while hunting in the storeroom for suitcases i found, in one of them, neatly wrapped packages of my mother's dresses, from 27 years ago. i did not think they would fit, but the astonishing thing is that they not only did but could have been made for me, not needing a single stitch adjusted in bust waist hip or shoulder. three of them were her wedding dresses: one was worn for the tea ceremony, one for the evening banquet, and the third was her backup dress that was never worn. they are in extraordinarily good condition and still very wearable today with the slightest alteration. they have long sleeves, and i just amn't sure if anyone can still pull off a dress with long sleeves today. but it seems such a waste to take off the sleeves because they are beautiful in their own way, and i would like very much to have a party and for people to come over and see them - and help decide how the dresses could be altered - i thought perhaps the sleeves could be removed completely and remade into a sash, or perhaps partially removed and gathered to make fluttery capsleeves, or if i can shorten the sleeves to three quarter length, and widen the ends to make bellsleeves. the idea is to make them wearable today, but still retain the distinctness of the period. it would be completely pointless to remake the dress, for then what difference is there from using vintage fabric to make a new dress? as addy said, people ought to take one look and say, wow, is that your mother's dress? and not just, hey nice dress. but they oughtn't be able to say, err, is that your mother's dress? an all girls' party must be summoned presto!