Background & information
A dress that needs no introduction! Catherine Rayner Lily is an ultra-romantic wedding gown that is a vintage lover's dream. Lily came in two variations, a duchess silk satin version and a silk dupion version. This is the dupion version.
Lily has a highly structured off-shoulder bodice with dropped Basque waistline, full-coverage back with covered buttons, and duchess silk satin lilies along the neckline. The column skirt has subtle draping at the waist and a dramatic attached train.
Lily is a classic for a reason, and we are thrilled to have another one in our collection and to be able to offer it to our community.
We obtained this Lily from the original owner. She removed it from the preservation box for the first time before sending it to us. It has been cleaned and is ready to be altered and worn.
Size & measurements
Measurements must be used to assess whether a gown will fit you or can be altered to fit you. A gown can usually be made 2-3 sizes smaller without compromising the design, but can rarely be made more than approximately 1/2-1” larger without making major modifications. The approximate exterior measurements of this dress are as follows:
Bust - 34"
Waist - 26"
It is roughly a modern size 2-4.
Condition notes
We are known for the excellent condition of our vintage bridal attire. However, vintage gowns will always contain some imperfections that result from being worn and/or stored for decades. We make every effort to review each dress thoroughly and disclose the issues we can find. With that in mind, please review the following notes:
Lily is in very good to excellent vintage condition overall, with minor indications of previous wear. There is a small amount of underarm residue, as expected with a previously-worn gown. The lilies on the neckline have flattened from storage, and we recommend removing the tacks on the tips of each of the petals in order to extend them out fully as we did with our previous Lily. (We are happy to perform this task in-house at no charge upon request; please send us a message if you would like us to do so!)
Note that the fabric of this gown, silk dupion, is highly textured. This is not a flaw, it is a feature. The texture is the product of the spinning process used to create the yarn for the dress.
