe that is more of what you are talking about - full sleeves but sheerer/lace. Be sure to search "illusion" if you want the look that appears bare but actually has a lining under the lace that just gives that impression, as well.

For sizing, you will have a lot more luck listing your actual bust measurement - measure the fullest part around the bust wearing the bra you intend to wear - rather than giving a bra size. I would also find out your underbust size because it may make a difference in some fitted styles and of course 50s dresses are going to fit differently because of the undergarments that were intended. I would also invest in a good foundation garment. Depending on how you are shaped, you might be able to nip 1/2-2" off your waist as waists on 50s formals tend to be a bit smaller in proportion to bust and hip than today. i will also give you some nice posture
Click to expand...

I didn't know that only party dresses were strapless, not the wedding dresses. Thank you for the lesson. :)

I think my actual bust measurement is something around 37-38 inch. I will take my measurements when I get home from work. I think I could nip some inch off my waist by using a corset, but I don't know.
 
You will occasionally find a wedding dress without the sleeves. I have one somewhere that has spaghetti straps only, so it is pretty bare. I believe the sleeves were a modesty thing; traditional for being married in a chruch.

I agree that you will have the best luck looking for a strapless party or prom dress from the era. There are many out there and white was not an uncommon color, so I would focus the seach there. Just enter the terms into Google and see what you get. Start looking right away though, as many of these dresses were made for teenage women and have a small bust, so you will definitely have to do some serious seaching before you find "THE dress" in the correct bust size.

Another idea if you're not having luck with the search is to look through vintage wedding dress patterns and have a dress maker make you your dream dress in the fabrics of your choice. The plus of this is that most dress makers can take a pattern that is too small and scale it for your size, and since the dress will be made to order, it will fit you like a glove and hold up to all of your wedding day activity.

Best of luck!!
 
I agree with Amber. Search evening gown, dance dress, party dress in white, pearl, ivory, etc. A dance dress will have more flounce than a cocktail dress but won't be as full as a Cinderella ball gown. No one will really be able to tell it wasn't made as a wedding gown nowadays. Also, the idea of strapless and halter being the usual style for weddings didn't become the norm til more recently. Even in the 80s and early 90s, brides were covered up with long sleeves and high necks for the most part at least for regular non celebrity folks. The whole "sexy bride" thing where strapless was most popular, and if not, low backs and plunging necklines were not unheard of really didn't happen big time til more recently, like the mid to late 90s and 2000's, I would say.
 
Originally posted by TheVintageVortex
You will occasionally find a wedding dress without the sleeves. I have one somewhere that has spaghetti straps only, so it is pretty bare. I believe the sleeves were a modesty thing; traditional for being married in a chruch.

I agree that you will have the best luck looking for a strapless party or prom dress from the era. There are many out there and white was not an uncommon color, so I would focus the seach there. Just enter the terms into Google and see what you get. Start looking right away though, as many of these dresses were made for teenage women and have a small bust, so you will definitely have to do some serious seaching before you find "THE dress" in the correct bust size.

Another idea if you're not having luck with the search is to look through vintage wedding dress patterns and have a dress maker make you your dream dress in the fabrics of your choice. The plus of this is that most dress makers can take a pattern that is too small and scale it for your size, and since the dress will be made to order, it will fit you like a glove and hold up to all of your wedding day activity.

Best of luck!!
Click to expand...


Originally posted by Patentleathershoes
I agree with Amber. Search evening gown, dance dress, party dress in white, pearl, ivory, etc. A dance dress will have more flounce than a cocktail dress but won't be as full as a Cinderella ball gown. No one will really be able to tell it wasn't made as a wedding gown nowadays. Also, the idea of strapless and halter being the usual style for weddings didn't become the norm til more recently. Even in the 80s and early 90s, brides were covered up with long sleeves and high necks for the most part at least for regular non celebrity folks. The whole "sexy bride" thing where strapless was most popular, and if not, low backs and plunging necklines were not unheard of really didn't happen big time til more recently, like the mid to late 90s and 2000's, I would say.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I will try to search in all ways possible.
If I had done some thinking before I entered the question here I absolute should have thought of that the dresses for sure should cover up the bride in the church. Of course! (I'm just a bit nerveous about my arms not fitting in the sleeves of a 50s wedding dress.)

Maybe I have to order a dress from a dressmaker, but that is my last option.

Thank you all, I will continue my search for THE dress.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top