Stumbled on a thrifted 1980s prom dress that had this weird asymmetrical zipper placement

I read a comment from a vintage collector saying those off-center zippers were actually a design trick to make the fabric drape differently on the body, and now I'm wondering if we should bring back that kind of purposeful awkwardness instead of always hiding hardware.

2 comments

2 Comments

riverg751mo ago

I used to hate those zippers too but you seriously changed my mind.

nathan5451mo ago

Bring back purposeful awkwardness" - I mean, I get the idea but honestly most people just want a dress that fits without making them think about engineering principles. Those 80s zippers were probably a cost cutting move half the time, not some clever design philosophy. Your mileage may vary but I'll take a hidden zipper any day over something that constantly reminds me it's there.