As told to Claire Anderson:
I am a very pretty ball-gown made from a beautiful silky, cottony fabric, with rich claret stripes. I was handmade in the 1950’s for a lovely curvy lady with pointy breasts. After that, I was altered to fit another lady, who had some funny ideas about straps and frilly bits. None the less, my useful upside down crumb catcher hid a multitude of stitching sins.

The following years were spent languishing in wardrobes, dressing up boxes and clothes rails of girls who were drawn to me, but weren’t sure what to do with me.

I’d given up all hope of living life in the limelight ever again until that rainy December day in 2007 when I found myself on a stall at Saltaire’s Vintage Fair. Peeping out of a packed rail, my fetching candy stripe skirt caught the eye of Claire, a blushing bride-to-be. She tried me on over her jeans and trainers in a cramped toilet (oh the indignity!) and didn’t seem that convinced. But there must have been something there because she did a deal with my owner - £44, with a pair of red Bally shoes thrown in - and I was hers.

I came to my new home, and waited.

Months later, I was pulled out, and my transformation began. Naomi Parker, a talented seamstress, got her hands on me and Claire, and worked her magic. She made me fit Claire like a glove. She removed my straps, took off the unsightly frill, boned me, stuffed me, sewed me, re-buttoned me, took parts out, but some back in, made me a petticoat - and there I was. The grandest, most beautiful wedding dress in the world.

I was so proud.

Now I’m stored away for Claire’s daughter to see, touch, try on and maybe even wear when she’s older. And then, who knows what the next chapter of my story might be, but I’m sure my journey is far from over.
Claire Anderson