Ghosts of Dresses Past

I don't know why, but I haven't felt the need to save images of everything that I've sold over the years. I've saved a few images here and there, as you will see today. But mostly I feel like once an item is gone, I don't need to see it again, (unless someone sends me a photo of themselves wearing it, then that's cool, I wish more people would send me photos hint-hint) Saving the photos may have been a good reference, but it would have been a big job to keep the photos organized in some kind of usable order. I was thinking about this recently, in my 9 years of business, I've probably handled between 20-25,000 pieces of clothing and accessories, and that's probably a low estimate. Yeah, that's alot of clothing and alot of photos to store. On occasion, many years ago, I did think now and then of saving photos and I just came across a floppy disk with some of the photos that I saved from about 6 years ago. So I thought I'd make them this week's blog topic.
First above, is a 1940s fuschia taffeta gown, photographed outside in front of one of my dad's old trucks. This photo I saved more for Boris than for the dress. He has this weird thing where he likes to walk under fabric and under bush/tree branches and let them rub down his back. He's silly. Photographing dresses outside was great, but my mannequin blew over in the wind one day and busted her boob (I've got a big bandaid on it now)

Below are three 1940s dresses. First is a classic black crepe cocktail with sequined flowers on the front of the shoulder. Next was a L'Aiglon in yellow and turquoise rayon, really a great print. Third is a white and navy rayon crepe with teared skirt. I'd like to have that one back for myself.




The mauve dress is a 1940s faille, by DuBarry, with fancy cord trim on the front of the bodice with rhinestones. The green satin was 1950s and had a great fitted bodice and full skirt. Those photos were taken in the downstairs of our old house.



A very cool 1940s mauve cotton velvet gown with scalloped neckline. Kind of Renaissance. It had some flaws that were hard to describe online, so it took awhile to sell. But it was a really nice dress. Next is a red, white and navy crepe 1940s dress. It has a zipper on the front with a big navy toggle. That's another dress that I'd like to have for myself now. Third was a pink and black 1950s wiggle dress. That photo doesn't show the fabric very well, it had a very cool texture. Last was an early 1940s silk velvet dress with a zipper down the front.



6 years ago, I bought a load of vintage dresses and girdles from a lady who was an antique dealer. She had contacted me thru my website. She was in NY, and she wanted to sell this big load of old stock that she had bought from a store that had been closed for many years. I sent her some money and she sent me several big boxes of stuff. What fun! I got about 50 dresses in assorted sizes from the 1950-60s, mostly cotton day dresses, all unworn with tags. I also got many girdles and bras, still in their old stock boxes, some seamed stockings too. Those were 1940-50s. That was a fun buy. The first dress below came from that load, an aqua and pink 1950s housedress, another that I wish I had kept for myself. The black 1950s dress came from a different purchase. I really liked that low wrap around the skirt. The last dress was a navy linen with appliqued felt ducks on it. The ducks had rhinestone eyes, really fun.




OK, looking at some of these dresses now, I know that I made the right decision not saving the photos, because I want half of those dresses back for myself now! They'd probably fit me better now too since I'm a little bit bigger size. Darn. There were two dresses that I wish I had kept photos of. One was a black silk Ceil Chapman with pointed neckline and sarong skirt, sold about 6-7 years ago. Another was a black silk Patullo Jo-Copeland with floral appliques on it, sold about 3 years ago. Those were just great examples of those designer's work. I would have kept the Copeland dress if I had somewhere to wear it.
Anyway, Thanks for taking a little walk down memory lane with me. One day I'll tell you about the time that I bought 2500 pairs of seamed stockings!
And please take the hint and send me some photos of you wearing something from my shop, whether it's a dress or hat, whatever! If you want, I can post it here on the blog with a little blurb from you if you have something to promote, or a story about you and vintage clothing.

Oh, gotta go, Heroes is coming on!