Deborah Chan
Transforming a wedding dress into a separate outfit is a great way to repurpose and modernise your bridal gown. Whether you're looking to create a new family heirloom, such as a christening gown, or want to wear your wedding dress again, there are several ways to go about it. You can either alter the dress yourself or enlist the help of professionals to redesign it. This text will guide you through the process of making a wedding dress into a separate outfit, covering everything from design ideas to the alteration process.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Companies that repurpose wedding dresses | Unbox the Dress, Andrea Hawkes |
| Repurpose ideas | Christmas tree skirt, angel tree topper, ornaments, christening gown, everyday clothing |
| DIY tips | Practise on cheap fabric or old bedsheets, find a pattern, make a mock-up, add extra skirt material, use a base fabric for lace |
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What You'll Learn
Shorten the length to remove the 'bridal' element
Shortening the length of a wedding dress is a great way to remove the bridal element and make it more wearable for other occasions. This can be done by keeping the dress floor-length and removing just the train, or going for a more dramatic change by shortening it to ankle, midi, or mini length. This simple hem alteration can completely change the feel of the dress, making it more suitable for events like a Christmas party or a relaxed brunch.
When deciding on the length, it is important to consider the type of shoe you plan to wear with the dress. For brides who are average height or shorter, hemming the dress is often necessary to prevent tripping on the extra fabric. It is generally recommended to order the standard length and then hem the dress during alterations to accommodate the chosen shoe height. This is because the heel height may change, and fabric can always be cut away, but it cannot be added back.
In addition to considering shoe height, it is also worth noting that some bridal designers charge an extra fee for ordering a custom hem length. Ordering a custom length based on a certain heel height could result in the dress being too short if the wearer decides to change their shoes or wear a taller heel. Therefore, it is safer to order the standard length and make alterations as needed.
Shortening the length of a wedding dress is a simple yet effective way to transform the dress and make it more versatile for multiple wears. Whether keeping it floor-length or going for a shorter style, this alteration can help create a relaxed feel and encourage the wearer to get more use out of their dress.
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Simplify details that feel too bridal for everyday wear
If you want to make your wedding dress more wearable for everyday use, consider simplifying any details that make it feel too bridal. This could mean removing lace details, beading, or sleeves. By paring back your dress to a simple silk design, you can more easily style it with your favourite accessories. Shortening the length of your dress is another way to make it feel less bridal. You could keep it floor-length and remove the train, or shorten it to ankle, midi, or mini length. This gives you more flexibility to layer it with roll-necks, jumpers, jackets, or blazers.
If you're unsure about altering your dress, there are companies that can help you transform it into new designs, modern bridal gifts, or family keepsakes. Unbox the Dress, for example, is a women-owned company that can help you turn your wedding dress into bespoke keepsakes.
Another option is to alter your dress into two garments, such as a top and a skirt. This way, you can get multiple wears out of your dress and adapt it to suit your style. You can wear the top with jeans, skirts, leather trousers, or shorts, and pair the skirt with a colourful cami, blouse, or oversized knit.
If you're planning to alter your dress, it's important to first get it dry-cleaned to preserve the fabric. This will also freshen up your dress after your wedding day.
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Transform it into a family keepsake
Transforming a wedding dress into a family keepsake is a wonderful way to preserve the memories of your special day. Here are some creative ideas to achieve this:
Christening Gown
If you're planning to expand your family, consider transforming your wedding dress into a christening gown for your baby. This idea was mentioned by a customer of Unbox the Dress, who had her mother-in-law's wedding dress transformed into a christening gown for her newborn. This creates a warm welcome for the newest member of the family and becomes a cherished family heirloom.
Bridal Accessories
Turn your wedding dress into a bridal purse, clutch, or veil. These accessories can be used on your wedding day or for special occasions afterward. Each time you use these items, you'll be reminded of your wedding day and will have a piece of your family with you.
Bridal Robe
A bridal robe made from your wedding dress is another option for a wedding morning keepsake. You can wear it while getting ready for your big day and in the morning of special occasions. This idea was mentioned by a customer of deMelisAtelier, who created a robe from a mother's wedding dress.
