repurposing a vintage silk gown for Sicily
Passed down from Mother to Bride, I re-designed this special 80’s silk gown for today.
As a bridal designer, I love repurposing vintage gowns, especially gowns as special as this one. Originally the Mother of the Bride’s wedding gown, this dress needed a complete design overhaul to not only fit flawlessly, but also to seamlessly work for her unique wedding story in Sicily.
VS. BEFORE
As any seamstress knows, silk is the hardest fabric to sew and work with. Every cut, pin, and tuck needs to be done precisely- or else permanent marks and snags will occur. For a perfect finish, I used pinking shears for the edges of this gown’s seam allowances, so the seams along the back neckline are seamless.
For the finer details, I used pinking shears rather than a thread finish- this way the thread from a traditional serger finish won’t show through.
This bride wore multiple looks for her wedding. Above is another gown I altered for her, creating a tulle blusher veil to perfectly match her lace veil- a veil passed down from her sisters.
“Thank you! So happy I had you to make everything come to life! Both dresses were absolutely stunning. I’m so grateful for all the work you did.”