Help a gal out - how can I "Vintage-ify" this dress?

[dearmrrabbit]

Hello! This is my very first post here after lurking the boards for some time and finding it all extremely informative and helpful!

So today I am reaching out to you ladies for a little personal help.

My work is throwing an "Old School Hollywood" themed formal party next month, and due to budget restrictions I am unable to buy or make something entirely new (or old, as it were).
I have here a dress that I thrifted for a few dollars some time ago. It is fitted (or will be once I take it in a little), has a bit of cross-over action happening at the front of the bodice and is red. Oh, and SO sparkly!

For some reason I couldn't upload my photos, so here are links to them instead (please tell me if this doesn't work either):

Front:
http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w664/dear_mr_rabbit/IMG_5053_zps402e1d7e.jpg

Close up of the front, you can see the cross over bit and the sparkles better:
http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w664/dear_mr_rabbit/IMG_5057_zpsc999d1ce.jpg

Back (with a nice little hole I didn't know was there..)
http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/w664/dear_mr_rabbit/IMG_5062_zps2587634f.jpg

Sorry to make you do that..

I feel like it maybe gives off a little bit of a 50's vibe, but I'd like to take it further. You see, there is a best-dressed competition at said party, and because I tend to dress in a vintage style at work quite a bit, people (including myself) have rather high expectations of me and my outfit for this event [huh]

So what I would love to hear from you is any suggestions to perhaps jazz this little ol' number up a bit. I'm thinking of going for an Elizabeth Taylor/Marilyn Monroe esque glam vibe, my hair sets usually end out pretty much the same as Elizabeth Taylor's short style so I figured I'd just roll with what I know being that I'm not really all that experienced in these things.

My initial thought is to get some red sheer fabric and created a gathered/pleated overlay for the bust part, and a matching skinny belt to define the waist. I also am considering creating a sort of cape-back effect by sewing the same sheer to just the shoulders and leaving it to flow down the back, or perhaps chopping that in two so I can tie it up in a knot/bow at the back.. if that makes any sense at all?

Anyway, have at it and let me know - I'm fairly handy with a sewing machine so alterations are fine

Also, if anyone has any recommendations as to shoes and accessories to match I would be so, so grateful! I have both black and white opera-length gloves but I'm having the hardest time figuring out if I should match the shoes and to which colour anyway.

Thank you in advance!!

 

[wahine]

Welcome to the board! :welcome:
I think you can upload photos after your tenth posting or something like that.

It's a cute dress and very becoming on you - good pick. My first idea was the same that you had: do some sort of draping. The pick of fabric would be crucial. If you don't manage to find one that's exactly the same color, maybe you wanna go for a contrasting color. To make an "almost" matching color look nice would be quite a challenge (it's not impossible though).


Another idea: Since it's a bit short for a fifties look, you could maybe unsew the bust part from the bottom part and put a bit of new different fabric in between, maybe even see-thru. And you could use the same fabric for some shoulder draping or a scarf..?


Nothing too inspired, but maybe fit for a topic starter.:rolleyes2:

 

[dearmrrabbit]

Welcome to the board! :welcome:
I think you can upload photos after your tenth posting or something like that.

It's a cute dress and very becoming on you - good pick. My first idea was the same that you had: do some sort of draping. The pick of fabric would be crucial. If you don't manage to find one that's exactly the same color, maybe you wanna go for a contrasting color. To make an "almost" matching color look nice would be quite a challenge (it's not impossible though).


Another idea: Since it's a bit short for a fifties look, you could maybe unsew the bust part from the bottom part and put a bit of new different fabric in between, maybe even see-thru. And you could use the same fabric for some shoulder draping or a scarf..?


Nothing too inspired, but maybe fit for a topic starter.:rolleyes2:

Wow Wahine, thank you so much!
Those photos are a great reference. I do love that dress Marilyn is wearing, so that's a fantastic idea too.

I'm definitely feeling something sheer, but a contrasting colour could look quite nice, maybe black or grey.. I'm a bit afraid of going too over the top and making it look too full on, it really is incredibly sparkly haha

Thanks for your help!

