December 16, 2019 In Featured, General, Vintage, Wedding Gown Preservation, Weddings

TGR Original: Rachel’s One of a Kind Wedding

Rachel had a vintage wedding veil she wanted to incorporate into her wedding day, but it was yellow and over 100 years old. While Rachel planned her fun, unique wedding she trusted her vintage veil to the Certified Wedding Gown Specialists at Treasured Garment Restoration. Read more about Rachel’s wedding journey below!

When was your wedding and where did it take place?
We got married September 1, 2019 at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St Paul. It was a Pokémon-themed wedding!

How did you decide to get your dress made and by whom?
I hate waste, so the idea of a traditional wedding dress that costs thousands of dollars to be worn once, then put in a box, never to see the light of day again is abhorrent to me. Instead, my partner and I decided to get “gijinka” cosplay outfits made of our favorite Pokémon. That way, we can wear our suit & dress to nerd conventions for many years to come. I approached Snow Cosplays specifically because I’ve admired her work at CONvergence. Both the seamstress and her wife are plus-size cosplayers, and Jessica frequently turns various intellectual properties into dresses: BriChibi Cosplay has been seen in Wonder Woman, Mario, and Buzz Lightyear ballgowns; to name a few. So, when I decided turn a Pokémon into a plus-sized wedding gown, she was the obvious choice. (My partner’s suit was made by KMK Designs.)

 

What is your absolute favorite memory from your wedding day?
Most of my good memories are from the party. We designed a badge game, like how you have to earn gym badges in a main series Pokémon game, for people to go around and enjoy the whole party. If you earned eight badges, then you could request a kiss or something else from us (instead of clinking glasses). Everyone got really into it, and we ran out of several of the badges. I’m also very proud of how the centerpieces looked. We spent a lot of time on those.


Why did you decide to get your antique veil restored?
My veil was my great-great-grandmother’s and it survived the Holocaust. In an era of US politics where antisemitism is at a peak, it’s so important to me to display pride and take joy in my heritage. When my great-aunt told me she had this veil, there was no question of whether or not I’d wear it. Of course I was going to wear it. I didn’t intend to get the veil “restored,” per se, as Aunt Ruthie was very insistent that I shouldn’t do anything to it – I just wanted it clean, since it had a few stains on it. But I guess a cleaning isn’t that simple for a 100+ year-old heirloom! The veil underwent a beautiful vintage restoration.

Why did you bring your wedding veil to Treasured Garment Restoration? 

I use St. Croix Cleaners’ delivery service for dry cleaning for my dry-cleaning, and I’d seen ads for TGR in my inbox and on their website. Since you’ve taken such good care of my modern clothes, I figured you’d do just as nicely with my heirloom.

Treasured Garment Restoration is a nationally recognized member of the Association of Wedding Gown Specialists. This means we clean each bridal gown and garment individually with care. Learn more about wedding gown cleaning and preservation options at TreasuredGarmentRestoration.com.

Photography Credit : Luke Nygaard, Nygaard Photography

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February 6, 2019 In Vintage, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Gown Preservation

TGR Original: 1800’s Wedding Dress Heirloom

Family heirlooms hold a special piece of history that gets passed down from generation to generation. The Payseur family made it a point to preserve their piece of history that’s over 120 years old: a great grandmother’s wedding gown from 1895.

Alice E. Prevo married Harry D. Irwin in Indiana on June 5, 1895. Prevo’s father, Samuel, owned a men’s haberdashery called The Model Store which eventually expanded into the family department store: Prevo and Sons. The store eventually closed in 1992. You could say style was always in the family.


The dress was ordered from New York City, but that’s the only information the Payseur family knows about the dress’s background. It was stored in the original tissue and box it was shipped in and has remained in a closet for many years.

“When my husbands’ Aunt moved, she asked everyone in the family who would like it [the wedding dress] and we were the lucky recipients,” Payseur said.

This fabulous dress is made of silk with silk bows and some lace on the front. Although the fabric is very delicate, it was fully intact and therefore able to withstand very careful and meticulous hand cleaning and pressing. The preservation process had to be handled very gently, but we wanted to give new life to the dress.

The dress has leg of mutton sleeves (because that’s what they resemble when worn), a high neckline and bows, very common with the 1890’s women’s Victorian dress style. The fact that the dress is a two-piece is also common for the times. We set up the dress on a mannequin and stuffed the shoulders to show what it would’ve looked like when it was worn.

Prevo’s great-great granddaughter will now have multiple generations of wedding dresses: her own dress from 2011, her mom’s dress, her grandmother’s dress, her great-grandmother’s dress and now her great-great grandmother’s gown. Talk about family heirlooms!

