Vintage wedding dress

[Companion42]

Hoping to get married around August 26 and I'd love a wedding dress that is off the shoulder with sleeves. Ideally a full skirt/floor length. Definitely nothing tight or fitted but open to colour!

No proper budget yet but would love to have something second hand/vintage/old.

I've googled but not seen anything I especially like yet so would love to see your suggestions!

Hopeful bump?

I can have a couple of wedding dress shops that might be worth looking at?

OXFAM....sorry!

https://onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk/bridal/wedding-dresses/forever-yours-ivory-sleeveless-wedding-dress-size-16-hd200062686?pscid=pssgglOOS+-+Performance+Max+-+ROAS+(Bridal))&crmeventtcode=20REUWWS08&gadsource=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwir2xBhCCARIsAMTXk86iIvT-aj8zykLc29NU8JEarMVviyZPnmCH29ccfa7RVgMm9kftPlwaAveCEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

abigailsvintagebridal.co.uk/galleries/

www.gracelanelondon.com/vintage

Some stunning dresses there @Blueuggboots ! None were quite right but thanks for the links 😊

You haven’t mentioned what size you are, I was a small 14 when I got married and was told by most vintage bridal shops in London that I was unlikely to find a vintage wedding dress larger than size 12. For what it’s worth, I wish I’d saved up and gone high-end designer: https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-gb/shop/product/elie-saab/clothing/gowns/broderie-anglaise-cady-gown

Difficult to link specific dresses without measurement or budget so have a look on Etsy - This seller has a few off the shoulder designs, from a quick skim mostly circa 1980s. To aid searching have a think about what you mean by vintage in terms of era - off the shoulder and long looks very different in a 1950s shape vs a 70s, 80s etc. Your measurements are going to make a big difference to what is available to you. If you’re plus sized then ‘volup’ is often used as a shorthand in listings so try adding that to your search criteria.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1655609353/mexican-wedding-prairie-calico-modest?gpla=1&gao=1&

Maggie Sottero does stunning vintage-inspired wedding dresses: https://www.maggiesottero.com/vintage-wedding-dresses

You haven't said your budget and they are expensive new, but I bought mine for a fraction of the price second-hand via Facebook Marketplace.

It looks like sizes generally range between (NB US sizing!) 0 and 28.

Hopefully useful inspiration, if nothing else! :-)

Lots of food for thought here so thank you!

Budget wise I genuinely don't really know what dresses coat or what I'll have available to spend. Realistically though I don't think I'll want to spend thousands on a dress, specially not for just one day!

Size wise I am around an 18 so I guess an old dress will be hard to find. Is it possible to make a dress larger via a dressmaker or am I dreaming?

Having a look through some of these links I think I'm steering more towards a 80s style ball gown. Definitely an old dress rather than new

Look for ‘Droopy and Browns’ vintage dresses on ebay.

I guess an old dress will be hard to find. Is it possible to make a dress larger via a dressmaker or am I dreaming?

It's not really likely to be possible, no. The only way of making a dress larger is to let out the seams, and they are unlikely to have much more than half an inch seams. (1-2cm)

Vintage dresses are generally small; size 12 and under - so it's unlikely that any dressmaker could transform them into a size 18 to be honest. There won't be enough material.

80s pattern and dressmaker? Might not be the cheapest option but you'd have a lot of control.

Very true that sizing is going to be different to current, so even if you find an 18, it might well not be as big as a modern 18. 28" waist is now a UK 10 I believe. In the 80s that was a 16 (I seem to remember)

Some beautiful dresses @sasqwatch but sadly nothing off the shoulder! Thanks though

This is what my head said but my heart wanted it to not be true! @GreyGreywitch2

I like this idea! Fingers crossed it wouldn't be insanely expensive @Uricon2

Have you considered a strapless gown and adding off the shoulder straps?

Sorry to agree with the others but I think you may have a bit of a challenge ahead looking for a specific dress (off the shoulder, long etc) from a specific era in a specific size. It’s not impossible though but you need to keep an eye out (maybe even contact some of the stores and see if they know of any sources, 1980s dresses aren’t the most popular era at the moment (at least compared with 50-70s) so it may be that they aren’t advertised etc but they have some in stock)). Alternatively look at other sources - This is on oxfam’s website at the moment? 1980s dresses aren’t uncommon in charity shops.

A dress maker may be able to do an 80s pattern but I’d be surprised if it ends up being cheaper than a dress from a standard bridal store (especially as if you want a big dress as material is expensive).

The other option if you want vintage is to buy vintage accessories. A veil or headpiece maybe? Again, would recommend Etsy as a starting point.

Have you considered Wed2B and David's Bridal? They tend to be the cheaper end of the budget (under £700) you could also look for samples

https://www.elderberrybrides.co.uk/copy-of-sale-gowns-under-gbp499

A word of warning when it comes to wedding dress sizes, they don’t correlate to general clothing sizes. I was a 14 when I got married and my wedding dress was a size 18. So if you order second hand from somewhere an 18 is going to be smaller than you think.

Oh @Salacia this is as close to perfect as I've seen so far! Given what pp have said about sizing I'm not sure it would fit but at least I have a ref pic for what I'm after. Thank you!

Just to clarify, the second hand dress is more about having something with history and being less wasteful than cost.

I like this idea but have only seen straps and not sleeves ???

If that's close to perfect would definitely be worth buying at that price. If it doesn't quite fit you can ask a dressmaker to put in a corset back or similar

You could ring round the Oxfam bridal shops, and really trawl eBay. Depends what era you want but for a modern 18 you'd probably find the most 80s or 90s, probably a few 70s. Ronald Joyce might be a designer to look out for, I think he did plus sizes.

If you want an earlier look, would you consider a modern dress and vintage accessories, veil, bag, jewellery etc?

Sorry but it would be very difficult to take a vintage bridal gown out by much especially as the seams might be faded. Someone might be able to put a corset panel in the back but if I'm honest the proportions aren't likely to look right if it's by much. I love very old vintage and am not teeny tiny and it's frustrating!

If thinking of using a dressmaker, Simplicity have a range of vintage dress patterns reissued in modern sizes. I don't know if they have any specifically bridal gowns but they may, or a ball gown.