Ask Angie and others: Boho midi dress K/T/Alter UPDATE

First - I'm quite sentimental about this dress, so please be gentle, but still honest!. Long story, but the short version is that I got it from my mother and she was very happy when wearing it. It is bought in Greece in the late 1960's.

I took some pic's but quality was poor, so I got some more today without shoes, but I think I look pregnant I think (and hope!), the "truth" is somewhere in the middle. Question is, can I wear this dress or is it just off? If it is off, why?

And if it is off - can I alter it to get better? How? Remove the ruffles or does it then get unproportioned with the rest of the dress? Or remove ruffles and sew the remaining fabric back? Make it shorter? Or do I have to give up on this dress?

#1-2 with heeled sandals
#3-5 no shoes, midriff

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13 years ago

Keix

Veteran

At this length, the dress definitely needs heels. #4 is bothering me because the tie and back hem are both dropping lower than the front, contributing to the pregnant look. Can you adjust the fit so that they're even, perhaps by tying the waist tighter?

In terms of alterations, I would think about shortening but not completely removing the ruffle... right now it's long enough to draw the eye's attention to the length of the leg line (hence needing heels). How do you feel about the current sleeve length? It looks a bit long to me, but also difficult to alter and I think shortening the overall length would be a higher priority.

I am a big proponent of making things work, especially if they have sentimental value. Don't give up on this dress! I love the embroidery detail on the top.

harmonica

Thank you so much for your gentle words, KL! Yes, I have to tie the waistband tighter, so that it doesn't drop. Hopefully that will work better. I'll try again later.
Sleeve length - well, I havn't thought about that at all, so I guess that means it doesn't bother me. I guess they could be shortened by the shoulder. Why do you think it is too long?

Diana

I think it has potential and I am a big proponent of keeping things for sentimental value in any case. I wonder if it might not look better if you removed the waist tie since it seems to hit at an odd, neither here nor there point. (Plus, as KL pointed out, it does seem to want to drop lower in back.) If you need more waist definition, you could always add your own belt.

I like the length as is and the ruffle does not bug me; I think this length looks better with heels though.

Anonymous

I agree that you should keep it, because it brings back happy memories of your happy mother. Does it have to be a dress? Could you turn it into something decorative like a pillow?

Jjsloane

I think the length as is works for a breezy summer resort type dress (with the heels). I'd lose the tie back as Diana suggested. You could also crop it to a tunic if that's your style. Oh and wear nude undergarments

Harmonica, for me the sleeve length + overall dress length with large ruffle is too much. If one or the other was shorter, I think the dress would be less overwhelming. But really it looks fine in the first photo, with a fitted bodice and high heels to lengthen the leg line.

Echo

I would be careful with alterations, especially significant ones. If this is a dress your mother wore and purchased in Greece, it is styled in the way it is because she must have liked it that way. Would it affect how you feel about the piece to have it look different? Especially if you have a photo of her in it, I'd hesitate to change it significantly. With the proper shoes and it tied a little tighter, I think it is a cute summer dress the way it is. As an heirloom piece, I certainly wouldn't change it much.

jayne

I think it is flattening your breasts which shows best from the back view where you see how the material is struggling and tight from trying to cover them in the front. It is lovely but it is not your style. You look so fab in these layered outfits when you post. I thought you got a good suggestion to make a pillow of it. Sentimental is difficult, I know.

teeandcee

Active Member

I think it's a bit too snug in the torso. Could you have the side seams taken out to loosen it up? If not would a long crochet or mesh vest look good with it? That'd disguise the tight bodice/belly issue. I have the same problem with this type of dress.

It's a beautiful dress and I love that it's an "antique." I hope you can make it work!

texstyle

(website)

It looks good in #1 but then in other photos it shows to be too tight up top. Alterations won't change that of course. One thing I would do is to have someone take a lovely photo of you wearing it before you do anything else with it! Something to emulate the photo you have of your mom wearing it would be nice.

Aside from the fit being just a bit tight, I wonder if you could turn it into a tunic instead? Would you be more likely to wear it as a dress or as a tunic?

Angie

Fashion Stylist

I agree that it's a little tight on top, but I like the style on you.

Thank you all for your kind comments! It means a lot to me and have made me think in different ways

I love the dress for sentimental reasons, but would definately not have purchased it today. I think it is overwhelming for my petite size because of all the details (embroideries, ruffles, waist tie...) and I also think it is a hard length to pull off. I don't think I would wear it as a tunic. As a tunic I'm afraid it will be unproportioned beause there are so much going on on top. And for me, making it into a pillow will just be sad. Then I'd rather pass it on to someone else. There are no room for taking the side seems out, but the fabric is wrinkled, so actually I'm 99% sure it will get looser after a short time of wearing it.

So, what I'm going to do is to try to wear it with heels this summer (if temp gets high enough) and have a photo taken. I love that idea! If I don't *feel* it, I will pass it on or let it be the one decorative item on the wall beside my closet. Thank you all for helping out in this process!

Kiwichik

I am late to this post but my first impression after on looking at photo 1 wss that the dress looked great with heels. The side view is not o great but I think that is more go do with the tie than anything else. Keep working with it as it deinitely has potential.

ManidipaM

You know, I really wouldn't take scissors to its beautiful, feminine proportions.

After your note on wrinkles from being laid up, I'd say tr it around the house for a few days, and then if it doesn't work, just hang it up as you might a photograph that brings back special memories. If it is that special, it deserves a place.

fashionista

It looks tight on you making your chest flat so that's why you look pregnant. If you can make it a little loose but also structured. And yes do not remove the ruffles only alter to make it a little short just around your knees or above level.
The dress is cute and yes you should keep it but alter it to fit you.

Kiwichik and Manidipa: Thank you both for insightful and soothing comments! I'll wear it around the house and see how I feel. I will also bring it for our mountain vacation to wear around the cottage just for fun

If it doesn't work out at all, I am 100% OK with that, and it's all thanks to your comments! I will have a photo taken and/or hang it as a decorative item

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