“Thank you to all your staff for preserving this piece of family history for us,” Payseur added.

If you have any questions about wedding gowns, specialty or vintage items to be cleaned or preserved, please visit Treasured Garment Restoration.

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July 28, 2014 In Clothing Tips, General, Short and Sweet, Vintage, Wedding Dresses, Weddings

Wedding Veils 101

 

We’ve cleaned just about every style of wedding gown and accessories you can think of. If you’re lost on what style veil you want you’ve come to the right place.
The diagram below shows a few ideas of the various styles you have to choose from. When choosing, make sure the style is in sync with the style of your dress as well. You want to choose a color that is either exactly the same or slightly lighter than the dress. It looks best to not go darker. Longer veils are the most common, however today many brides are choosing the vintage look with shorter veils like the birdcage or blusher.

Veil

Here are some great example of some vintage looks we’ve seen

headpeicebird cage

These are two ideas if you’re looking for a shorter headpiece or veil. On the left is a gorgeous floral headpiece. On the right we have the birdcage mentioned above.

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If you want to go a little longer so you can still flip the veil over your head, the shoulder length is a great way to go as well. Its short enough for it to not get in the way and is a style many brides are going to today.

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The cathedral veil is a gorgeous, longer set veil that has a lacy or more detailed around the edge

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Lastly, this version can come in various lengths. It has a very mid 20’s, Gatsby feel to it which some brides love to use as a vintage and classy touch to their wedding outfit. This look is often called the Juliet Cap.

 

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July 24, 2014 In General, Short and Sweet, Vintage, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Gown Preservation, Weddings

Bridesmaids Dress Themes

If you need help getting started on ideas for your bridesmaids dresses, start here! Bridesmaids are meant to compliment you on your big day. Having a fun theme among the girls can make the wedding day more fun, meaningful and of course, memorable. See if any of these ideas are themes you could use!

1.Different colored dresses in the same style
Different-Pastel-Shades
Having different colored dresses can be a unique way to satisfy all bridesmaids.
If you choose to do this you should pick a palette that makes sense together and compliments the theme of your wedding as well

2. Same colored dresses in different styles
Diff style
OR you could do the complete opposite and let everyone choose a style that better suites their body, but in a color approved by you.

3. Statement items
bridesmaids-with-hats-1
Even if you do all decide on different dresses, you can pull all the looks together by having one common statement piece.
This could also serve as your gift to your bridesmaids. whether its a headpiece, necklace or even some kind of fancy footwear.

4. Have a common item among the bridesmaids AND groomsmen
wedding_sunglasses1
We’ve all seen the wedding party theme where they all have the same sunglasses or socks
Maybe you wont do this idea, but you can find your own way of bringing the entire party together.

5. Have an overall theme, let them choose the dress
20s
For example you could choose the roaring 20’s or maybe another decade.
This way everyone can find a way to represent themselves in a unique yet similar way.

 

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June 16, 2014 In General, Short and Sweet, Vintage

Vintage Tablecloths

We recently had the opportunity to clean some very beautiful tablecloths that came with an even more interesting back story.

Believed to be brought over from Ireland in the 1900’s, these tablecloths belonged to
Eleanor Jane Hall Adams. A grandmother of a well known St. Paul local.

Eleanor married the boy next door and moved to St. Paul in 1947, bringing these intricate tablecloths with them.
Her husband eventually moved on to being the first Champlain of Macalester college.
They have survived in wonderful condition while being passed down through 4 generations and plan on continuing to do so for generations to come.

IMG_5761  IMG_7034  IMG_9716

Shown above is the tablecloths after being cleaned and preserved by our treasured garment specialist

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May 12, 2014 In Vintage, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Gown Preservation, Weddings

Wedding Dress Design & Alterations

The season of fancy dresses, dancing all night, chicken dinners and green beans, romance and wine is fast approaching.  That’s right, it’s almost wedding season – are you ready?

If you’re looking for quick alterations for your fancy dress, or need to get that bridesmaid gown ready for the upcoming wedding, we can help!  Enter Treasured Garment Restoration’s Wedding Dress Designer and Alterations specialist, Darcy Zeppernick, featured yesterday in the Pioneer Press!

“Zeppernick has worked with many brides to restore, update and redesign vintage wedding gowns. Updates can include removing the sleeves, reducing the neckline and adding things like buttons or a sash. Other options include using fabric from the existing gown and incorporating it into a new dress. Existing fabric can be made into a bodice or used as trim.

“We can do nearly anything the bride wants,” Zeppernick says. “We try to figure out what it is about the gown that they like and what they would like to change.” ”

Read the entire article here.

