The Ratty Ramen Noodle Court Gown

I adore the Sleeping Beauties theme for the Met Gala this year. The exhibition explores the fragility of antique garments that can “no longer directly interact with the body” which reminds me of my poor ratty ramen noodle court gown. I posted a video trying her on two years ago and since this video was taken those beautiful butterfly gauze sleeve have started to shatter.
I still think it’s a good time to reshare this gown so please joy seeing her one last time! She was ratty as anything when I bought her and she’s still ratty now. She has no history and she’s in such bad shape no museum would take her and I wouldn’t donate her either. Having worked in museums she would just be stuck in a box in a storeroom labeled “No provenance”.
I’ve spent ages repairing her to the best of my ability and she has her own archive box downstairs. I like to take her out and admire her from time to time. I don’t advocate wearing this type of antique everyday but I also don’t see the harm in trying her on and giving her a spin for ten minutes before I put her back in the box.

[@MoreThanTerrestrial]

Imagine finding an artefact, and thinking to yourself: these parts would look great on a modern denim jacket. People shouldn’t cut up old gowns.

[@brandygriffiss]

Thank you for saving this beautiful piece. People throw away everything !! My stomach hurts thinking about what she threw away 😢. And the pure SIN of piecing it out for lame denim jackets?? Like, they sell, BEADS!?!?!?!!! Come on!!! She has a new life, thanks to you. The audacity to ask such a price after torturing the dress....SMH It would have been worth the ramen if it would have had all the references to go with it😢😢😢 THANK YOU FOR SAVING THIS TREASURE

[@Ikwigsjoyful]

Oh my goodness, I am heartbroken when I think of what she must have been before. I have two late Victorian bodices that got similar treatment and have lost all of their buttons and most of their beading; it still makes me angry when I think about it. But, on the upside, they are still here, rather than rotting in a trash heap somewhere. And you rescued your beautiful gown, so now she's getting the love she deserves! And yes, I would definitely eat ramen noodles for two weeks just to save that dress. :)

[@foamer443]

It is a pity so much damage was done to the dress, regardless you still look good in it Asta.

[@AstaDarling]

Thank you so much!

[@nicholeritchey1383]

I would love to see you recreate this dress. It's beautiful, even in its present ratty state. It would be amazing if pictures and history would make it back to you somehow from posting these videos.

[@KristinPhillips-fs7lr]

I have made embellished denim jackets, but I would NEVER tear up an antique or a vintage gown to use! So glad you saved what was left of it.

[@jenniferleone810]

If you had the address of the house it was found in you may be able to scour ownership records and find the family who lived there during the time this dress would have been in fashion. It might be a starting point for its history.

[@AB-mx1de]

Yes, this!

[@RAAAAGGHHH]

I would definitely eat ramen for two weeks to get that dress ❤

[@PurpleandWhiteStories]

Such a lovely gown! I could understand the piecing if the dress was past any kind restoration. A shame its history is lost. Maybe do a recreation of what it should look like?

[@sirenofthesea7802]

That could be amazing. Like a sort of "Cinderella" moment after the Stepsisters destroyed her dress & the Godmother gives it a new life.

[@disney_et_moi]

This is a really beautiful gown! I definitely would have eaten ramen noodles, too, if I had wanted it. However, cheer up Miss Darling: even though you will probably never be able to retrace its History of the past, you will be able to recreate its History from the moment it came into your hands. You will take care of it and the gown will live like… a second life and a well-documented one. For this I am certain❤❤. Take care Miss Asta and see you real soon❤

[@tiffanyd_rcd]

I am so happy you have this beautiful gone now. I don't understand how someone could take something so beautiful and dismantle it for a tacky arts and crafts project. If I had found something like that, I would felt so fortunate to have a piece of history.

[@reeree6682]

Sooooo glad YOU wound up with her !!🎉❤🎉

[@westzed23]

You now have the bare bones of a court dress. You can create your own vision for this gown. Good luck.

[@notsotinydancer]

I would eat ramen for two weeks for free- but that dress is stunning

[@MissingRaptor]

Same! Great dress regardless 👗

[@flyingnow4233]

Without a doubt. Beautiful!

[@slitherywig1]

You need to do a restoration of this dress. I hate when people don't appreciate history and only want to make a quick buck. I mean the idea of me cutting up a dress to make jackets never.

[@sarah_of_walnut_grove]

Where did you study costuming??

[@_0_Mimi_0_]

From what I've seen so far it looks rly pretty! Edit : it's rly pretty! I luv it🤎

[@michellecornum5856]

She looks familiar. I wonder if there is a picture or a portrait out there of her.

[@CarolynParsons-mv1ji]

I would 100% live on Ramen to own that gown!!!! Sooooo spectacular and in incredible condition! I also can’t believe all the pieces that were removed to make jean jackets of all things!!! It’s an absolute SIN!!! 🤬🤬🤬😤😤😤😡😡😡 If she wanted lace and pearls, she could’ve gone to a frigging craft store!

