Ha. I'm with Fran on this one. If we saved every vintage textile we found, we could fill a warehouse...and it would all just sit there. What would be the point? Mom has boxes and boxes of vintage embroidered sheets, pillow cases, dish towels, table clothes, etc. Since she wants to "save" them, we don't use for them. Frankly, I'm sick of trying to live with boxes, lugging them around to get to other things, and endlessly moving "useless" stuff around the house. If I could do it without Mom noticing and getting ticked off, I'd start mailing it all to Fran. LOL!
That said, I also understand where Isabella is coming from because I HATE it when people take a piece of vintage jewelry and destroy it by tweaking it into something modern. I find stuff on eBay all the time that just blows my mind. I cry when I read about someone who bought an historic diamond then had it recut. If it used to be in a royal crown and can be seen in portraits from hundreds of years ago, leave it alone! Man, oh man, I want to smack some people!! Things like that can never be replaced. But really, linen tunics?? Eh, they're nothing special. It's the rare stuff, especially things that have significant history, presses my buttons. 'Bella On Fri, Mar 29, 2013 at 2:58 PM, Lavolta Press <[email protected]>wrote: > I've been a vintage clothing collector since I was 16. I've always worn > items from my collection. I've always altered them for size, and in any > and every other way I felt like. Lately, I have been been buying a lot of > chemises and petticoats to dye and alter, transforming embroidered linens > into clothes, and so on. > > When I was five, my parents bought a house that was built in 1860 and > pristine, untouched, except for paint jobs (still in the original colors of > white with green shutters). I am one of the few members of my generation > with an intimate knowledge of what it's like to plunk my bottom on an icy > privy seat in the middle of winter. Believe me, that house was vastly > improved by the installation of modern central heating and plumbing. > Termite extermination was nice too. Oh, and a covered well with an > electric pump? And a septic tank? Definitely. > > No doubt, if the house had been a museum, there might have been > regulations against changing it. But it was a private residence. Likewise, > the clothing I buy is mine, not part of a museum. I am entitled to do > whatever I want with it, have always done so, and will continue to do so. > Obviously, if you have a clothing collection you may do whatever you wish > with your own property--just as I do. > > Fran > Lavolta Press > Books on historic clothing > www.lavoltapress.com > > On 3/29/2013 1:25 PM, . . wrote: > >> I am HORRIFIED at the idea of using an antique piece of our cultural >> history as something to wear; let alone cut it and dye it! Would you buy a >> slightly rundown Victorian house and tear it up to sell off the pieces and >> remake it into a modern home? Of course not! Most countries now have >> regulations to protect these homes as part of our cultural heritage. It's >> sad that we do not have similar laws to protect against the destruction of >> antiquities as is being described here. I'm completly revolted at the idea >> of tearing up a garmet that is not shreaded, not in rags, just to make a >> t-tunic? You can make a t-tunic out of good old linen for far less than >> $40 if watch for coupons and stash reduction sales. There is no reason >> whatsoever to destroy a piece of history just to get something to wear. >> -Isabella >> >> >>> Today's Topics: >>> >>> 1. Easy way to get a hand sewn T-Tunic (Lavolta Press) >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------**------------------------------** >>> ---------- >>> >>> Message: 1 >>> Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:00:45 -0700 >>> From: Lavolta Press <[email protected]> >>> To: Historical Costume <[email protected]> >>> Subject: [h-cost] Easy way to get a hand sewn T-Tunic >>> Message-ID: >>> <5154CB9D.8050503@**lavoltapress.com<[email protected]> >>> > >>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed >>> >>> Really easy way to get a handsewn T-tunic: Buy one of the heavy French >>> linen chemises regularly sold by sellers on Etsy. They are sometimes >>> labeled as nightgowns, sometimes labeled as hemp (maybe they are, but I >>> suspect poor translation), sometimes labeled as "metis" (apparently a >>> linen/cotton blend), sometimes labeled as handwoven which I don't think >>> they are, but they *are* often (not always) completely hand sewn. They >>> are sometimes labeled as Regency or Georgian but the tradition cut hung >>> on and most are likely late 19th or early 20th century. The necklines >>> tend to be round or square, but not V. Sometimes there is a front slit, >>> sometimes not. Some have sleeves, some are sleeveless. Prices vary, but >>> are often reasonable (especially for a hand sewn garment in good >>> condition). I recently bought a lot of four for $40 on eBay. >>> >>> Here is one: >>> >>> http://www.etsy.com/listing/**127568458/french-nightgown-** >>> thick-rustic-metis?ref=sr_**gallery_41&ga_search_query=** >>> chemise&ga_view_type=gallery&**ga_ship_to=US&ga_order=date_** >>> desc&ga_page=0&ga_search_type=**vintage<http://www.etsy.com/listing/127568458/french-nightgown-thick-rustic-metis?ref=sr_gallery_41&ga_search_query=chemise&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_order=date_desc&ga_page=0&ga_search_type=vintage> >>> >>> There are enough of these regularly for sale (especially on Etsy) from >>> different vendors, and all apparently French, that I suspect some kind >>> of common institutional use, boarding schools or convents or hospitals, >>> perhaps. These chemises are practically bulletproof. They are always in >>> great condition in my experience, and they machine dye beautifully in >>> Procion dyes. I personally think wearing one either as an undergarment >>> crammed under a corset (which was usual for chemises at the time they >>> were made), or as a nightgown over bare skin, would be uncomfortable. >>> Apparently, at the time these were made plenty of French women >>> disagreed. These are, however, great worn as dresses or tunics over >>> another garment. You can decorate them with braid, embroidery, what you >>> fancy. You will probably need to add a piece to enlarge the sleeves. >>> >>> Fran >>> Lavolta Press >>> Books on making historic clothing >>> www.lavoltapress.com >>> www.facebook.com/LavoltaPress >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> ______________________________**_________________ >>> h-costume mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://mail.indra.com/mailman/**listinfo/h-costume<http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume> >>> >>> >>> End of h-costume Digest, Vol 12, Issue 61 >>> ******************************************* >>> >> >> ______________________________**_________________ >> h-costume mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://mail.indra.com/mailman/**listinfo/h-costume<http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume> >> >> >> > ______________________________**_________________ > h-costume mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/**listinfo/h-costume<http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume> > _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
