I've worn a blouse that's 110 years old today

[LaurieFairyCake]

It's a very simple ecru blouse with white work and very fine lace and taupe thread

Anyone else wearing (very) old clothes?

I also ironed all my silk nighties for the summer weather (most are 1920's/30's/40's) - some are too fragile for night sleeping as I'm menopausal and move around a lot but I use them as slips under dresses

[Floisme]

That sounds lovely op. I have quite a few 1920s/30s clothes but, even if they still fit, I daren't wear them any more

[LaurieFairyCake]

Because they're too fragile?

[swapsicles]

Sounds great, I'd love to wear stuff like that.
I saw a lady last week, probably late 50's 60's dressed in what looked like a (victorian mourning??) outfit all in black, including corset, feathered hat and long skirt with detailing down the back, she looked amazing!

[ForCluckSake]

Wow we definitely need a picture

[stairway]

Where do you get these treasures?

[Floisme]

Yup - the last time I wore any of them I ripped it quite badly and felt terrible. Plus in all honesty, a lot of them really don't do that much for me any more.
I really need to find a good home for them but I'm hanging on to them for now in case I'm ever on my uppers and need to sell.

I've got some 1940s silk pyjama shirts though that I still wear, and some tailored jackets which are just about indestructible.

[SpongeBobJudgeyPants]

@swapsicles Is it possible she was wearing a Steampunk outfit? We had a steampunk wedding, I got married in something similar.

[Floisme]

Sorry multiple cross post, that was to Laurie!

[dontcallmelen]

That’s sounds beautiful Laurie swoons at the silk nighties.
I have a couple of vintage cotton 50’s summer dresses which I love they’re so swishy nice & cool in this weather.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Here we go - it's a very fine lawn cotton, just gossamer light for this heat

[Floisme]

That's lovely, looks in good condition too.

[ArabeI]

That sounds lovely, OP. We do need a picture!

I don't own anything nearly so old, just some 1960s and 1970s skirts currently. Oh, and vintage Laura ashley, mostly early 80s.

[ArabeI]

Cross posted. That is lovely, and lovely condition.

[LaurieFairyCake]

I buy in vintage shops and eBay

No one was buying this stuff 20 years ago so I picked up things I could afford - have loads of very thin leather gloves, hand stitched suede gloves that are hand embroidered

Plus I bought a couple of opera capes - a gold silk velvet one which is Victorian plus a later one in black. I can't believe the condition of them, no shattering to the silk lining at all.

I've also got a dozen of those hand beaded handbags from Victorian through to the 40's - they were a fiver each not long ago - you can still get some vintage accessories very cheap on eBay - for example you can still buy silk scarves for a couple of quid on eBay - nobody wants them - loads of them are really old, 20's/30s/40s - they're great tied round a handle of a bag - 2 I turned into cushion covers

[CassandraCross]

That's beautiful.

[Floisme]

You used to be able to pick stuff up for a few quid - hardly anyone was interested in second hand clothes until Kate Moss came along and someone had the bright idea of calling it 'vintage'.

[TonytheDog]

That's such a lovely blouse. I've got a 1920's knitted silk dress that I put into wraps hoping DD might like it one day. I used to wear it for high days and holidays but although it still fits I'm too old to get away with it.
I'm currently wearing a t-shirt that I bought over 30 years ago and it was 'vintage' then, I'm also wearing a pair of jeans that were once raw denim that I bought new when pregnant with DS 15 years ago. They're more holes than denim now and have been patched to within an inch of their life.
I used to have so many vintage clothes but I lost most of them in a disastrous house move years ago.

[RedElephants]

SpongeBobJudgeyPants
That's was my first thought too

[Time40]

That's beautiful, OP.

I wear vintage clothes, and I've got a few actual antiques. My oldest garment is a black velvet cape from about 1875 - 80.

[Catabogus]

Sorry to derail, but is there somewhere which accepts/preserves antique clothes - maybe a museum or something? I have a very old family wedding dress from around 1800 that I have no idea how to look after and would love to find a better home for. Thanks a lot!

[swapsicles]

Possibly, I didn't want to stare tbh, but if you Google victorian morning outfit it was very similar

[Time40]

@TonytheDog

although it still fits I'm too old to get away with it

Are you sure you're truly too old for it, or do you just think you are? I got rid of some of my vintage stuff because it started to look like fancy dress as I got older, but lots of my things are still fine to wear - I think I still look good in them.

I used to have so many vintage clothes but I lost most of them in a disastrous house move years ago

Oh god. What a horrible thing to happen. You have my sympathy - I'd be heartbroken if that happened to me.

[Oneearringlost]

Lovely thread OP x

[Time40]

@Catabogus

Sorry to derail, but is there somewhere which accepts/preserves antique clothes - maybe a museum or something? I have a very old family wedding dress from around 1800 that I have no idea how to look after and would love to find a better home for. Thanks a lot!

You could try the Bath Costume Museum, perhaps, if you'd rather give it to a museum rather than sell it. In your place, I'd sell it!

[BeardyButton]

My wedding dress. 1950s. Felt like a film star.