Problem 1: You adore it, but it's too small.
Corsets enabled women to faithfully fashion their figures in hourglass form but since we modern women are far less committed (or is it that we're less masochistic?) to cookie-cutter perfection, we may find it difficult to zip our favorite dresses without ripping the seams. No need to worry-there are other ways to show off your tiny garment. Why not hang it on the wall or display it on a body form? I know what you may be thinking: "I don't want to look like I live in a boutique." And you won't, if you do it right. Don't make the dress the centerpiece of the room; let it serve as an accent. Choose a dress that matches the color scheme and overall aesthetic of the room and you'll be fielding compliments from guests before you've even set out the hors d'oeuvres.
Problem 2: It's too big!
So it fits in the waist and the bust is too big? We can thank the bullet bra for this departure from reality. What to do? Alter it. Episode after episode of Antiques Roadshow may have ingrained in you the lesson that any modification results in a decrease in value. This may ring true for furniture but riddle me this: how valuable is an article of clothing you can't wear? Take that dowdy dress with potential to the seamstress, raise the hem, take in the sides, and flaunt it already!
Problem 3: Pulling it off.
Pulling it off is easy if you follow some simple advice: Modernize it. Don't relive it. Tailor that dress to give it a contemporary fit. Pair a vintage tie-neck blouse with skinny jeans and flats. Wear a 50's shirt dress with new patent leather pumps. Accent a new dress with vintage jewelry. Mix and match new and old to create a style all your own.
