Redefining Prom Style: The Vintage Prom Dress

Redefining Prom Style: The Vintage Prom Dress

So, you want to be unique and stand-out in your prom? Go vintage: wear elegant gowns that were made in the 60’s, 50’s, 40’s, 30’s or less. Vintage gowns are notable for their bright colors that are blended into a warm and muted form. With some accessories, vintage or not, you can complete your look and waltz your way to your prom.

How to find a vintage prom dress
Where is the best place to find the perfect vintage prom dress? Your mother’s or grandmother’s old wardrobe, of course! You won’t need to spend a cent, and you might also find matching accessories and shoes there. String pearls, white gloves, diamond studs, brooches, and others will be perfect with your dress. If you find a pair of shoes to match your dress, check them thoroughly. They might need their heels replaced or soles fixed.

Although the internet is very useful in finding vintage dresses, you would want to check out your local vintage clothing stores. It is always better to see a vintage clothing personally, just so you could assess its appearance and value. This way, you’ll also be able to check the dress for defects.

When all else fails, then it’s time to browse websites selling vintage dresses on the internet. It’s not guaranteed that they’ll have a large collection, but if you begin your search early, I’m confident to say that you can find something that will work for you.

Make sure that you wash your vintage dress carefully according to the label (see washing tips below). Do the necessary alterations or repairs before you wash it.

Caring for your prom dress
After you’ve worn your dress, you might as well take care of it. You never know if you’ll be able to use them again.

Wash and iron your dress before storing it. Unless the washing instructions go against it, having the dress dry-cleaned by a professional is the best way to do this. Dry-cleaning is also the only method recommended for dresses made out of velvet and rayon. If you want to wash your dress by yourself, wash your dress on a delicate speed, at a warm to cold temperature. Rinse your dress several times and hang on a drying rack. Never dry your vintage dress using the dryer.

Again, professional service is the most recommended method of ironing your vintage dress. If you again decide to do this on your own, remember to follow the washing/ironing instructions for your dress. If it has none, try placing a towel over the dress while ironing it. This protects the cloth from too much heat. Do not ever iron velvet; steam it from the inside and brush as you go. Steam rayon on the inside while pulling the fabric slightly will avoid ruining the dress.

Do not hang your vintage dress, as they might lose form. Fold them instead and put inside a box. Never store vintage clothing in plastic bags. Plastic decays and might leave chemical residues on your dress.

Lastly, store your dress in a cool, dry place. Heat might destroy the fabric of your dress.