With This Ring: August 05, 2016

34 With This Ring
By tradition, a bride
is supposed to wear
“Something Old,
Something New,
Something Borrowed
and Something Blue.”
While an heirloom gown
may be borrowed, it
will also be something
old and something very
special.
Combining romance, love
and sentimentality, wearing
an heirloom gown that was
previously worn by a mother,
grandmother or great
grandmother is both rare and
emotional.
Depending on the age and
fabric of the gown as well as
the method by which it has
been stored, its condition
may be fragile. Unless it is
in pristine condition, it will
probably need cleaning. This
should always be done by a
professional who may need
to hand clean the dress to
remove oxidation and general
discolouration of the fabric.
Over time the fabric can
deteriorate or the thread
it was sewn with. If it is
the latter, the seams can
sometimes be re-sewn with
modern thread that is more
robust, but if it is the fabric
that is fragile, the seams may
need binding to provide extra
strength.
The fit of an heirloom
gown is likely to be tighter
than modern designs,
particularly in the waist
measurement because a tiny
waist was very fashionable
and often achieved by
corsetry. Plus, in general
people are larger and heavier
today than they were 50-100
years ago.
Engage a skilled seamstress
to see if the gown can be
“eased” by letting out the
side seams. Alternatively it
may be possible to use any
extra fabric from the train or
underskirt to add panels to
the bodice. If the dress fastens
with a back zip or buttons,
extra width can be gained by
replacing original fastenings
with lacing like a corset.
If the dress is beyond
safe repair consider using
some part of it to embellish
a modern gown or have a
replica made so that the
design and family history is
not entirely lost. But if you
can wear it, go right ahead,
even if you compromise and
wear it for the ceremony
before changing into a
contemporary gown for the
reception and dancing.