Monday, February 1, 2010

Too much stuff

Tonight I unpacked some of the stuff I brought home from my aunt's yesterday. There's just too much of it!

Most of the haul is pictured here, on my dining room table: 2 sets of floral sheets (earmarked for sundresses); 3 vintage slips in white, pink and pale blue, a ridiculous number of mostly floral hankies, in original folds; a red-and-white check housedress (!) with a border of Scottie dogs. That is so getting cut down to fit me.

I grabbed the hat box out of the closet without even looking in it - I assumed it had a hat or two, but I didn't have a chance to check.

Jackpot!

Once upon a time, my aunt was quite the stylish woman. You can't tell that from any of the remaining wardrobe, but apparently her past was put away, in this hatbox, to rest for 50 or so years.

We have pillboxes, covered in flowers. The little one covered in daisies was worn at my christening in 1964; I have the photo to prove it. There are a bunch of those hairband types, including this very cute leopard one with veil, and a green leafy one that I wish I had the guts to wear.

There are little bands made out of feathers in purple, blue and gray. There are hats made entirely out of little flowers. There are veils in all colors.

I wish women still wore hats.

Here's the deal, dear readers - right now, there are 2 sets of 10 hankies each, and 2 vintage nylon slips (pink and blue, approx. bust of 36-38), looking for new homes. There may be more, but as of now, this is just sheer excess. I brought it home because I couldn't give it to the thrift store or chuck it out, although I'm absolutely willing to let it go to you.

One rule: you have to have commented on the blog before, or, barring that, be really really convincing as to why you want my family's clutter to become your clutter.

Tell me what you want to do with violet-sprigged hankies or if you're going to wear the pink slip on the outside or under a fabulous vintage dress.

Or if you're going to make a fabulous vintage dress to wear over it.

Start thinking about what you want. "Bidding" closes Wednesday by noon, so let me know what you want.

And if you're thinking about the hats, I'm not there yet, but you're perfectly free to try to convince me. I can't keep them all; I know that, and I'll never give them the wear they deserve.

So go ahead, have at me. Help me clean the house.

11 comments:

Maryissewfast said...

I would love to help you out of your clutter, but truth be told, I got enough of my own to shuffle around! But I do enjoy looking at your treasures!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

Brenda said...

LOVE the hats! I don't know if I have commented on your blog. I read every post though. I would love to give a hat or two a new home. I'll even be so bold as to say I wear a lot of mauve, plum, lavender, pink and sometimes greens and blues. I have cleaned out two homes when an elder has passed. It is so darned hare to do it right! I got rid of things I really wished I could have kept (but then my house would have looked like their houses!) They never threw anything away. I wish you the best with the gleaning of the treasures.

Brenda said...

Darn! I wrote a typo. I HATE typos. It should have said "darned hard".

Myra said...

I don't care about the clutter, life has been so stressful for us lately and I can't order/buy anything, something given away would be a treat! I love the idea of a vintage slip, planning on making a 40's dress, bought some awesome patterns in the fall but couldn't get to them. I think hankies would be great little "aprons" on a 2 year old's spring skirt, too. I do insist that you keep the hat your aunt wore to your christening. That would be cute displayed with the picture.

Linda said...

I have to be honest and say I can't recall if I've commented previously or not, but I've been a lurker since the summer. That being said, my daughter would love to give a loving home to one of your slips. She just joined a group of WWII re-enactors, and I spent all last evening combing through vintage dress patterns so I can help her make a few ensembles. I also gave her a short tutorial on the mysterious undergarments from days of yore - girdles, slips, nylons with the seams up the back, etc. If she is the lucky recipient of one, I'd be glad to send photos of her wearing it under one of the new/old creations! Thanks so much for sharing the photos and memories.

cidell said...

You are frigging killing me with the hats. Killing me.

neighbourhood.gal said...

I'm in Canada, but I would love those hankies. We will actually use them (as they were intended)!

Vildy said...

I don't want anything but just noticed you won a prize for the men's jacket. Congratulations! Good to see the quality of your work was easily recognized.

Silknmore said...

As much as I love old hankies (remind me of my grandma), I have no need for more things to clutter my home. Good luck - have you thought about Etsy or Ebay for some of these goodies? Annette

Dana said...

First, I would have grabbed exactly all the things you did! Secondly, I had the exact same hat box surprise while cleaning out my grandmother's house. Lastly, though it's ever-so tempting (especially the hankies) I don't want anything...you hear me? I really don't want anything, not the hankies, not the slips, not anything. Really. ;)

Lissa said...

I adore the hats! Especially love the sound of the leopard band with a veil, but in the left corner there's something blue.. The exact blue of the fabric waiting to become my birthday corset for next Friday. eek. Have fun with the hats! They're there for whimsy, to blazes with anyone who looks at you cross-eyed for wearing them out.