Something Old into Something New!
Carefully preserved and tucked away for safekeeping, many a wedding dress will never see the light of day again after a single day’s wearing. Marlene can give your dress a second season by transforming it into an heirloom christening gown for future generations, or by redesigning it into a modern-day wedding dress for your daughter or granddaughter.
Marlene’s ProcessMarlene’s custom heirloom work is distinguished by decades of experience in dress construction. Her process is time intensive and complex, but the results are well worth the investment.
She begins by identifying the most special details of the original garment, and thoroughly assessing the condition of every section of fabric and embellishment for damage and wear. If any additional materials will be needed to transform the dress, Marlene will carefully source supplemental fabrics and findings of equal quality to the original.
Then, using the information and materials she has gathered, Marlene draws on her dressmaking expertise to develop a design that will feature the most beautiful elements of the original dress, and eliminate or downplay any problem areas.
The master plan in place, Marlene begins the slow and meticulous task of carefully deconstructing the original wedding gown, and masterfully reconstructing it into a timeless heirloom.
With the transformation complete, Marlene then adds her special touch to the garment’s lining – she embroiders the names of the original wearer and the new recipient, along with the dates of wearing, leaving plenty of space for chronicling additional family members who will wear it in the future.
Timing and Cost
Marlene’s custom heirloom work is scheduled on a limited basis to ensure that every one of her creations is honored with the time and care it deserves. We suggest you schedule a consultation with Marlene as early as possible to ensure her availability and discuss costs upfront, which are based on the time-intensive nature of heirloom work and unique to each project.
Our BoutiqueOur store is open Tuesday thru Friday* during the hours shown below. We are also happy to meet with you by appointment on Saturday, or another weekday evening to accommodate your busy schedule.
Sunday: Closed
Monday: Closed
Tuesday 10:00 - 5:30
Wednesday 10:00 - 5:30
Thursday 12:00 - 7:00
Fri 12:00 - 7:00
Saturday: 10:00 - 3:00*
*After 3/1/11, we are open 10am - 3pm on SaturdaysMarlene’s Special Occasion Gowns is proud to serve the Western New York and Greater Buffalo area, including Niagara Falls, Lewiston, Ransomville, Lockport, South Lockport, Wheatfield, North Tonawanda, Tonawanda, Grand Island, Kenmore, Williamsville, Amherst, Cheektowaga, Depew, Sloan, West Seneca, East Aurora, Lackawanna, Orchard Park, and Hamburg.
