My Blog List

Friday 9 November 2012

Stuck in the middle with you....


I could hardly believe my luck when I saw this dress hanging in the charity shop. It is silk, with a beautiful floral pattern, very summery, but just too beautiful to leave behind. I'm usually a pretty good judge of my size and while many vintage dresses are too tiny to be considered, this looked about right. 



Later that evening, all was quiet. Husband was away all week working, eldest was at a Chelsea match for an 18th birthday and youngest was fast asleep in bed. So I decided to try on the frock. It was a bit snug, around the waist, but I thought I could just about get away with it. And then, when I came to take it off, I found that I was stuck fast. Absolutely stuck. The zip would not budge and the fit was so tight that I couldn't remove it without ripping that lovely silk.  
Half an hour passed, the struggle continued. I went to fetch the scissors and began to search for a seam where I thought I might do the least damage. Just one more try, and thank goodness, the zip moved, shot down, and I was a free woman again. I'm just so glad that I didn't try it on in the shop....
Does anyone have any idea how to expand the waist of a dress?

13 comments:

  1. Oh no! But what a lovely dress. I remember getting stuck in a dress in a shop changing cubicle - the feeling of panic is still with me!
    Not sure how you can alter it though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think I can :( Still, it looks pretty hanging in my room.

      Delete
  2. I've just laughed so much my children's view that I'm bonkers has just been confirmed! So funny! You could always try one of those corsets that ladies who wore these dresses had on underneath! I agree with you it's a beautiful dress though! Have a lovely weekend, oh and starving yourself won't help! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. :) No, I've never been one for starving myself, or 'shape wear' aka magic knickers. Maybe some little vents in the sides...

      Delete
  3. Lovely dress! I got stuck like annjenny too, have palpitations just remembering the sheer terror! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  4. I got stuck in a vintage dress in Frome...nearly had a panic attack..the most awful experience!! such a pretty dress, could you maybe let it out a bit? x
    happy weekend x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a very claustrophobic feeling. I even thought I could sleep in it, and then get a son to release me in the morning, but just couldn't bear the thought of being stuck all night!

      Delete
  5. pretty dress! could you open the side seams and insert a thin strip of lace?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yes, that is a good idea. I probably couldn't do it, but I might know a friend who can....

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh how lucky it undid in the end, you poor thing, yes and so lucky you were at home, not sure about letting it out , but such a wonderful find
    Thea x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello, that dress is beautiful!
    But being silk and too small is 'difficult'.

    Not a good idea to try and let it out because the seams would then be very weak (silk being so delicate) and may rip.

    Best idea, as mentioned above, is to add to the dress.

    If it was mine I would remove the top from the skirt add a small contrasting panel and put it back together again?

    I love your wreath too...
    best wishes Daisy J

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Daisy, your advice is very much appreciated, thank you :)

      Delete
  9. Ah yes indeed - I can identify with that sense of panic. For me it has been when I am trying to take something off over my top half and about halfway I am stuff fast. It is not being able to either downwards or upwards that induces panic! Well done on your escape. Before now I have set a small panel into the side of a dress in order to cater for my expanding girth - you might be able to add some to the margin of the zip (depends where it is). Oh just seen that Daisy has suggested a similar thing. Lovely dress mind you
    Best wishes
    Jenny

    ReplyDelete