Women seem to enter a parallel universe when it comes to wedding dress shopping. Perfectly sensible ladies, who would balk at spending more than €100 on a party dress, happily part with ten times that amount for the ‘dress of their dreams’.
But honestly, if you look closely at some modern wedding dresses, they just aren’t good value for money. The fabric is often cheap. It’s polyester or nylon. It’ll go up like a garden torch if you get too close to the candles. The lace is mass produced, the beading plastic.
Stick the word ‘wedding’ in front of ‘dress’, though, and it instantly seems reasonable to spend the cost of a decent holiday on the thing, even though the dress won’t hold its value. Wedding dress shops are often selling fantasy rather than quality.
Unless you buy a Vera Wang, no one, I repeat no one, will want to buy your ‘luxury’ dress afterwards (particularly once they see the champagne stain and the scuff on the train where your Uncle Fred stood on it during the disco).
Antique wedding dresses, on the other hand, are made of the sumptuous fabrics of yesteryear; silk, handmade lace, velvet trim, real crystal bedding, painstakingly hand-sewn covered buttons.
If you can find a classic, the styles will remain timeless so in 20 years’ time, your kids won’t look at the wedding photos and guffaw at your choice of outdated bias cut or one shoulder number (think Fergie and Diana’s meringues…. I need say no more). And this kind of dress will easily sell again after a thorough dry-clean.
Team it up with a pair of cutting edge designer shoes
So where do you find these one-of-a-kind wonder dresses that will transform your day into the picture perfect pose your grandma and grandpa have in their faded, sepia photos? It’s easier than you might think.
Bid for it
Ebay is the obvious choice, but it’s scary to spend a not-inconsiderable amount of money on a dress that you might not like. Take heart in the fact that if it doesn’t work out for you, you will undoubtedly manage to sell a vintage dress again (I actually bought three dresses this way and made enough profit from re-selling them to actually buy outright the dress I finally decided on). Remember too that dresses can be altered to fit, so buying something a little too large is not a problem. Just set up a search for ‘antique vintage wedding dress’ in your size.
Feed the world with it
www.oxfam.org.uk have a mind-boggling array of vintage dresses online and they’ll ship overseas for a charge. You can also return the dress if it doesn’t work out. A vintage 1960’s handmade Audrey Hepburn style dress in an empire line is currently online for around €116, while a vintage Vogue white brocade dress with a gorgeous train comes in at €122.
In addition to a unique dress for an amazing price, you get the benefit of knowing that your wedding dress costs are going to a good cause (and just as an aside, if you’re stuck what to do with your dress after the wedding, you can donate it back to Oxfam).
Hop on a plane for it
London’s where it’s at for vintage wedding stores and, while it might seem like a long way to go, www.furcoatnoknickers.co.uk might just have the perfect dress for you. They specialise mainly in 1950s and 1960s frocks which they can customise to fit you. They operate by appointment, so call them on +44 (0)7814 002 295 to book.
If you’ve got a (very) large budget, why not visit www.charliebrear.com. It’s a vintage treasure trove stocking dresses, “from the decadence and opulence of the 1920s and 1930s, to the frivolity and youthful indulgence of the 1960s and 1970s”. Kate Moss has been a customer, so it must be good. However, prices start at gulp-inducing €1465, excluding additions and alterations. Call them on +44 (0)207 637 4898 to book an appointment if your dad is loaded.
www.heirloomcouture.com is another must-do on the vintage London list. Owner Rachel Spencer offers a collection of original vintage wedding dresses and accessories. Prices start at a still-whopping €1160. Find them at 21 Lonsdale Road, London.
Lastly, you can try www.elizabethavey.com. She’s got everything from 1950s ruffle lace to Deco satins with a silk jacket and diamante details. Prices start at €800. You’ll find the shop at Studio 21c Bickerton House, 25-27 Bickerton Rd, London; call +44 (0)20 75611 339 for an appointment.
Go posh for it
Clearly you can’t go traipsing to California looking for the perfect wedding dress, but www.poshgirlvintage.com will ship to you. You’ll realise just how fortuitous this is when you look at their selection of astonishingly lovely, genuinely antique dresses. Each dress is photographed and carefully measured to make sure it will work for you.
Make sure you get the dress expertly altered to fit you perfectly
Current dresses include an art deco 1930’s ivory satin and lace dress with a train. It has covered buttons and long sleeves and costs €587. An ivory damask 1950s dress will set you back €282. You can return most dresses for a store credit.
Honeybomb it
Want a 1950s dress with an elegant scoop neck draped with chiffon and a skirt that could stand up on its own in three beautiful layers of stiff satin, a net petticoat and a finish of finest chiffon? Honeybomb have your dress; just visit www.honeybombvintageweddingboutique.co.uk and it’s yours. There are no returns though, so be sure before you buy and contact them for delivery costs to Malta.
Now rock it
Once you’ve found the antique dress of your dreams, you need to work out how to wear it well. Team it up with a pair of cutting edge designer shoes (think Kate Moss and her Manolo Blahniks) or very modern jewellery to avoid looking like you just stepped out of a black and white film.
Simple hair often looks best with a retro look, so straighten long hair into a sleek mane or get a neat, precise cut for short hair. Also, make sure you get the dress expertly altered to fit you perfectly. It’s worth the extra expense to feel like a vintage queen on the day.