Hello, lovely followers! As we come to the end of yet another week of lockdown, I thought I’d share with you my latest dress experiment.
One of the positives of lockdown is I’m finally having time to experiment with projects I had on the back burner of my brain, so to speak.
I am very well known for my hand-ombred-hem dresses, but less well known for my passion for upcycling and bringing new life to sad and forgotten gowns.
I am a hoarder!!
There, I said it!! I am the proud owner of over 250 vintage and retro gowns, all of which need either TLC or a blast of fresh air and creativity.
Usually the only time I get to do this is if I, or another creative colleague, has an idea for a photo shoot, in which case I rummage through my collection and select a likely candidate to be upgraded -given the Phoenix treatment – so it can rise from its ashes of neglect and have a new lease of life.
Sometimes it’s a radical makeover with dye, or pigment.
Sometimes it’s changing the sleeves (the 80s are best remembered for their awesome pop songs, and not their sleeves…)
Sometimes it’s changing a 1970s neckline that satisfied great aunt Mavis and her delicate views, but today’s bride would rather risk a raised eyebrow.
Sometimes it’s changing the hem length, or a combination of all of the above.
So this week I decided something, after my tie dye mother-daughter experience last week (which was great, and means all the fake tan-ruined tops can now be salvaged!)
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I decided to try it out on a sadly forgotten 1990s silk 2 piece. It was a beautifully made piece, never worn, but just lacking that little bit of “wow”.
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I decided to go all out and go for a vibrant pink! I had some fabulous pink floral applique I’d been itching to use… So I shot off to the most exotic location I could find – my studio car park!
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So that was this week’s lockdown project … Cannot wait to see it on a bride who has a head and arms!
If you are a size 16-18 and love pink, check it out!
Here are a few 1970s dresses I have changed necklines on, removed sleeves, made into separates etc. over the last few years, that I have been meaning to blog about, and now I have the time to
![](https://www.eclecticbrides.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/img_20200201_151250_799226707513238548447.jpg)
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Here is another that I made into separates (can’t find the before image in the depths of my files…)
And with it ombred to grey.
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These are all 1970s dresses that were either really short or far too small a size for today’s bride. I made them separates and added fringing etc. I’m always really excited when I find a 1970s gown as the sleeves are usually epic.
![](https://www.eclecticbrides.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/img_20191027_093638_833919627649698107476-scaled.jpg)
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If you liked these you can (after you get to the end, don’t wander off yet…) check out this lovely feature on https://unconventionalwedding.co.uk/live-your-own-fairytale-wedding/
This dress has had a couple of outings on shoots with the sleeves cut back and the damaged and ridiculously small bodice opened at the back.
![](https://www.eclecticbrides.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/1-45505160954506074963.jpg)
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