1950s Helena Barbieri ruched dress (repair project)

Description

From the repair pile: Gorgeous draped black tulle Helena Barbieri dress. Tulle is wrapped like a braid (crisscrossing) up the left side of the bodice. The back is made up of fine pleats, micro-pleats really, very pretty! Wraps diagonally around the hips. Three full layers of tulle make up the skirt with a black rayon underskirt and bodice lining. Metal zipper up the back. Well-made with nice details, like hand-sewing along the bodice, as expected from this label.

label: Helena Barbieri Original

condition: as-is condition. Awesome dress with potential, clean, but it looks like the cleaning removed the starch and sizing. The tulle and underskirt/lining have no stiffness causing the tulle to rumble up at the hem. The good news is that the tulle is in good condition, found 5-6 tiny breaks and one 1 1/2″ tear on the outside layer, lost in the massive amount of tulle, and no damage found on the two under-layers of tulle.  However, the areas of lining that are discolored purple have frayed holes, mainly along the top front bodice, as well as, frays and a 2″ tear on the rayon underskirt. The plan was to reinforce with interfacing or replace the lining. Other minor problems, like interior stays are worn and draping that can be tacked down.

measurements:
[flat]
bust: 36” around inside of bodice
across back: 16″
waist: 28” around approximated natural waistline
dropped waist/upper hip: 36”
length: 45”
skirt length: 37” from approximated waistline
hem: –