 

[wahine]

You mean, you don't wanna end up like this?


:biggrin:

I see what you mean, you wanna be a looker, but not a Las Vegas showgirl
To use grey seems a nice idea to me, it's not such a hard contrast as black would be. Maybe do some layering - a non see-thru red that's as close as possible to the dress fabric and as a top layer a nice very sheer grey see-thru fabric?

 

[dearmrrabbit]

You mean, you don't wanna end up like this?
:biggrin:

I see what you mean, you wanna be a looker, but not a Las Vegas showgirl
To use grey seems a nice idea to me, it's not such a hard contrast as black would be. Maybe do some layering - a non see-thru red that's as close as possible to the dress fabric and as a top layer a nice very sheer grey see-thru fabric?

Haha yes, exactly!

That's what I am thinking.. I think I'd best pay a trip to the fabric store with my sparkly dress to see what looks best!

Thank you again, you've been so helpful x

 

[sew.momma]

I think something like this https://www.etsy.com/listing/127509...ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=50s+dress+pattern

or this https://www.etsy.com/listing/150983...ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=50s+dress+pattern

would look nice. It's simple enough to make with some pretty , sheer fabric and a belt.

I can't wait to see what you do!

 

[dearmrrabbit]

Do you know, I was going to make basically that dress from scratch initially! I'm not sure why I didn't think of that when I decided to alter this one :eusa_doh:Thanks for the reminder, I'll make sure to post up whatever it is I go with!

 

[wahine]

When I found this, I had to think of your inital "cape back" idea.

 

[HadleyH]

I don't know if you altered your dress or not ..but I was going to suggest this! A nice ribbon somewhere or a detail in black...

 

[tuppence]

Totally off topic, but I love that lobster dress from your blog, DearMrRabbit.

 

[dearmrrabbit]

Wahine - aahh I love a good cape back!!

HadleyH - those are really nice too, so lovely and simple!

tuppence - hehe thank you!! It's one of my favourites! And thank you for reading my blog


Thank you SO much for your fabulous ideas ladies, I have a confession to make now though - I've decided to go the DIY-from-scratch route.. eep!

I went to some fabric stores and just could not find ANYTHING I was after for my red dress

So in a huff I went home, found some blue lace, drew up a design and now I'm half way through. Cutting it a little fine though, the event is next Friday :eusa_doh:

I'll make sure to post photos once I'm done, I've gone in the total opposite directions with lace and pouffy skirts!

Thank you all again xx

 

[wahine]

Yes, please post the result! I'm crossing my fingers for you that it comes out nicely (and in time!).

 

[dearmrrabbit]

So the party was last night, and my dress was a hit! I came 3rd in a best dressed competition after two guys who wore costumes.. it was "cheer" based and I don't really know that many people at my workplace haha.

Here's what I ended up with, like I said it is totally different to what I started out with!

Top skirt attaches with hook-and-eyes

lace-covered straps (which were a total pain to do) and flap things (totally the technical word)..

I ended up wearing different shoes, these ones make me look a bit stumpy.

Thanks to all of you who posted photos and ideas, if I could have found the darn fabric I wanted it would have been awesome.. stupid fabric store. But I am really happy with how this turned out in the end and I got a lot of compliments on the night!

 

[wahine]

Drmrrabbit, it came out wonderful! The color is very becoming on you and I love the double skirt! In combination with your hair and the white gloves, it looks very classy.
I was thinking about making a double skirt dress for quite a while now but always wondered if it really looks good. Now I know it can look just grand - at least on you

 

[VintageBee]

WOWZERS!! Whatta dress !!
Adore that color-you did an awesome job, I vote you '1st Place'!!!!

 

[dearmrrabbit]

Thanks ladies!

Wahine - I'm slightly obsessed with the double skirt now.. I'm thinking a pencil skirt or even shorts with a full skirt over the top, perfection!

 

[pineapplefruitcake]

that dress looks wonderful on you, both with and without the overskirt! You're hair looks amazing as well - definitely deserved 1st place in my opinion