It’s no secret that I am a fan of all things vintage, especially clothing - I love the history of a piece, the stories woven into each seam, the impression left by the combination of a seamstresses’ sewing choices and a wearer’s body on the fabric. This is why I launched Mignonette Reutiliser (reuse in French) in 2015 to help brides who wanted to wear heirloom gowns find a way to modernize and personalize, adding their chapters to the story of a garment.

Since COVID-19 turned the world upside down, sustainability has become a huge buzzword, but it has also become increasingly important to savvy consumers who want to make sure their purchase doesn’t negatively impact an already-troubled world, or support a notoriously polluting and imbalanced industry. Revamping an heirloom gown not only keeps pollutants and material scraps from entering the waste stream, it also provides high-paying work for local seamstresses (All of our revamps are done in-house in Chicago), and gives a bride the chance to wear something truly one-of-a-kind down the aisle.

Hang on a sec - what is heirloom gown revamping and how does Mignonette Reutiliser do it?

I will work with a bride to take a dress that usually has personal or familial significance, and transform it into a modern, fashionable and functional gown.This can mean anything from a total overhaul to simply removing and rearranging the lace, changing the sleeves, or cutting a neckline (just to name a few options) which will update the dress while keeping its original integrity. From first meeting to final delivery, our team works closely with you to bring out the unique features of each dress that you wish to showcase. I love transforming these heirloom gowns and giving them a new life! This is an amazing and sustainable option when it comes to choosing a wedding dress.

If this all sounds too good to be true, but also maybe kind of intriguing, you should get in touch to see how I can help you realize your wedding-day dreams. As you’ll see from our pictures below, I love working with heirloom gowns to find their new shape, and I think I’m pretty good at it! If you want some concrete evidence, though, as Levar Burton famously said, “Don’t take my word for it!” - Hear what these Mignonette Reutiliser brides had to say about their revamp experience, and if you want to see even more images, check out the MR page, or drop us a line at mignonettestore@gmail.com to get started with your dream dress!

Melissa brought us her aunt’s gown after she had spent some time going from shop to shop, both on her own and with friends, in search of a dress she would love. When nothing stuck out, her aunt sent Melissa her gown- no strings attached. Her Grandmother’s Great Depression motto rang true in her ears: “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without”. Read on to hear a bit about Melissa’s revamp experience:

What was your dress like before the revamp?

The dress was from the 80s - when I opened the box I realized the train was absolutely insane. It was an old Bianchi dress. My aunt and uncle are a great couple, and I gravitated towards the idea of keeping a good story going... so I started searching for tailors and designers online in Chicago and that’s when I learned about Mignonette. 

What was the process like? Were you nervous? Excited?

Kpoene’ really helped me see the possibilities, how we could repurpose the train for an a-line bottom while keeping some of the great intricacies of the bodice. I loved the revamp process, it was such a genuine and authentic experience true to my mind, body, and soul. Kpoene’ is awesome to work with - she listens, is super honest, and asks a lot of questions along the way.

Bonus points for Kpoene’ who helped me repurpose my moms dress for the Friday occasion and my aunts dress for the big day. I love fashion, I love working with someone with such a keen eye for design, and I’m already thinking about repurposing them again. My first wedding anniversary is right around the corner... 

What advice do you have for other brides?

Having a dress that was equally comfortable to sit, walk, run, jump, dance, dip, and say I do in was key to an awesome day. Let’s be honest, Isn’t that what Mother Earth wants for all of us anyways?! And the best part of a revamp is that the dress is really (re)made just for you so it really fits in all the right places.