In the last couple of weeks, I’ve shown a few images of the Lana dress on my Instagram, so I thought I’d share her backstory here on the blog.  Lana began her life as a short silk taffeta dress in the late 1950s. I was drawn to her soft vanilla color and stunningly unique beaded appliqué work.  She had seen better days, but I knew I had to salvage the one-of-a-kind handwork on this piece!

I envisioned her prim 1950s style with more of a whimsical vibe. Saving her exquisite appliqués, I refashioned her original skirt into a peplum, carefully mocking up the shape to avoid the inevitable stains on this antique piece. In the NYC garment district, I found some pretty deadstock point d’esprit, a fine bobbinet with scattered woven dots, that I loved combined with the original taffeta.

After unseaming Lana, she was off to Brooklyn, where my talented Draper and seamster patterned an A-line skirt and draped a sweetheart bodice for an effortless chic look. The wide straps were fashioned from pieces of the cut-away skirt. Upon the dress returning to the studio the charming original hand-rolled flowers were cleaned and tacked back on, finishing this restyled modern vintage ensemble.