One of Darcy Zeppernick's Wedding Dress Designs - 1920's Inspired.

One of Darcy Zeppernick’s Wedding Dress Designs – 1920’s Inspired.

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April 4, 2014 In Vintage, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Gown Preservation

8 Steps to Re-Design A Vintage Wedding Dress

So you’ve received the heirloom wedding dress from your mother and have thought about wearing it.  But wait.. it doesn’t fit!  Or perhaps the style is just a bit out-of-date for your liking? Don’t completely turn down the dress yet – you might still be able to wear it, and make it your own!

Many brides these days are turning to vintage wedding dresses from their mother or grandmother.  It’s become a big trend over the last few years, and only continues to increase!  Think about it – wearing a special gown that embodies the strength, wisdom, and compassion of the women in your family down the aisle on one of the biggest days of your life.  But where do you even start if this is something you just *might* be thinking about?

We’ve put together 8 Simple Steps to Redesigning Your Mother’s Vintage Dress to give you a better idea of what the process looks like!  The entire process can vary in the time it will take to fully complete your dress, and really depends on the number of changes you are wanting to make, but it’s a good idea to start around 9-12 months out.

1. Is There a Possibility?

The first step is to bring the vintage gown to us so that we can determine whether there is even a possibility for you to redesign and wear it!  We’ll examine the fabric, beading, lace, examine any stains, and how it has been handled and preserved through the years (ie, was it placed in a box, or in a pile on the floor of a closet?). Depending on the gown’s age, we may need to work with our vintage restoration department to clean and restore it before working with it.  Sometimes the entire gown can be worn, other times, only parts of the gown or certain fabrics are able to be used for your gown.

2. Let Our Designer Get to Know YOU!

Darcy, our Wedding Gown Designer, would love to learn more about you, your likes, dislikes, things you are drawn to so that she can get a better idea of what you might like.  This step usually includes sending Darcy pictures of other dresses you like – whether it’s parts of a dress (ie. the neckline, or a certain type of beading).  It can also help to share a Pinterest board with Darcy and some of your overall ideas for the wedding, pictures of architecture or places, or any beautiful images that you really feel drawn to!  Darcy is then able to draw a few sketches and come up with some ideas for transforming the gown into something you would love.

3. Meeting #1 – Talk Design and Take Measurements

Next, you’ll set up a second meeting with Darcy to see what she has come up with.  She’ll usually have a few ideas and options for how she thinks you would love the gown to look.  You can then edit the designs from there and talk more about your preferences.  During this meeting, Darcy will take your measurements as well.

4. Show Actual Changes on the Vintage Dress

Once the final design is agreed upon, Darcy will use your measurements to mark up the vintage dress to show where changes will be made.  This could include safety pins, bits of fabric, or ribbon to show the changes.  At this time, the dress will be altered a little to fit your earlier measurements – this could mean the dress might get cut in certain areas, but not always.

5. Meeting #2 – First Fitting

You’ll set up another meeting with Darcy to come in and see the dress as it is marked up.  You will try on the dress to make sure the measurements are accurate and that everything is lined up in the correct locations.  This is the moment when you can begin to really visualize and see the dress becoming YOUR dress!

6. Sewing

This is where Darcy begins to sew your gown – to place lace or fabric in different places and to fit the dress perfectly for you.  Throughout this period, she may be in contact with you for minor tweaks or other measurements.  This is your dress, and you want it to be fabulous!

7. Final Fitting

At your final meeting with Darcy, you get to see the final result!  You are able to try on your dress, make sure it fits, and to show it off to all your best girlfriends!  If there are any minor tweaks to be made, we make sure to leave a little time to complete them.

8. It’s Wedding Time!

Once your gown is complete, we press it to perfection, and give it to you for your big day!  You are going to look beautiful!

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June 19, 2013 In Vintage, Weddings

Professional Photo Session

These are some of our beautiful vintage wedding gown photos taken at our store location in Minneapolis by the talented Jenifer Eligh. We’d love to thank our amazing models for a wonderful day!

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June 10, 2013 In Vintage, Wedding Gown Preservation

Wedding Gown Fun Facts

It’s difficult to teach the importance of cleaning and preserving your wedding gown after wearing it on your special day – and we see many gowns stop in months – even years! – after the wedding.  So why is it important to bring your gown to us RIGHT after the wedding?  We can get stains out before they have a chance to set, and we can give your gown it’s best chance to survive for many years to come.  Perhaps for a daughter one day?

Check out the info-graphic below for fun facts and tips about wedding gown preservation.  Don’t make it an after-thought, plan for it in your budget!

infographic - wedding gowns

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