This weekend my sister came to visit. She lives in L.A. and I only get to see her about twice a year. When she comes we gather at my parents home and stay in one of our old childhood bedrooms. Right before I left for my visit with her, my lace dresses arrived on the doorstep. I put them in the car and headed off.
When I bid on these dresses in an online auction, I got them for a very good price, and I purchased them for the lace that is in them. I thought that they would be pretty torn and stained, and I knew that they would not be in my size. I was amazed when I took them out of the box to find that they are in great shape. I can't find tears in them, and there is just a little staining on some of the collars, not very much.
My sister and sister in law were just the right size for most of the dresses and agreed to model them for me. My sister in law came in from riding her bike and had her red top on under the dresses. My sister had a great time showing the dresses. Both of my models were very good sports about it and I thank them. And now I continue to be left in a real quandary as to what to do with the dresses. Should I be brutal and just rip them up for the lace, or save them for the great garments they are? Ugh!
what a dilemma!
ReplyDeleteThey are so beautiful!
(ot..my back is so unstable after an accident, that's why I"m on the ground so much..I take your advice and listen more and more to my body..thanks for being so nice in your comment.)
I don't envy you deciding what to do Cameron. They are special aren't they and some definitely speak of their era. You could wear the handkerchief edged one today. Are there any fashion museums you could check out to see if they would be missed if you cut them up?
ReplyDeleteI can see that it is going to be hard to decide what to do. Preserve the dresses or use the lace. I think Julie's suggestion is a good one. In answer to your question I do use lace other than cotton.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely dresses and lovely models! Your sisters are good sports to model so beautifully for you, it looks like you all were having fun. You can always just hold on to the dresses for now, and give yourself permission to tear into one when you have a specific project for it. Then you will know from your results if you gain the satisfaction of having torn up the dress or if you regret it.
ReplyDeleteAs always I appreciate the wonderful input that I get from blogger friends. I think that I will follow both suggestions, first check to see if some of them can be used historically. And second, there is one that is not quite as historic that I will use.
ReplyDeleteI am also going to have a drawing. I will put all the names of people who comment on this blog post into a basket and have my husband draw a name. (Only if you are interested.) The name I draw will get one of the lace dresses.
oooh no don't...you can use every piece in your beautiful felt jackets and if you are hooked on the narural dying you are going to regret it so much!
ReplyDeleteYou are too sweet but please don't.
I don't want to be in your drawing!
love you!
Cameron--Your sister and sister-in-law are truly adorable...and what fun to be 'girls' again at 'home'!! Lucky you.
ReplyDeleteHugs--
Hi Cameron, That is very generous of you. Yes, please do count me in. Good luck with finding out about the dresses.
ReplyDeleteSue
Okay...I am commenting! Count me in! What type of closures on are these dresses? Are they old fashioned or just what you see today? Buttons would be a good clue as to age. Are the zippers metal or nylon? Are the hand done or machine? Any odd fasteners? It is really hard to tell from a photo but one looks a bit newer meaning 70's to me.
ReplyDeleteSo that would make them borderline vintage but not antique. Then I would cut cut cut and make something beautiful out of them.