OK -OK so here is the deal on restoration.  I have worked out a bunch of my own secret mixtures that I just can't share.  Each garment is restored with time, care and patience.  Some dresses have taken upto  6 days of stain removal and a week for alterations.  I do 90% of my work by hand and try to bring each piece as close to new as possible.  Now, there are exceptions like a bucket of tar fell on the dress, then that might take some time, but I would be up for the challange! 

However, when we do restore vintage clothing, price does vary per garment and labor.  All alterations, if any (shortening, hole repair, crinoline removal, re-design, lace/bead work) are discussed prior to the cleaning portion of restoration.  It is sometime hard to match materials and or 'patch' warns or holes.  There are a thousand different methods but I find that each dress has it's own destiny, we just help it get there.  So, sometimes the finished product is even more stunning than the original, but just with a few subtle changes.  I try to keep the integrity of dress by not changing anything unless I completely have to.  I have had dresses up on forms for months working out how to save her properly.  Each dress is a beauty that was frozen in a time and it is up to us to bring her back to her glory! 

I love what I do and will be posting pictures of restored dresses soon.

Should you have any questions or commenets, please feel free to email!

Thank you!

pic of water after the first soaking(bottom pic) you can't even see the drain!  Then after the second soaking (top pic) thank God I wear gloves!

 (oh, and this dress was green?)

she will be repaired and restored soon!