[@Cowgirlcadet]

That is a beautiful dress. I too would eat ramen noodles so I could own that dress.

[@louisebrown3121]

Beautiful and totally worth it ❤

[@Lady_dromeda]

It should be illegal to cut up historical clothing…

[@sirenofthesea7802]

Definitely! Especially if it could be traced back to a historical figure! Even if the finder can't appreciate it, a museum might pay a pretty sum to add it to an exhibit!

[@Lady_dromeda]

@@sirenofthesea7802 it also goes for iconic dresses from old movie stars too. Like how Kim Kardashian ruined one of Marylin Monroe’s dresses when she could have worn the one se had made to her actual size

[@sirenofthesea7802]

@Lady_dromeda Honestly, I see Marylin Monroe as a historical figure too. Yes, some people think I'm crazy, but who isn't in this day & age? If they had a big enough impact on society to make them memorable, they're a historical figure by my standards. But didn't Kim also ruin the black dress Marylin wore when she met Queen Elizabeth II? I know she ruined her Champaign dress, but I can't recall if the black dress was the same one she wore for the Queen or not.

[@Lady_dromeda]

@@sirenofthesea7802 oh, i didnt know about a second dress. That makes it worse actually

[@sheenawarecki92]

Cool she made me dislike denim more 🙃 what a beautiful gown regardless, we still love you court gown!

[@CierraStar24]

Wow…. It’s so ratty but SOOOOO gorgeous! I wonder if it was once white or if it was off white.

[@michellebyrom6551]

Great investment in your historic wardrobe. Shamefully butchered as it is, we can still see its lovely base. Good for you.

[@Shridra]

I ate ramen every day for like a year for survival. If I could eat ramen for 2 weeks to get something gorgeous I really wanted I'm pretty sure I could do it no problem lol. Plus I have naturally low sodium so I might even feel better 🤣

[@randomllama7362]

I have my great-grandmother’s wedding gown, framed pictures of her wearing it, the genealogy to go with it and nobody in the next generations of my family wants it. She wasn’t wealthy and the gown isn’t historically important but after preserving it from her marriage over 120 years ago, it is a shame and I fear that parts of it may end up on a tacky arts and crafts project someday.

[@AB-mx1de]

That’s so sad! I would adore it and wish I had a wonderful treasure of family history like that.

[@maxinenall9950]

I'm so grateful that you saved what was left of the dress 😍 it's beautiful 🥰 Let's state the truth, the other lady trespassed into a house and stole items 😱 and then she destroyed a piece of history to make ugly blue jean jackets 😠 she's an Idiot 😠

[@RoyalMaxGame]

❤

[@Nikki-tx6kh]

I am OK with people finding 5-10 years old pieces at thrift stores and tailoring them to themselves, but historical pieces should be left alone, and in the hands of people who are going to appreciate them and take good care of them. Go and play with something that came out of a bargain bin at IKEA as I do.

[@causticchameleon7861]

I wonder if the dress was at the wedding of King George V and Mary of Tech(sp?)?

[@KyrstOak]

I would arrest that awful woman if I could. What a crime against history!

[@parkerevergreen4812]

i love me a good reduce/reuse/recycle, as well as adding pretty stuff to modern clothing, but to cut up a COURT GOWN?? jail

[@wendys6438]

Honestly, if you own an object, its yours to do with as you please! That fine china set you got for your wedding? Bust them out for Taco Tuesdays! The ancient gown you found in your new home? Cut it up to make something you'll actually wear today! Will it break granny's heart that you scratched the heck out of the china? Perhaps, but at least its not taking up space collecting dust! Did ripping up that gown hurt someone who would have appreciated it without it being torn up? Evidently, yes, but it wasn't yours when it was originally found, so you can't really get upset about something that you can't control. You now appreciate it in the current condition its in and that's what makes it valuable to you! Oh, and if you ever get jewelry passed down to you that you'll never wear, extract the stones, melt the metal, and make a few new pieces out of it that you will wear! I have a pair of my great-great-great grandfather's cufflinks that my grandma had made in to earrings for my mom since she only had girls and the cufflinks would have just sat in a drawer, but made a beautiful set of wedding day earrings instead and they have been used many many times since by myself as well! My husband and I regularly use his great grandparents wedding crystal when we open bottles of wine with random weeknight dinners, otherwise they would just collect dust in a cabinet. 😊

[@insertname1857]

you are absolutely fucking insane. history should be respected and preserved

[@AtelierTeale]

Terrific rescue and a wonderful story! The final garment is even more beautiful for the trauma it endured! :-) And I was right! You are a professional costumer! 🙃 ... Teale 🏜️

[@treesoul00]

Beautiful 🤩 do you costume for movies?ive always been inspired by the 1980s Anne of Green Gables movies I think they did a good job. Idk how era accurate they are but they seem so well done. 🤍 Mbe not instant ramen but I would eat pho 🍲 every day for any reason lol my aunt taught herself how to make it at home and I’m so envious idk how she does it exactly like a restaurant it’s delicious.