Old costume help! some Victorian? Fun finds!

eel

eel

Registered Guest
Hi all. First I appologise for the poor photo quality my camera is OLD and my son lost my brand new one. If more photos are needed I can use my iPhone, I bet it takes better pictures than my camera.

I made a great score at an Estate sale this week.
I had my arms full of these costumes as the realitor came in and told me that the lady that lived there was a dancer in the movies. There were a bunch of old black and white photos (head shot type but OLD) I should have picked up, but I really just wanted to get out with what I had (people kept going through my stack and "oooohing and ahhhing"

Some of these pieces seem Victorian, the sheer wrinkled tops, light blue and lace dress/jacket, and white with black piping jacket ?????? everything uses hook/eye and snap closeures.

The dresses are amazing, my camera really blows. There is scads of cut glass jet beading on the blue and black velvet dress/hat, and the red/black lace spanish style.


red with black lace overlay spanish dress, satin ballet costume, and pink with fine tule dress
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bad close-ups
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blue/black velvet dress/hat has ruffles under skirt of pink cheesecloth type stuff (muslin????)
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Victorian-ish stuff ???
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The pants hanging behind the tap-pants? are knee length, the blue dress/jacket is a heavy cotton with tons of lace cutouts on the back also. There is also a trim with tiny button detail on the dress bodice

old lace with metal thread veil
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any date guesses would be appreciated, and does anyone know how to clean/unwrinkle the sheer tops, they seem delecate
 
Good haul!

The creme bodice with the black piping looks to be 1890's, probably late 1890's but I can't see it too clear in the photos.
The white bodice beside it with the ruffled trim looks to be turn of the century- early Edwardian like 1899- 1902ish. Then the white cotton pantaloons beside that look to be Edwardian (these are hard to date accurately as they didn't change much in style). I can't see the long satin trousers underneath to date them properly but they look to be part of a theatrical costume.

The light blue and lace dress is stunning! That is Edwardian, probably about 1909- 1910ish.

You can handwash the cotton pantaloons but I would steam everything else. :)

Lei
 
The majority of the pieces you have are reproduction and made for the stage or film. Excluding the bonnet, you have some Edwardian 'looking' pieces in the last 3 pictures which may need closer inspection - the white/pale blue? two-piece with the lace inserts and trim and also the blouses. But again they are likely to be reproduction.

Having said that, there is probably an interest in collecting 'early' repro period costumes because some of the fabrics used say in the 30's, 40's and 50's are not available today and costume makers were able to use fabric that was still available and original to the period.

Your collection needs to steamed and ironed depending on how fragile the fabric is.
 
Great haul. It is good you were told about it. So you really look close and do your reasearch on your haul. Some look costume. The ones in the last picture look real but you really have to get close to tell.... Looks like a blast to me have fun!!!!!!

-Chris
 
there IS a label in the little black velvet/blue hat. But it looks like the decorations were added to a "skull cap" type of pre-existing hat. The inside of the hat is wool and the stiches for the decorations go right over the label. The label says "Melbourne Original Design"

I really got a great deal on the lot. Nothing was priced and when I spotted the rack she gave me a flat price per piece. The lady that runs this companies sales is usually VERY high, but this sale was in a gated community and many people couldn't get through, so she was blowing the stuff out. She then told me a few times "DON'T EXPECT THESE PRICES EVER AGAIN AT MY SALES...EVER!"
so I paid and left...yipes!
 
I actually left a few pieces, a hooped under skirt, that was in poor condition, another ballet type skirt-ish thing, a vest, a full skirt/hat costume, and odds and ends of lace and silk
 
Beautiful stuff...I call "dibs" on the hats, and I love that lacy blue coat.

Will you be bringing these to the Rose Bowl?
 
The Rose Bowl is a flea market held the second Sunday of every month in the Rose Bowl stadium parking lot. It is HUGE and a large portion of it is vintage clothing. I sell there and have a love hate relationship with it, I DO love it but it is a ton of work. People actually fly from all over the world to shop there. If you are ever out in California it's a must hit!
 
Oh, the Rose Bowl is a blast!!!! It is sooooooooo big though and really hot in the summer to be pounding the pavement looking for goodies. But a "must do" for any vintie loving person!!
 
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