How to shop for a perfect vintage wedding dress
In this article, we will discuss where to look for vintage wedding dresses, how to ensure they fit, and what to do after purchasing one online. We will also share a few tips on looking after the dress once you have worn it on your big day.
Where to buy a vintage wedding dress?
There are many places to shop for vintage wedding dresses. If you know a local shop near you, shopping locally is always the most eco-friendly way possible. However, if you live somewhere that does not offer such an option, looking online is another great way to find that perfect dream dress. A few best online platforms to search for vintage wedding dresses are Etsy, eBay and Depop. But before you click the Buy Now button, ask the seller lots of questions, and examine the photos carefully to ensure you know the dress's condition. Many vintage sellers do not offer return and refund, so check the measurements and photos to ensure they are exactly what you want. You can always search on Google 'Vintage wedding dresses', but be careful sometimes not all results coming up are true vintage garments, and they are 'vintage style', which means dresses are made in the modern day but adapted a retro style.
How to make sure the wedding dress fits?
Vintage wedding dresses can come in a variety of styles and sizes. To make sure the dress you choose will fit you, the best way is to use a measuring tape and measure your own body before purchasing. You can get a soft measuring tape easily in local shops or on Amazon. To measure your body, you can ask someone else to do it for you or yourself. Remember to write down the measurements and whether you used inches or cm. To get the measurements on different parts of your body, you can refer to the following diagram:
If you are going to wear undergarments on your wedding day, remember to wear those while you take the measurements. Different dress styles offer different leeway in terms of measurement accuracy. A bodycon wedding dress is less likely to offer any wiggle room, whereas a flowy dress with a princess-style train is much more forgiving if you accidentally take the wrong measurements. Lastly, asking the shop owner is the best way to go when you are unsure about any of the measurements. Most sellers are more than happy to assist you in finding the perfect wedding dress.
What to do when you receive your dress?
We can all imagine the excitement when your vintage wedding dress arrives. But what is the first to do other than open the box while your fiancé or partner isn't around? When the dress arrives, the first thing is to try it on in front of a mirror. Make sure the floor is clean, and wear any undergarments that you will wear on your big day.
Most too often, the dress will be longer than you want, or the sleeves will be too long. The fit may not be perfect. But don't panic, even bespoke wedding dresses need some tailoring to ensure the best fit. If you love the look of the dress and it is the dress you want, the best thing is to take it to a local tailor. You can ask friends or families to recommend a good tailor or use Google search. Once you are at the tailor, let them know what you are looking for and the activity you are doing on your wedding day. Are you dancing? Do you need the train to be lifted and hooked? Do you need the hem to be shortened if you are getting married outdoors? Talk to your tailor so that they can come up with the perfect solution.
Your tailor will also be able to come up with ways for the dress to fit you better. They can add tie-up lace to the back to make the dress bigger, add extra fabric or remove some fabric, shorten the sleeves, and many more. They can even adjust certain styles to give the dress a slightly more modern twist. Whatever you decide to do, make sure to give yourself and the tailor plenty of time. Sometimes it takes a few fittings for the dress to be finalised.
Once the dress has been adjusted to fit you perfectly, dry-clean it and flat-hang it somewhere out of the way from pets or moisture. The materials to make vintage wedding dresses are often more delicate, so dry cleaning is the best way to ensure it is pristine and gentle to the fabric. Remember to try on the dress two weeks before the wedding. This way, if there is fluctuation in your body measurements, you will have enough time to make final adjustments.
How to look after your vintage wedding dress?
You had your big day, and the wedding photos are printed and framed. You looked stunning in that gorgeous dress. You were so happy that you went for a vintage wedding dress. But how do you look after your vintage wedding dress? What to do after the wedding?
After taking a break and having your honeymoon, the first thing is to bring the wedding dress to your dry cleaner. Depending on your wedding location and circumstances, leaving your vintage wedding dress uncleaned and stored in a dark closet could damage the fabric. Gradually there might be mould growing on the fabric or permanent stains. The longer you leave the dress uncleaned, the harder it will be to remove those stains. Think about the lawns you walked on, the potential makeup and wine stains, sweat, and body oil residue. You don't want these to ruin your dress and stop you from treasuring the dress that brings you so much memory.
After the dress has been cleaned, you can store it in its laundry bag in a dry closet or fold it up carefully and store it in a trunk. Adding some dried lavender can prevent clothes moths from damaging your dress, and it is a natural alternative to traditional mothballs.
We hope you now have a few ideas on where to look for a vintage wedding dress, how to make sure it fits, what to do after you receive it, and how to look after the dress long term. If you want to find your perfect vintage wedding dress, why not browse our collection here.
*If you live in Bristol, why not visit our boutique to find your perfect vintage wedding dress. We are located in Clifton Aracde, Bristol, BS8 4AA.