I have been sorting out my wardrobe... this shouldn't be a collection of things I rarely wear, but a wardrobe of things that I do wear after all... Now that I wear vintage almost every day, and have learned so much more about caring for it - and that some things just aren't washable (or ok to give to a normal dry-cleaner) and therefore not overly practical for regular wear, I have shifted my focus on that which is more practical. That still includes items as old as 1940s, but some of my 40s and older stuff just isn't practical, and I have been wearing these things a lot less, even though I like them. So I've been sorting quite a few things out of my wardrobe, plus some that just don't quite fit me anymore. It's just gotten a little too much...
I had a 1930s and a 1940s dress that I'd both found at the same secondhand shop in Vienna (though not at the same time), hanging between boldly printed 70s polyester dresses and looking a bit unassuming there. Both were in excellent condition and fit me, so I bought them without thinking more. Besides, they weren't expensive - the shop personnel had obviously not realised what they were. They also fall into the "I don't dare washing them or giving them to the dry-cleaner"-category. So I decided they had to go... as both have labels from Vienna (one from a fashion salon, the other from what I think was a commercial maker), I thought I might as well try and offering them to the Vienna city museum (Wien Museum) which has a sizable fashion collection (Modesammlung Wien). This just felt right for me, they were quite special to me personally because of how I found them and because they had those labels. The Wien Museum is also a museum that I have been to many times, and I have seen some beautiful fashion exhibitions there. As the contact info of the curator is on their website, it was easy - I sent her an e-mail with lots of photos. And I got a very nice reply, saying she'd love to have them for the collection because they are so typical for their eras and because of the Viennese connection. So off I sent them, insured and all, and two days later she had them already! I got a very nice thank- you, and I will be getting a certificate once the dresses have been cataloged etc.
I have to say, I am really happy about this, it just felt so right, and I'm so glad my dresses are going where I feel they belong pinkeleemoti!
I had a 1930s and a 1940s dress that I'd both found at the same secondhand shop in Vienna (though not at the same time), hanging between boldly printed 70s polyester dresses and looking a bit unassuming there. Both were in excellent condition and fit me, so I bought them without thinking more. Besides, they weren't expensive - the shop personnel had obviously not realised what they were. They also fall into the "I don't dare washing them or giving them to the dry-cleaner"-category. So I decided they had to go... as both have labels from Vienna (one from a fashion salon, the other from what I think was a commercial maker), I thought I might as well try and offering them to the Vienna city museum (Wien Museum) which has a sizable fashion collection (Modesammlung Wien). This just felt right for me, they were quite special to me personally because of how I found them and because they had those labels. The Wien Museum is also a museum that I have been to many times, and I have seen some beautiful fashion exhibitions there. As the contact info of the curator is on their website, it was easy - I sent her an e-mail with lots of photos. And I got a very nice reply, saying she'd love to have them for the collection because they are so typical for their eras and because of the Viennese connection. So off I sent them, insured and all, and two days later she had them already! I got a very nice thank- you, and I will be getting a certificate once the dresses have been cataloged etc.
I have to say, I am really happy about this, it just felt so right, and I'm so glad my dresses are going where I feel they belong pinkeleemoti!
