A few days ago, I saw a link to the Golden Age of Couture exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum on a blog. I cannot now remember whose blog it was, so I’m afraid I can’t thank them publicly for pointing out the show. Do forgive me, whoever you are!*
Two of the exhibition highlights scream bride to me, even though they were not originally intended as wedding wear.
This silk grosgrain dress was created by Pierre Balmain sometime around 1950. It’s flouncy, feminine dresses like this one that have inspired me to finally learn to sew. I lust over the vintage dresses on eBay, but I’m a bit bigger than the average upperclass lady who had her heyday in the 50s. Sewing my own is the only solution I can think of.
You see before you Les Muguets by Hubert de Givenchy. I’m just going to sit here and stare at it for a little while because there are just no words to describe its beauty.
*It was actually Metafilter
Tags: Givenchy, Pierre Balmain, silk gosgrain, vintage, Wedding Dresses
The Les Muguets dress is devine!
Indeed, Alethia, it is one of those rare items of clothing that makes me want to save my pennies!
Oh you are going to have so (sew?) much fun being able to sew your own clothing! Vogue has re-released a ton of their vintage patterns reworked for modern sizing. Some of them are pretty complicated – but definitely worth the effort 🙂
I want to buy that dress. Actually both of them! I am looking for a vintage wedding dress for my wedding! I think they are just simply devine!
by any chance how hard was it to make the first dress?
im also a lil bigger then the girls back then and want a dress like that but im scared it wouldnt come out the way i want,
any advice on how to go about it?
@desiree No idea, it was made by a designer years and years ago. Do you sew or are you a novice? If you’re really set on making it yourself, you can find vintage dress patterns on ebay and etsy (or at http://www.sovintagepatterns.com/1950ssewingpatterns.html), and there are modern patterns for dresses that look vintage. As for how hard it will be, I’ve sewn a dress in my time, but I had help in the form of advice from the ladies at the local sewing center. Maybe some of our more experienced sewers/readers can weigh in with better advice!