Taking an 80's wedding dress and making it my own? Possible? [pictures]

It's my guess that removing the mesh would be an update all by itself. It might be best to find a seamstress in your area and ask what they can do with it.

This may be what it could look like without sleeves and high neck

Welcome to WW, Taylor! It's super sweet that you want to use your mom's dress! I think it's certainly possible, but like MrsC said, your best bet is to find a good seamstress/tailor to see what they can do with it. If the body of the dress is in good condition, it can possibly be taken in to fit you. I certainly think it's possible to update it, though.

Also, I hope you'll stick around and update your avatar (the rings) to a unique pictures we can remember when we help you in the future! Here's how to do that and more: https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/welcome-to-the-weddingwire-forums-please-read-if-you-are-new/b433c40c1a62b96a.html

Thanks for all the comments. That was fast! I have a family friend that is a seamstress, but I haven't been able to sit down with her and the dress just yet. I guess I was coming here for an online brain storming session. Haha. I'm not planning on having bridesmaids so... not too many people to bounce ideas off of at the moment. It has a zipper and button up back- not a fan of that. I guess I just wanted to make sure it wasn't too crazy of an idea.

If you end up not being able to wear the dress like you want to, you could always just take the lace off the dress and have it placed on a new plain dress in a style and fit that you like. That way you are taking a part of your moms dress and making it your own.

You could make fabric flowers for your bouquet out of parts of your moms dress if you can't figure out a new style.

Those are really interesting ideas. I wouldn't have thought of them. Very cool.

I agree with removing the sleeves, make it sleeveless, rework the neckline to a fitted modified sweetheart, remove the natural waist and either do a fitted a line, full a line, you can even raise the waistline and add lots of tulle underneath for a fun vintage ball gown. It's really all about the "look" you want to go for. Have you looked at sillhoutes to see what you like? You should do that first so you can show the seamstress. She will be able to determine what styles the dress can be converted to, if any. Also, I recommend going to a salon to try on all the sillhoutes so you can see what works best for your body. I can't wait to see how your dress comes out!

From what I have looked at- haven't had the time to try on anything except this dress stupid college- sweetheart and I think a line dress are what I lean towards more. I was really into the vintage idea before I knew using the dress was an option so this just adds to my excitement.

This is going to sound crazy, but the dress is shiny and I don't like that. I've been looking around websites and it was mentioned that a fabric- I guess tulle or lace?- could be put "on top" of it.

The whole thing confuses me. I am not a girlie girl by any means, didn't go to prom, I don't really know anything about dresses so this is a whole new world for me. Maybe that's the reason I haven't went to try on dresses.... Interesting. Haha.

I'll be sure to keep you updated on the dress.

Taylor, there is so many possibilities with this dress, I use to work on bridal gowns and a good seamstress will give you a lot of possibilities, also the very shiny fabric was in style back in the 80's and I think you can get around that and update it to look very chic to your style..good luck and keep us informed!

Hmm..how about turning it into a tea length dress?I'm not sure if you like that style but you could just add some more tulle underneath and you can make it a sweetheart neckline.

I had a vintage gown from the 1940s that was remarkably similar to your mom's dress, minus the puffy shoulders & lace. It had a similar waistline and how the train looks on your mom's. I had the dress shortened to tea length for a mid-afternoon garden wedding.

You could have the back made into a corset back. I know its possible for nearly every strapless dress. I love corset backs

You could alwasy use the bottom and have a top made for you.

I thought about using my mom's dress and it was going to cost more to have it altered then buying a new dress. I ended up using her veil.

I am going to have to keep the dress long because I am getting married in Nov, but that would be an idea if I was going for a summer wedding.

I really like the idea of the corset back. That was something that I was hoping could be done.

Thanks so much for all the comments. I will be sure to jot down the ideas from this when I go meet with the seamstress and see what works!

I also have some more pictures of the dress if anyone wants to see. I could only upload 3 for the first post.

If it were me, I'd add a layer of tulle over the satin, make it strapless, rework the lace a little, and add the corset back. Making a gown strapless is kind of a big job because it involves building some structure into the dress with boning, but it can be done and it'll be worth it. I think a satin sash at the waist would be pretty, and maybe a split in the tulle in the back so the shiny satin is exposed just on the train. Super dramatic! I might have to sketch you something... Lol

Ok, I drew a sketch for you but I don't know how to post it...

Check out a new show on TLC called "Something Borrowed, Something New". It's all about brides having their mother's gowns altered and updated by designers. If the daughters like the gown transformation (often quite dramatic), they wear mom's gown. They also have a choice to go with something new. It would give you some idea as to what can be done (lots of 80's gowns sitting in closets, lol). Check the site for day and time.

I am thinking about redoing my mom's wedding dress as well. And from the pictures above, it looks like the same exact dress! I was wondering if you were able to get it redone? And if you have any before and after pictures?

Hi!

So I know this post was 3 years ago, but I can't even believe my luck and I hope someone will respond! This is my mother's EXACT wedding dress, and I am trying to do the same thing. The problem is that I'm trying to add extra lace to it, and also need to replace a few of the embellished lace pieces. Does anyone have any information regarding where I could find the lace or something similar? We have our seamstress and she is wonderful, but she can't do the design my mother and I love without it! Any help would be tremendously appreciated!!