I'm with Sybella on this. --RA Baumgartner On Mar 29, 2013, at 7:26 PM, Sybella wrote:
> 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 _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
