Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Master June 2015

Before and After: Redoing my mom's 80's dress

Flag
Hide content

AthenaKay, on July 16, 2015 at 10:19 AM

I thought it would be helpful to make an official thread of a before and after of my dress in case it helps any future brides who might consider redoing an old dress. I know when I started the process I tried scouring the internet for good before and afters, and it was really difficult finding any....

I had a family friend who is excellent in sewing agree to help redo the dress. She was my mom's friend from high school and was so excited with the idea and she really did a wonderful job. So, advice on that part would be to find a seamstress that you trust.

Pic 1: Me wearing it before we started alterations.

Pic 2: The back of the dress bustled

Show all

74 Comments

VIP September 2015
Andrea · on July 16, 2015 at 10:39 AM
Flag

Hide content
OMG the lace on the back is absolutely beautiful. Your seamstress did an amazing job!
- Reply
Expert June 2015
JanelleNicole · on July 16, 2015 at 10:40 AM
Flag

Hide content
Seriously amazing!
- Reply
VIP November 2017
Ekab · on July 16, 2015 at 10:41 AM
Flag

Hide content
What an awesome transformation! Thank you for sharing the before and after shots!!
- Reply
Master June 2015
AthenaKay · on July 16, 2015 at 10:41 AM
Flag

Hide content
Aw @emily!!!! First off, I'm so sorry for your loss! And that's amazing that you will be wearing your mom's dress

Secondly, PLEASE ask any questions!!! That was another reason I posted the thread in case there were any questions other brides had about the transformation.

I think a corset back would probably be the best way to fixing the size issue. I'm not too knowledgeable on seamstress stuff, so I would just suggest taking the dress to a seamstress and ask her for options to fix the size issue.

My mom's dress had spilled beer (when someone came to give her a hug at the wedding someone spilled beer all over the dress lol) and dirt stains on it that were 25 years old. She never got it cleaned after the wedding. So these stains were OLD. I took it to a cleaners that did wedding gowns as one of their specialties and they did an amazing job. I was shocked with how white they got it to be again. My mom was in even more shock with how white it was lol. So, find a good cleaners!

The cap sleeves were from the old puffy sleeves. The end of them had lace on them, and we cut and sewed them into the new cap sleeves basically. We seriously reused so many parts of the dress

If you have any other questions, please let me know!
- Reply
Master May 2016
Jac3286 · on July 16, 2015 at 10:42 AM
Flag

Hide content
That is gorgeous! And so impressive!
- Reply
Master November 2014
RH · on July 16, 2015 at 10:44 AM
Flag

Hide content
Wow- looks amazing! Love the new back!
- Reply
Master June 2015
AthenaKay · on July 16, 2015 at 10:45 AM
Flag

Hide content
I was definitely nervous about redoing my mom's dress. I was terrified it wouldn't turn out well, or it would just look too 80s or too weird on me. But I trusted my gut and the seamstress and it all turned out well!
- Reply
Master September 2014
LadyMonk · on July 16, 2015 at 10:45 AM
Flag

Hide content
Yay! Thanks for posting! It's nice to see the full transformation in one post. It looked amazing at the end, and so modern. I also can't believe your mom was that pregnant in the photo.
- Reply
VIP November 2015
SweetBean · on July 16, 2015 at 10:46 AM
Flag

Hide content
Awww. That is so sweet. It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!
- Reply
Master July 2015
Reese · on July 16, 2015 at 10:48 AM
Flag

Hide content
I don't think I've seen the original. It looks amazing!
- Reply
Master May 2015
Beth · on July 16, 2015 at 10:49 AM
Flag

Hide content
I love that you were able to do this! That seamstress is a genius to take the 80s dress to 2015. And you looked awesome...the lace on the back is my favorite part (:
- Reply
Expert September 2015
JuleeM · on July 16, 2015 at 10:49 AM
Flag

Hide content
Wow! It turned out wonderful!
- Reply
Super September 2015
Melissa · on July 16, 2015 at 10:53 AM
Flag

Hide content
I am so glad that you posted this Athena! I remember your "in process photos" and some after shots from your BAM, but I love to see the details close up. This redo is truly beautiful!!
- Reply
Master June 2015
AthenaKay · on July 16, 2015 at 11:05 AM
Flag

Hide content
I'm glad you ladies are excited to see it too
- Reply
Master September 2015
winnipegwriter · on July 16, 2015 at 11:06 AM
Flag

Hide content
Love <3
- Reply
Expert June 2015
FutureMrsB · on July 16, 2015 at 11:09 AM
Flag

Hide content
It's beautiful! Very flattering on you, and elegant!
- Reply
Expert October 2016
Emily · on July 16, 2015 at 11:12 AM
Flag

Hide content
Thank you so much!! I've been so concerned with how I was going to get it back to white. She did the same thing, just threw it in the wedding bag. So there are some stains on it and just naturally faded. You really made my day, knowing it really is possible to remake her dress. Thank you so much!
- Reply
Master June 2015
AthenaKay · on July 16, 2015 at 11:14 AM
Flag

Hide content
You are so welcome! I didn't think I would get the color to change either. It was the faded color.. almost yellow looking. But the cleaners got it back to white! I'm glad my post gave you more hope in having it turn out! That's why I made this post! If you ever have any other questions, let me know!
- Reply
Master June 2016
MrsBest2B · on July 16, 2015 at 11:16 AM
Flag

Hide content
Looks so modern! Your seamstress did an amazing job
- Reply

Expert October 2016
Emily · on July 16, 2015 at 11:18 AM
Flag

Hide content
One more question: since there was a lot more alterations to your moms, then the normal hemming and what not. How long did your alterations take? And how far out did you start?
- Reply