Quilt and Pillows
Creating a quilt or pillows from your wedding dress is a creative way to preserve the most beautiful parts of the fabric. You can incorporate other meaningful textiles, such as family heirlooms, to make the quilt even more special. These items can be displayed and used, serving as decorative reminders of your wedding day.
Baby Clothes and Accessories
Making baby clothes or accessories from your wedding dress adds sentimentality and wraps your child in the love and memories of your wedding day. These items can become cherished family heirlooms that are passed down through generations.
Storage and Preservation
If you're not ready to transform your wedding dress into a keepsake, consider storing and preserving it for future use. Proper preservation techniques, including professional cleaning and storage, can ensure the dress remains in excellent condition for years to come. This will give you time to decide on the perfect transformation idea that aligns with your family's needs and preferences.
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Use it to create a new family tradition
Wedding dresses can be transformed into new designs, modern bridal gifts, and family heirlooms. One way to create a new family tradition is to repurpose your wedding dress into a christening gown for your baby, as done by Nikki, who had her mother-in-law's wedding dress transformed to welcome the newest member of their family. You could also follow in the footsteps of Pauline, who turned her wedding dress into a Christmas tree skirt, angel tree topper, and guardian angel ornaments, creating a whole new holiday tradition.
Another way to create a new family tradition is to alter your wedding dress to make it more versatile for multiple wears. You can shorten your design by removing the train or adjusting the length to ankle, midi, or mini. This takes away the "bridal" element and makes it more wearable for everyday use or special occasions. You can style a shortened dress in various ways, such as layering roll necks underneath or adding a jumper, jacket, or blazer on top.
Additionally, you can create new family traditions by transforming your wedding dress into unique family keepsakes. You can safely ship your dress to companies like Unbox the Dress, which transforms wedding dresses into bespoke keepsakes cherished for generations. They offer services to redesign your dress or create new items such as robes and clutches, which can become special pieces for you and your family to treasure.
Finally, you can also create a new family tradition by repurposing your wedding dress into a family heirloom. You can pass down your dress to future generations, allowing them to create their own memories with it. This could involve transforming the dress into a new design or simply preserving it for future use. You can also extend the storage service to ensure the dress remains well-maintained over time.
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Make a mock-up before using good fabric
When creating a custom wedding dress, it is always a good idea to make a mock-up first to work out any issues before using the actual fabric. This mock-up is also known as a 'test dress', a toile, or a muslin. The purpose of this test garment is to perfect the design and fit before cutting the bride's chosen fabric. It is important to select a cheaper fabric for the mock-up that has similar weight and drape to the final fabric. For instance, if the wedding dress will be made of silk charmeuse, an inexpensive slinky polyester fabric can be used for the mock-up.
Before sewing the mock-up, it is important to draw in the grainline, especially near the centre front and centre back, as this is crucial for how the garment hangs on the body. It is also helpful to mark the stop and start points of gathers, ease stitches, and pleated areas. When marking the mock-up fabric, a regular pencil can be used, and push pins can be used to hold the patterns in place.
During the mock-up fitting, adjustments will be made to the test garment while on the bride's body, and these changes will be translated back to the paper pattern. It is normal for the mock-up to not work perfectly the first time, and there are usually at least two mock-up fittings. The mock-up allows for alterations to the seams and size, and these changes can be transferred to a new pattern after taking the mock-up apart.
When creating a mock-up, it is not necessary to fully connect all the pieces or to have perfect finished seams. It is also not necessary to add a lining or facings. However, if you are unsure about elements such as pockets, collars, or cuffs, it is a good idea to add them to the mock-up for evaluation. Additionally, stay-stitching the edges of the mock-up can help reduce stretching during fitting.
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Frequently asked questions
Shortening your dress is one of the easiest ways to make your wedding dress more wearable after your wedding. You can keep it floor-length and remove just the train, or shorten it to ankle, midi, or mini length. Simplifying any details that make it feel too bridal for everyday wear can also help.
You can transform your wedding dress into new designs, modern bridal gifts, or family keepsakes. For example, you can turn your wedding dress into a christening gown for your baby or a Christmas tree skirt.
Find a pattern that you like and start simple. Make a mock-up with cheap fabric or old bedsheets so that you aren't making adjustments on your good fabric. You can also use a dress that's close to what you want and add things to it, such as a corset or extra skirt material.
