Finding a crinoline in DC on short notice
April 17, 2012 10:23 AM Subscribe
Where can I find a black crinoline, 27" long, for a 44" waist, in the DC area in the next week?
I am helping someone find a crinoline for a wedding in the first week of May, and we need to find it ASAP. As the question states, it needs to be 27" long and suited for a 44" waist, and in black. We've tried the local David's Bridal and couldn't find one in black or was otherwise appropriate, and we don't have time to go to every vintage store in the city to look for one. Can anyone help out with a store recommendation or other sage advice? We are in metro DC, but can travel to MD or NoVA as needed. Thank you!
I am helping someone find a crinoline for a wedding in the first week of May, and we need to find it ASAP. As the question states, it needs to be 27" long and suited for a 44" waist, and in black. We've tried the local David's Bridal and couldn't find one in black or was otherwise appropriate, and we don't have time to go to every vintage store in the city to look for one. Can anyone help out with a store recommendation or other sage advice? We are in metro DC, but can travel to MD or NoVA as needed. Thank you!
Dyeing a crinoline black is likely to be a nightmare. It will be purple. Black RIT dye is really a huge crap shoot.
I maybe tried dyeing a lot of things black one time. Don't judge.
I can't really search for them here, but eBay is going to be your friend. Pay the expedited shipping.
posted by Medieval Maven at 10:30 AM on April 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
I maybe tried dyeing a lot of things black one time. Don't judge.
I can't really search for them here, but eBay is going to be your friend. Pay the expedited shipping.
posted by Medieval Maven at 10:30 AM on April 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Etsy would be another option, I'm sure someone will expedite it for you if you give them enough money, and someone good will be able to make it to exactly fit her measurements.
posted by brainmouse at 10:32 AM on April 17, 2012
posted by brainmouse at 10:32 AM on April 17, 2012
Try Backstage Costumes. I'm not sure what the quality would be, but it is worth a try. Good luck!
posted by cessair at 10:40 AM on April 17, 2012
posted by cessair at 10:40 AM on April 17, 2012
Ebay, though if you just want something to poof out her skirt, you can make something in an hour or two.
posted by small_ruminant at 10:41 AM on April 17, 2012
posted by small_ruminant at 10:41 AM on April 17, 2012
Etsy would be the first place I'd look for something like this.
posted by elizardbits at 10:45 AM on April 17, 2012
posted by elizardbits at 10:45 AM on April 17, 2012
This one is 2" too small at the waist, but maybe you could have it express-shipped and get it altered? I'm not knowledgeable about that stuff, but I imagine changing just the waist might not be too hard...
Or this one doesn't really say what the plus size is. 38"+ doesn't sound too good, but it's probably worth emailing in a question.
posted by snorkmaiden at 10:45 AM on April 17, 2012
Or this one doesn't really say what the plus size is. 38"+ doesn't sound too good, but it's probably worth emailing in a question.
posted by snorkmaiden at 10:45 AM on April 17, 2012
Best answer: I'm not knowledgeable about that stuff, but I imagine changing just the waist might not be too hard...
Making waists larger is really hard unless you're an excellent tailor.
Here's an online option that claims to go to 45" in the waist. I would call them, insist they measure the waist, and get it shipped express.
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:50 AM on April 17, 2012
Making waists larger is really hard unless you're an excellent tailor.
Here's an online option that claims to go to 45" in the waist. I would call them, insist they measure the waist, and get it shipped express.
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:50 AM on April 17, 2012
Malco Modes is a very reliable vendor with a great customer service department, and their plus sizes are quite generous. It looks like their "50s Petticoat" is a bit long, but most Malco Mode petticoats can be adjusted for length fairly easily by just tacking up a bit of the stretchy hip part to the waistband.
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:57 AM on April 17, 2012
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:57 AM on April 17, 2012
Here's a crionline petticoat that comes in black, with an elastic waist that stretches to 45", and the length is 27", which is just what you are looking for, except it is online. But there's an offer for $10 off right now, and I've found going through Amazon to be reliable.
It would help if you explained why you need the 27" length--do you want the crinoline to show from under a short dress? Or is the dress itself 27"? Because generally a crinoline slip can be a little shorter than a dress and still give the fullness if that's all you need it for.
Other options: many crinoline "petticoat" slips are designed with layers, precisely so that they can be trimmed to the right length. You may be able to find a longer crinoline slip locally that is designed to be trimmed.
posted by misha at 11:23 AM on April 17, 2012
It would help if you explained why you need the 27" length--do you want the crinoline to show from under a short dress? Or is the dress itself 27"? Because generally a crinoline slip can be a little shorter than a dress and still give the fullness if that's all you need it for.
Other options: many crinoline "petticoat" slips are designed with layers, precisely so that they can be trimmed to the right length. You may be able to find a longer crinoline slip locally that is designed to be trimmed.
posted by misha at 11:23 AM on April 17, 2012
I don't know the length of these crinolines but the waist measurements are good. You could call/email to ask length.
http://www.redressnyc.com/categories/Accessories/
posted by countrymod at 11:30 AM on April 17, 2012
http://www.redressnyc.com/categories/Accessories/
posted by countrymod at 11:30 AM on April 17, 2012
Best answer: Resashay, a square dance consignment store, is in Maryland (although I don't know if they have a brick and mortar storefront) and carries a range of new and used petticoats of various sizes, colors and volumes.
posted by nonane at 11:31 AM on April 17, 2012
posted by nonane at 11:31 AM on April 17, 2012
Sometime, um "erotic apparel" stores have these. Not Googling at work, but try Night Dreams (if it's still around).
posted by JoanArkham at 11:53 AM on April 17, 2012
posted by JoanArkham at 11:53 AM on April 17, 2012
If the crinoline can be a few inches shorter, I'd suggest this one from Domino Dollhouse. It's black, 23" long, and the XL fits a 44" waist. (There is an XXL size too, which fits up to a 50" waist.)
posted by Vervain at 12:10 PM on April 17, 2012
posted by Vervain at 12:10 PM on April 17, 2012
Response by poster: Thank you all for your advice and recommendations! I've passed all of this along and hopefully we'll find something that works. @Sidhedevil - It looks like that Candy Apple Costumes petticoat may be our best choice. I will update this again when we find one that works. Thanks again everyone!
posted by gyges at 6:51 PM on April 18, 2012
posted by gyges at 6:51 PM on April 18, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:25 AM on April 17, 2012