January 01, 2025

Vintage wedding dress makeover - before and after

Transforming a mother's 1980's lace wedding dress for her daughter to wear on her own wedding day.

Before and after. Photo by Tones and Harmony.

There is a growing army of brides-to-be who are ditching the traditional bridal boutiques and thinking outside the box for their wedding dress. Beautiful Lauren found her perfect dress without visiting a single boutique - her dress was hiding in her mother's wardrobe!

Altering an existing wedding dress has a much lower carbon footprint than purchasing a brand new dress. "Upcycling" extends the life of a dress, making it a more ethical and sustainable option.

Mum's original wedding dress: creamy cotton embroidery on mesh

Lauren came to us with a vision of how she wanted her mother's wedding dress to be updated and modernised to rewear for her own wedding day. Together we redesigned it and remade it into a magical dress with a history and a story to tell.

Lauren trying-on her mother's 1980's wedding dress

(I'm fairly certain I could fit into my own mother's 1960's wedding dress... if I made it into a poncho).

We began deconstructing Lauren's mum's dress by carefully unpicking the old seams. The top skirt layer was transformed into sleeves, while the bottom skirt layer remained a skirt, however more fitted.

A new pattern was drafted to Lauren's measurements. The lace was cut, dodging any damaged areas of the lace such as stains and holes. A new silk lining was cut out to replace the old acetate lining. Finally, the dress was stitched back together and internal boning added to the bodice for gentle lift and support.

Photo by Tones and Harmony

Lauren had several fittings with us in our Sydney studio however the entire process may be done via Zoom. We have refashioned many wedding dresses for brides that live interstate and overseas. Remaking a wedding dress usually takes around 8 weeks to complete.

Photos by Tones and Harmony

If you are struggling to find a unique wedding dress that feels right for you then perhaps the answer is right there in your mother's or grandmother's closet.

Or perhaps you need a reception dress, debutante or prom dress?

Email us with photos of your vintage wedding dress, and any ideas you may have for reworking your dress. Let's discuss the possibilities!

Your redesigned wedding dress will be:

Made to measure and fit you perfectly
One of a kind
Sustainable
Ready within 8 weeks
Affordable
Supporting a small business

Lauren and her mum. Photo by Tones and Harmony

Sizing

Size	Bust	Waist	Hip
XS	85cm	65cm	94cm
S	90cm	70cm	99cm
M	95cm	75cm	104cm
L	100cm	80cm	109cm
XL	105cm	88cm	114cm
XXL	110cm	90cm	119cm
XXXL	115cm	95cm	124cm
XXXXL	120cm	100cm	129cm

How to measure yourself to determine your size:

Bust: Measure around the fullest part of your bust, wearing your bra.

Waist: Measure around the narrowest part of your waist, above your navel.

Hip: Measure the fullest part of your hips, around your buttocks.

Vintage wedding dress makeover - before and after

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