Thursday, June 12, 2014

Altering your vintage clothing

Say you find a vintage dress. It's 60+ years old, beautifully preserved, and a style that you've been wanting to get for a while. Vintage is expensive these days, so you do most of your shopping online, where you have more to choose from and can find better deals. The only problem with that is that sometimes, there's a measurement you didn't think to check, and that amazing dress (or skirt, or pair of pants, or whatever) just doesn't fit.
So what the hell do you do? You bought it off of Etsy or eBay or whatever, and the item is as described, so unless you want to sell it, you're stuck with it. Unless, of course, you decide to grab a pair of scissors and start hacking until you end up with something you like.
Ok, I'm exaggerating slightly, but that's pretty much what happened to me with the last dress that I purchased.
When I moved about six weeks ago, the box containing one of my favorite dresses was lost in transit.
IMG_1717
RIP, dear friend. You made me feel like the coolest waitress, and I hope someone finds you and loves you.
The only thing that could assuage my grief, terrible though it was, was finding a replacement. Navy blue, preferably with some sort of neck tie. I love the shirt dress style, but I'd been thinking about nautical inspired gear for a while, and when one of my favorite eBayers and Instagramers, Lady Jane Vintage, posted this gem, I placed a bid and crossed my fingers.
019
And I won! I practically squealed with excitement when I ripped open the package, because this dress is seriously freaking cute. I went to put it on, and... oof. So tight. So very, very tight. The waist was fine, a little high; the chest seemed really small until I realized that maybe I didn't need my Boobs McGee turbo-powered padded bra and switched to something without padding. I'm broad shouldered, though, with pretty muscular arms, and the sleeves were so tight that when I went to take it off, I spent a good five minutes with the dress inside out over my head, stuck. 
I don't usually like to seriously alter my vintage, particularly pieces like this one that are in really good shape. However, it just wasn't wearable for me the way that it was, and I really wanted to wear the damn thing. With a little bit of trepidation, I grabbed a pair of scissors and snipped off the sleeves.
americana1
I'm going to have to go to a tailor to get it fixed up nicely, but I'm actually pretty happy about what I did. I felt kind of anxious about cutting the sleeves off, since it's irreversible and would probably put a significant dent in the value of the dress if I ever want to sell it. Still, it's a relief to come to the realization that while vintage is precious, they're also clothes, and they're meant to be worn. If I hadn't done this, it would have probably been left to languish in my closet.
So, who thinks I'm a philistine for chopping up a nice piece of vintage? And who's wondering what I'm making such a fuss about ("come on, lady, you took off the sleeves. It's not like you hacked it up to make dish rags.")? I have to admit, this has kind of changed my attitude towards vintage a little bit. It's still special, and I'm still probably going to treat my vintage pieces more nicely than the rest of my wardrobe, but it's freeing to realize that I can really do whatever I need to do to it to make it my own.
americana2
 

12 comments:

  1. Oh no! I can't believe a box of clothes got lost en route to your new place! That's the ultimate vintage nightmare! I often alter clothes slightly - usually making them an inch or two shorter as I'm quite short or taking it in a bit... Although I do see my purchases as 'an investment,' I definitely buy to wear so I wouldn't be averse to a little alteration!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thankfully, it was just one dress that had been packed in with my boyfriend's things (though he actually lost his spare glasses, which he's rather miffed about).

      Delete
  2. I see nothing wrong with altering! In fact any of the vintage shops in my neighborhood that I can afford to shop at when Ive bought things Ive even had the shop owners tell me oh I had it hemmed so if you wanted it longer you could have it reversed or you could hem it more….so I think its all about the new home that the vintage piece is going to. I think its better to alter it so you can wear it then to just let it get sad and dusty in a closet! Also this looks adorable on you and I think you made the right decision!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Yeah, hemming doesn't seem like a big deal, since you can go back if you want to, but I'm still going to try to be fairly cautious about major alterations. Still, I'm happy with this dress now, so I think it was a good call in this case.

      Delete
  3. I am tentative about altering clothes because I have a history of doing a bad job, but with vintage I would be even more afraid! But you are absolutely right: it is clothing and it is meant to be worn. Better to make a small change that allows you to love it than have it sit around. And it looks fabulous without sleeves, so I'd call that a win!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, my sewing skills pretty much stop at fixing a split seam, so I was a little nervous about it too. I might have to take it to a tailor or something to get some binding put on around the armholes or something like that, and I think I'm probably doing to have a professional take care of any future alterations. But thank you! I'm pretty happy with the sleeveless look myself, especially for summer.

      Delete
  4. Such a great idea, and it looks so cute on you! And how horrible that you lost a beloved dress in moving! That would be truly heartbreaking.
    I often have problems with sleeves being just a little too tight, and I have an unbelievably cute vintage 80s does 50s dress that I will be taking the scissors to promptly. That is when I am not 8 months pregnant ;)
    Sarah

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Congratulations on the little one! I can't wait to see the results of the scissoring, you should post photos of the dress after you're finished with it.

      Delete
  5. I think you worked wonders on that dress - it looks great on you without the sleeves! I actually much prefer it that way. If I had any talent for clothes alteration whatsoever you could guarantee I'd be chopping them up all over the place... but as I don't, it's to the local tailor I go... very rarely as it's expensive! Good on you I say. CC x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awww, thanks! Honestly, I did kind of a hack job, and it'll probably going to have to go to the tailor for a little finishing. It's structurally sound though, so at least I can wear it.

      Delete
  6. You've got a lot of great thoughts and things to say:) You love this dress and you got it to the way you can find joy from it. This is what it's about, the joy of vintage. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten something that doesn't look right or doesn't fit right and I look at it as part of the gamble of vintage because there is something so very rewarding when you do get that fit you are looking for. The dress looks awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh that dress....my favorite colors...swoon! xox

    ReplyDelete