transforming a 120 year old gown for today
Nine Lives Bridal is named after my love affair for modernizing vintage gowns. Just as a cat has nine lives, I gave this gown yet another life, transforming a century-old dress into something timeless and modern, whilst maintaining the integrity of the original from 1905.
vs. Before
One of my favorite parts of tailoring this gorgeous gown was incorporating this 1940s veil to create one cohesive look. The veil originally had a large poof of tulle at the comb, so I turned the veil upside down. I really love the way the shape of this veil draped upside down with the lace edging cascading down to frame her. I then shortened the veil and gathered it, to maintain the lace edging all the way around, as if it was always designed that way.
It was truly important to me and my client that the gown didn’t look dated- only timeless. My idea was to remove the lining that backed this gorgeous handmade, antique lace along the neckline, so her skin would show through. I loved turning the longer sleeve into a cap sleeve, which highlights her beauty so well.
Other than sewing a zipper into the back of the gown, almost every detail of this dress was handsewn for an invisible finish. Having interned for the eponymous British fashion house Erdem, I honed my semi-couture and couture hand sewing skills-finishing garments using the same techniques as a luxury fashion house. It was incredibly important for this antique lace neckline to be finished properly, as the entire dress hangs by this delicate detail.
The back of the gown closed with only clasps handsewn long ago. I removed these, tailoring the center back seam and added in a light, invisible zip for a clean finish.
Is this dress a family heirloom? Something perfectly preserved that was kept in the family? No-this vintage gown was purchased online at Napa Valley Vintage.
Napa Valley Vintage is an incredibly curated place for vintage wedding, dresses, coats and everything in between. The quality and curation of it’s pieces are bar none. If you are looking for vintage bridal, and looking to save money, I highly recommend Napa Valley Vintage. I’ve purchased several vintage pieces from their site, and have never been disappointed.
The bride Chloe and I in our Napa Valley Vintage dresses.
Just how old is this dress?
When the original “Wizard of Oz” premiered in 1939, this dress was already 34 years old- already classified as vintage Bridal!
“Lizzy is amazing! She worked with me for three months to rework and fit a veil and a wedding dress from 1905. The handmade antique lace was so delicate, but she handled everything with such care, creativity, and incredible skill. She really listened to my ideas and brought my vision to life in ways that were even better than I imagined. On top of that, she was so kind and easy to work with through the whole process. If you want to trust someone with your dress, trust Lizzy she truly made my dreams come true!”