from vintage heirloom to modern masterpiece
“I got so many compliments on my dress, it was absolutely perfect and I cannot thank you enough for making it so beautiful. “ - Arnina B.
Time for a (design) change?
There is something so magical about taking an heirloom gown that has personal meaning and transforming it into a design that reflects the bride’s personal style, whether you want to wear a vintage gown for sentimental reasons or to be more sustainable! That’s why we are so proud to offer vintage gown alterations as well as Mignonette Reutilisier, our full heirloom gown redesign service, a specialty of our parent company, Mignonette Bridal. We love reworking gowns that have been in the family for generations to feel a little more modern- adding embellishment, lowering a neckline, adding a sleeve, lengthening a skirt or adding new layers, even making pants! Worried that your dress is *too* vintage to turn into something you might like? We have worked miracles, so let us create magic with your heirloom gown. No challenge is too fantastical for us to try! Besides redesigns, we also offer a full line of services for vintage gowns - cleaning, spot repairs, tailoring, lace repair , and more! Get in touch with us to learn more about how we can help get your vintage piece ready to wear down the aisle! Please note that alterations are priced according to our regular alterations pricing of $600-$2400, while full heirloom redesigns typically begin at $2600. We ask that brides come in for a consultation to talk design and price.
My daughter wanted to wear the same dress that her mother, aunt and grandmother had originally worn 65 years ago...From first meeting when Kpoene’ talked to my daughter and really listened...[She] knew how to bring my daughter's dream dress come true. - Christina L
Arnina - A fashion-forward wedding with a romantic twist
Arnina wanted to wear her mother’s 1970’s high-necked embroidered organza gown, but wanted to transform it from the Prairie-style sweet design to a runway-inspired look with a straight, strapless neckline, long dramatic sleeves with button closures, and a more fitted sheath skirt with train. This was a completely new vision for the gown - the only thing we really kept was the beautiful pointed lace-trimmed edging on the sleeves. After creating an entirely new strapless bodice with exposed boning, we added puffed sleeves and made them off-shoulder, recut the skirt to be a more modern fitted style through the hip and thigh, and used the extra fabric to create a dramatic train. This was definitely a labor of love, and one of our recent favorites!
Christine - a vogue-worthy classic wedding
Christine wanted to wear her grandmother’s 1950’s silk organza gown, but the beading had rusted and damaged the gown, and she wanted to modernize with a low back and neckline and a more structured bodice. We removed the old beading and cleaned the gown, added new beading, removed the sleeves and reshaped the bodice to have a deep v to the waist and a deep neckline with mesh inlay.
Christine wearing her grandmother’s revamped 1950’s wedding gown.
Don’t think. Do it! Seriously, dream up your ideal wedding dress. This studio has talent that is beyond measure. Follow your heart if there is a vintage dress that has special meaning to you. It is easily the single most fun and engaging activity when planning your wedding. The studio will hold your hand each step of the way and make sure the dress is absolutely perfect and you are absolutely happy with your finished product before your big day. - Jessica M
Jamie - a chic and modern look for a stylish bride
Jamie wanted to wear her mother’s beautiful 1980’s gown but had a few requests: Please make it strapless, change the puffy organza skirt to a sleek crepe and cover the bodice with lace. We took the graphic lace from the gown and matching hat ( so 80’s! We LOVE!) and made an architectural pattern on the bodice, crafted a new skirt from soft Italian crepe fabric, and turned mom’s puffy organza into a dramatic removable overskirt. Jamie was thrilled and we had a blast!
“I cannot say enough good things about Ette! Kpoene' and her team specialize in heirloom revamping which is EXACTLY what I was hoping for in my search to have my moms wedding dress modernized! Kpoene' is a true artist and expert of her craft. From our first appointment to our last, her team was so detail oriented, and welcomed my mom and I into her studio like family! Kpoene' used my moms original lace and material, and pieced together my DREAM wedding dress. You won't even believe this transformation …!! If this google review could handle all the stars in the sky, it still wouldn't be enough to express my gratitude. Thank you to Kpoene' and her amazing staff of talented, brilliant visionaries.” - Jamie Wolfe-Quick, December 2021
Johannah - a two piece design for a free-spirited icelandic elopement
Johannah wanted to turn her mother’s sweet 1970’s sweater-knit gown into a two piece look. The challenge? Johannah is taller than her mom and wanted to give the skirt more personality and a bit more ‘swishiness’. Our solution? Sourcing vintage knit motifs to seamlessly blend into the bottom of the bodice and the sides and hem of the skirt to create a look that was both timeless and effortless and perfect for hiking through Iceland’s purple lupine fields!
Johannah in her mother’s revamped gown, perfect for iceland’s lupine flower fields!
“Hello Kpoene'! Wow - what an amazing elopement and honeymoon. I'm still waiting on our photographer to send us our full photo package but I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PERFECT THIS DRESS WAS FOR ICELAND!! OBSESSED!!! Thank you again for everything - I'm so grateful for all the hard work you and your team did to revamp my mother's dress into the perfect Johannah version and still honor its originality. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!” - Johannah S
Jessica - A regal revamp fit for a modern queen
Jessica wanted to preserve the essence of her mother’s 1980’s gown, keeping the beautiful (and unusual) neckline and collar while changing the full satin skirt to a fitted mermaid. We slimmed the bodice and added additional structure, matched the vintage satin and turned mom’s original skirt into a removable gathered overskirt with lace hem. You can read all about Jessica’s revamp experience here.
“My parent’s marriage defines what true love really is. I always knew this would be the dress I would want to wear on my special day, being a symbol of everything beautiful and most importantly, true love.” - Jessica M
We created a sheer boned bodice and English net skirt with hundreds of hand-beaded lace appliques. the unbeaded lace was taken from her mother’s gown.
“ [Kpoene’] had my back though it all, even coming the day of to be sure all looked perfect on me before making my grand entrance into the church. Beyond a doubt, she made my biggest dream come true. I truly became a winter princess in my own fairytale wedding!! - ”
scroll through to see more of our beautiful revamps, or email us here to start designing your dream dress!
“[Mignonette] did an absolutely phenomenal job taking my mom’s wedding dress from the 70s and making it both modern and classic. The best part was how happy it made my mom that I was able to wear the same dress as she wore with my dad almost 40 years ago.”
