Suggestions for restyling a tiny vintage dress?

I recently picked up a slightly damaged vintage evening gown many
sizes too small for me, because I wanted to pick off the trims for
another project - heh, heh. The trims were just tacked on and came
off easily.

Once I stripped the trim off, I could see the fabric itself is
gorgeous. I desperately want to adapt it into something to fit me,
and I think I have figured out how I will restyle and repair the
bodice and sleeves but I'm uber-pearshaped and whomever this was made
for was slim hipped, so it's the barely a-line 7 panel skirt that has
me a bit stumped.

It's so narrow that if I enlarge it by adding godets/gores in a
coordinating fabric, the insets will have to go all the way up to meet
the bodice. I'm afraid that will look too much like a circus tent!

I'm wondering if I could flip the panels so the current hem becomes
the waistline and then use the insets to fill in the gaps that would
naturally be created below? - but I can't really envision it in my
head. Has anyone ever tried this? Did it work? Or does anyone have
another idea? I hate to just add a big wide panel of the contrast
fabric, now that I've figured out how to restyle the bodice so it
won't look patchy.

Have you seen some of the newer fashions where the panels of the skirt
swirl around instead of going straight? They are often shown in
contrasting colors- but that may not be necessary with your project.
Just an idea- I have no practical experience making on eo fhtese- I am
sure that there are patterns out there to get ideas from.

Julie
Richmond, VA

said...
I recently picked up a slightly damaged vintage evening gown many
sizes too small for me, because I wanted to pick off the trims for
another project - heh, heh. The trims were just tacked on and came
off easily.

Once I stripped the trim off, I could see the fabric itself is
gorgeous. I desperately want to adapt it into something to fit me,
and I think I have figured out how I will restyle and repair the
bodice and sleeves but I'm uber-pearshaped and whomever this was made
for was slim hipped, so it's the barely a-line 7 panel skirt that has
me a bit stumped.

It's so narrow that if I enlarge it by adding godets/gores in a
coordinating fabric, the insets will have to go all the way up to meet
the bodice. I'm afraid that will look too much like a circus tent!

I'm wondering if I could flip the panels so the current hem becomes
the waistline and then use the insets to fill in the gaps that would
naturally be created below? - but I can't really envision it in my
head. Has anyone ever tried this? Did it work? Or does anyone have
another idea? I hate to just add a big wide panel of the contrast
fabric, now that I've figured out how to restyle the bodice so it
won't look patchy.

"BijouEtBeau" wrote in message
om...
| I recently picked up a slightly damaged vintage evening gown many
| sizes too small for me, because I wanted to pick off the trims for
| another project - heh, heh. The trims were just tacked on and came
| off easily.
|
| Once I stripped the trim off, I could see the fabric itself is
| gorgeous. I desperately want to adapt it into something to fit me,
| and I think I have figured out how I will restyle and repair the
| bodice and sleeves but I'm uber-pearshaped and whomever this was made
| for was slim hipped, so it's the barely a-line 7 panel skirt that has
| me a bit stumped.
|
| It's so narrow that if I enlarge it by adding godets/gores in a
| coordinating fabric, the insets will have to go all the way up to meet
| the bodice. I'm afraid that will look too much like a circus tent!
|
| I'm wondering if I could flip the panels so the current hem becomes
| the waistline and then use the insets to fill in the gaps that would
| naturally be created below? - but I can't really envision it in my
| head. Has anyone ever tried this? Did it work? Or does anyone have
| another idea? I hate to just add a big wide panel of the contrast
| fabric, now that I've figured out how to restyle the bodice so it
| won't look patchy.

I have another idea for you that may work out.....

Why not make a completely new straight skirt out of the contrast fabric. Then open one of
the seams on the old one and add a tie to the top. You could wear it over the new skirt
as a peplum, or wear just the new skirt alone with the top. This way you would get to
looks for the price of one.
--
Hugs,
Lynn


*strip CLOTHES to reply*
Homepage: http://members.shaw.ca/sewfinefashions/
See my boys: http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/papavince_29/