Questions re: Michael Dayan Tapemeasure 70s Velvet Suit

50sVintage

50sVintage

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Good Sunday to All,

My question is about pricing on a one-of-a-kind velvet suit created by Michael Dayan for Tapemeasure in 1973. I know the date because I acquired it from the person who commissioned the suit very, very soon after it was made.

It's so special; I just haven't a clue about what to ask for it?









Opinions please??

Many thanks.

Mia
 
Mia, I don't know this label, ( my lack). It is a pretty cool suit, great texture and color. I do see some spots. Has it been cleaned? I ask because a piece of this recent an era needs to be really sharp to bring a good price. The higher end customers are less forgiving of flaws and less willing to take on issues themselves, so it may well be worth a good cleaner having a go at it.

All I can really suggest is hunt the internet for similar dressy pants suits from the early 70s and see how they compare.

Hollis
 
Hi Hollis,

Actually the label is right here on VFG. I listed it for $300 but I'm thinking that might be low even with defects but I appreciate your insight that certain customers are less forgiving of flaws. The best dry cleaners here in NYC wants $150 to clean it; that seems high to me if I'm asking only $300. My poor brain . . . . do I do this..... or that.....?

Thanks for your input.

Mia
 
I am going to have to agree with Hollis. This will have to be in very perfect or near perfect shape and the only exception is that if a similar style is being sold in the fashion magazines now (so thus in high demand), the selling venue is the right one for it, the photos must be excellent and the flaw is not something that shows when worn (like a stain in the lining, etc). Otherwise, expect not to get a high price.

For velvet, expect to pay to get it cleaned in a way that gets the spots out without making it shiny. But I would shop around. What do reputable places just over the border into CT or NJ say? or farther upstate? Also, if it truly does cost $150 even if you shop around outside of the city, it still is a tidy profit depending on what you pay for it. That's still $150 in your pocket minus the cost of purchase. I don't think you can command the price you are quoting with any staining and even so it may be optimistic. But then again, I am not familiar with the demand for this label. To command high prices if you are selling it on the internet, there also has to be a collector's market for the label.
 
I agree with everyone else on the issue of having it cleaned in order to achieve a good price. Personally, I think $150 is outrageous to clean this. I would check around to get other pricing, or failing a local cleaner who can do it reasonably, look into sending it out of town by mail. If you can get it done for $50 or less by sending it elsewhere, I would do so. Maybe you have friends or relatives in another area who can vouch for their cleaner?

Buyers willing to pay $300 for the suit will likely expect it to be in near-perfect condition. They are not going to want to pay that, then pay to have it cleaned....
 
The cleaners I was referring to is Hallak on 2nd Ave in NYC. It is considered the absolute best in town but the prices are astronomical. I took a simple black wool 3/4 length coat in last year for regular dry cleaning. The coat was not stained; in fact I really hadn't worn it, but I have coats dry cleaned before storage even if they hadn't been worn. Hallak wanted $67.

I didn't check Mme Paulette, the other best-known in NYC, but I figured she'd be equally high. I had 3 gowns cleaned by her in 1976 (yes 34 years ago) and the tab back then was $250.

I am afraid of making things worse with this suit with an unproven dry cleaners for this fabric. I do take your collective point, however, that a buyer won't want to get this and then have to worry about cleaning. I will have to check further as to cleaners.

Thank you Ladies.

:cats::cats:
 
If you find a cleaner you trust, make sure they do not press it after cleaning! I would ask them if they can steam it very lightly, inside out, not on the surface of the velvet. I think cleaners tend to press everything like a steamroller, no matter what it is, and that will kill the velvet!

Without handling this in person and seeing the actual extent of the soil, I can't say what the chances are of it being well done at a cleaners that doesn't "specialize" in vintage or high-end pieces. But as a general rule, I've found that for items from the 70s on, you don't have the kinds of problems you do with, say, 40's & 50's (and earlier) things. (Like the 50's dress I'm now having to have my cleaner repair due to shredded fabric from too-enthusiastic spot cleaning....) Clearly, you have to make a decision you're comfortable with, but if you have friends who have cleaners they trust, it might not hurt to at least bring it around to a couple of them to have it evaluated.
 
Cleaning velvet

There are laundering hints in various vintage sewing books of the same era. If the suit is in the 70s try to find a 70s sewing book that deals with laundry and cleaning. From what I know about velvet it's steam from under neath and those small attachment vacuum cleaners used for fabric. You can also visit vintage sewing info dot org website for 1930s laundry tips on older more mature fabrics.
~all the best:sunshine:
 
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