Not too long ago I did a post on my vintage sleepwear collection. Well, here are the latest additions, both of which I found sitting together on a second hand shop rack. They are a lovely butter-cream coloured nightie and a pale lemon yellow coloured brunch coat made of lace with ruffles around the collar, cuffs and hem. I can't remember the price I bought them for, but both were under $10.00.
The nightie is extremely soft and very comfortable to wear. It has soft little ruffles around the colar as well as white and blue lace, which may be quite difficult to see in these poorly lighted pictures. Inside the dress at the back someone has written "Mrs Stephen", well obviously herself really. I love finding little things like that and trying to imagine what the previous owner (or owners) was like, such as name tags on clothing, messages written in the front page of an old book or names written on the labels of records. The brunch coat fits quite nicely but I must say it is just a little bit itchy to wear. Perhaps in winter it would be more comfortable. The ruffles around the collar are also a bit damaged and coming loose but that does not bother me too much. I like to think that this Mrs Stephen owned both pieces, seeing as they were displayed together. Who knows?
Those are really pretty! I love to try and imagine the person who wore my clothing before me. They we obviously my size, but did they go dancing or go to school or goto church in my dress? so much fun.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you think so. I know, there are so many different people that could have had it in their possession in the past. It's like a fun little mystery to me.
DeleteThat color yellow is so pretty! It is fun to imagine who owned vintage items before you did and what they were like. I always wonder what they thought about the item, was it their favorite? Were they excited about getting it?
ReplyDeleteYes, I think so too. What an interesting thought, perhaps they treasured it, or perhaps it was given to them as a gift and they weren't too fond of it. You never know!
DeleteSuch a pretty set! I do the same thing with imagining the previous owners story, but with my sewing patterns. there are always little notes on the pattern envelopes which make me wonder what plans the person had and if they ever went through with it.
ReplyDeleteI remember one time finding a set of clothes in the opp shop which all had a characters name and scene number written on a tag on the inside. It must have been for a play of some sort and they donated the whole costume dept to the opp shop. I wonder if your Mrs Stephen could even be a character? or maybe even a very hopeful bride-to-be writing her new name on her honeymoon outfits?
How interesting. That would make me wonder too. How strange to find within an opp shop. I would have had a ball looking through it trying to imagine the people that played each role. Perhaps she was a character, a very plausible idea that I never thought of myself. I imagined her as a newly wed for her honeymoon too!
DeleteAren't they pretty? That delicate lemon yellow looks so lovely with your blonde locks. I usually assume clothes with names written in are from nursing homes (my Dad's clothes all have to be marked to stop them getting lost in the laundry) but those negligees seem a bit too glam for an elderly lady. xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you Vix! That is something that I hadn't thought of previously, but I see now seems very logical!
Deleteoh gosh how absolutely adorable are your nighties! and i love the yellow on you! now that i´ve seen all your beautiful collection i feel ashamed that i mostly sleep in men shirts haha
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you Mary! Haha you can't get comfier than them, I used to sleep in an oversized Beatles men's shirt as a nightie when I was younger!
DeleteSo pretty, yellow looks lovely on you. I haven't found any clothes with names on but I did buy a 60s shorts set off ebay recently and the seller sent me a picture of the original owner wearing it which was lovely x
ReplyDeleteThank you! How lovely and thoughtful of the seller to send you a picture of the original owner wearing it. That is a very nice idea. I'd love to see both.
DeleteThey're very lovely, yellow suits you particularly well! I too love thinking about the previous owners of my items, it always feels like a little treat to see little things the original owner has left behind.
ReplyDeleteI saw some lovely sleepwear items in my local vintage shop recently and thought of you and your collection.
Thank you very much! I think so too. Oh I'm flattered, had I been there I would have scooped them right up!
DeleteThanks so much for your sweet words, they made my day!
ReplyDeleteThese are so, so lovely!
Have a great week,
-Kati
You are very welcome! I'm glad they did, and thank you!
DeleteYou've inspired me to start looking for vintage sleepwear on my next thrift outings! I always, always wonder who the previous owners were, as well. It never fails to fascinate to me that something as simple as a dress has gone through history! I like to imagine what the original owners were like, or better yet, if they wore a particular dress I now have to a Beatles concert?!
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so glad to hear that! I wish you luck in finding some. Yes, I am fascinated by that too. It makes me wonder if the clothes from today will be as well preserved as those from 50 years ago. Things aren't as well made as they used to be I think. And you never know! It is very possible!
DeleteOoo, I LOVE vintage sleepwear - so much character and it feel so much better than wearing sweats and a tee to bed! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you think so too!
Deletei can imagine some parts of this clothing being itchy but maybe after a few washes it will be more comfortable? lets hope so cause they are really adorable and yellow looks good on you :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I am hoping so and maybe just a touch of fabric softener. And thank you so much!
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