Busted

[badseed1980]

Buying vintage would be so much easier if I had a 36" bust.

What am I saying? Buying MODERN would be so much easier if I had a 36" bust.

Is it a crime against fashion/history to alter vintage dresses? Just, say, taking them in at the waist and maybe hips? I know it's bad bad bad to hack them up, but just an inch or three at the waist? Some of these dresses have a 40" bust but like a 32" waist, and I don't need that much ease at the waist.

Comments

[misc-negro.livejournal.com]

i guess if you are doing it by hand then you aren't doing anything that women from those times would not have done right?
I mean if you were to break out a USB sewing machine and use a next gen phone to blog each stitch then you would be butchering it. But using methods from that time and the fact you are keeping the design intact doesn't seem like butchering to me.
But then again, I have a small man-sized bust so my thoughts may be crackpot at best.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Hell, they even had electric sewing machines back then. Not a hell of a lot of changes in the technology since that time, I believe.

[misc-negro.livejournal.com]

If you twitter while doing it zombie Full Figured Ladies will rise and talk bad about your lipstick.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Well I AIN'T WEARIN' ANY! So there!

[misc-negro.livejournal.com]

I shall swoon and catch the vapors.

[cuddlycthulhu.livejournal.com]

No.

I think it's more important to look good. Because, honestly, yeah it might be "vintage" but you'll still look like you're wearing an ill-fitting garment.

"Vintage" is "old" that people put more personal value in than possibly should be rational.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

I've seen some places online that say, "never alter vintage clothing. If it doesn't fit, don't buy it."

[cuddlycthulhu.livejournal.com]

Well, there could be some technical truth in that the particular garment might be constructed in such a way that you can't really alter it.

However, part of me thinks that's people putting too much attachment on the fact that something is old.

If you have the knowledge to alter something and think you can do it without ruining the garment, buy it and do whatever you want with it.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'd definitely get a pro to do the alterations! Or at least a knowledgeable and easily bribed friend. :)

[cuddlycthulhu.livejournal.com]

*nod* Well, then I say do it.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

That seems to be the consensus!

[miss-lisa-ma.livejournal.com]

Pshaw. Your body doesn't exist for the dress's sake. The dress exists for yours. Unless you're a fit model (and in this case, a fit model from, what, the 1950s???--in which case I really want to know what you're using on your skin), nothing's going to fit you perfectly off-the-rack. Alter and be fabulous.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Well, it's not so much that all the dresses out there are for fit models. If they were, there wouldn't be any whose waists I could take IN. :)

[inannaliban.livejournal.com]

There is nothing wrong with altering a vintage dress if you actually intend to wear it on a semi regular basis. If it was just for a halloween costume or something that would be different.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm looking for something that can become part of my wardrobe. So much of the clothing from the '50s is far more awesome than today's clothing! And it's closer to a proper fit for me, too, even if it's rarely exact. Though that navy blue one in my previous post? 40" bust, 30" waist. My measurements are 39" and 28", which is pretty much just right, ease-wise, I believe.

[inannaliban.livejournal.com]

The thing is, in many cases you can alter the an outfit without actually cutting or damaging the fabric. Wearing a vintage dress can damage it so what is the difference really.

[leenah.livejournal.com]

you're trying to find clothes to wear. if altering them is what it takes, i see no problem with it whatsoever. i'd personally kick anyone who told me otherwise, but i'm cranky.

Go forth and alter!

[disownedheidi.livejournal.com]

I give you my permission.