Wearing an Antique Wedding Dress

There are lots of reasons to wear an antique wedding dress on your special day. You may be using your mother's, grandmother's, or even great grandmother's gown. You may have found the perfect dress for you, only to find out that it's older than you are. Or, you may just enjoy retro and antiquated styles more than the modern offerings. No matter why you're interested in antique wedding dresses, here are a few tips to help you wear one on your wedding day.

It's important to pay attention to size. People in general are larger than our ancestors, due to a combination of better diet, better medical care, and genetics. Gone are the days when most women were petite, and under five and a half feet tall. This means that it can be hard to find an antique wedding dress that fits if you're of average size or larger. Altering older items to be bigger can be a real trick, so it might be a better idea to have a dress made in the same style as the one you've set your heart on, rather than risk damaging the gown. If the dress is only a little too small, a skilled seamstress or tailor may be able to help you let out seams, let down the hem, or add a little space to zippers or lacing.

Care of fabric is also important. Many antique dresses are made of fabric that has deteriorated over the years. It might not be showing holes yet, but could tear easily. Until the day comes, store your gown away from sunlight or excess moisture, and be careful when handling it. If you see areas of wear, have an alterations shop see if they can replace the material in that area, or repair the problem. Be sure not to put strain on the fabric, such as squeezing into a dress that's just too small. You could ruin the gown!

Remember to wear the right underthings. Antique wedding dresses, like all clothing from eras gone past, were usually worn with different underclothes than modern gowns. Often the shape of these underthings was subtly different, which will alter the fit of the dress. Victorian gowns must be worn with a corset underneath, and may require a skirt support, bustle, or hoop. Corsets were still in vogue up through the 1920s, except for those with naturally perfect figures. Flappers got their slim lines by lacing down the curves. For antique wedding gowns from the 1930s through the 1940s, a girdle or corselette would have been worn with an appropriately style brassiere. Bras from earlier periods were often less natural looking than modern ones, but don't be tempted to wear one that's in style now. Your 1950s wedding dress will be built for “sweater girl” undergarments, and will look strange without them.

When shopping for antique wedding gowns, don't follow the size tag. Sizing has changed over the years, so what's now a size ten may have been a twelve, fourteen, or sixteen in previous decades. Measure the gown, or carefully try it on before you buy. Be sure to look for damage, too. Stains, wear, or sweat-marks are common in older garments, and may show when they're worn. Remember that in many cases, you can haggle for antique clothing. If the garment is damaged, but you still want it, point out the damage and make a lower offer. You may be pleasantly surprised.

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