Vintage Holiday Dresses

Why buy a pricey new designer dress for your holiday parties when you could do what the smart shoppers do and purchase a classy vintage original. Often, vintage pieces are even more beautiful and well made than the dresses on sale in stores today. You can also get a better deal on them and save more cash for holiday gift buying and entertaining. Many of today's dresses are so flimsily made that they're almost disposable, but the designers of older eras knew how to build clothing that would last a lifetime. You'll also help the environment by purchasing a dress that might otherwise eventually end up in a landfill. Best of all when you show up in a vintage original you can be almost sure you'll never run into another partygoer wearing the same dress!

When choosing a vintage frock pay close attention to the seams and hardware. The seam lines, zippers, buttons, and other hard wear can tell you a lot about how well made the dress is. Quality zippers zip through the tracks smoothly and buttons should fit their holes without straining. No tears or stretching should be visible around the seams if the piece well made. The finest pieces will also have smoothly stitched interior seams.

You should also ensure that the dress fits your form properly. If there's any doubt then don't buy it unless you are willing to pay for the expense of custom tailoring. If the dress you're looking for is one you think you might want to resell in the future, then a dress from a better designer will hold its resale value much better. Look for labels of well known designers who have a market of collectors eager to get their hands on that designer's pieces.

Finally you should consider the wear and damage of any piece you are considering purchasing. If it is in mint condition that is excellent, but many vintage pieces will have at least a small amount of wear. Consider the purchase price and factor in the cost of restoration expense to decide if it's a good investment. Some damage such as that caused by mildew or insect damage is irreparable at any cost.