Night attire for sale

I thought I would show a few of my favourite things I have for sale right now - night attire!  I just can't resist them - all French, and very different.

Lovely large red monogram of 'LD', decorated with flowers too
nightshirt now sold
 

made from heavy linen, long sleeves, dating from around 1880
 

This man's shirt has a fine cotton collar added - for comfort, as old knobbly linen - chanvre - was very scratchy, and was uncomfortable for the poor, sensitive farmers to wear - they used to get their workmen to wear their shirts in first!
shirt now sold

This shirt has additions and repairs - a little history in a piece of textile...
shirt now sold
 

Now, quite different, is this satin slip, in salmon, unworn old stock.
slip now sold

A pretty scalloped edge and a little machine embroidery

two little pleats on the skirt, and a scalloped edge again

It comes in the original box and information sheet insert, dating from mid-late 20thc

This is an older slip - in heavy satin, with frothy cream lace added at the front hem
slip now sold.

It has rather pretty lace on the bust, and the slip dates from mid 20thc; this has been worn, but it is in good condition for the age
 

It came in this pretty box, which is included.

All these items are on auction this week on my Ebay page - here is the link for more information.

Have a good weekend!

Clothes for M'sieur

This is a French farmer's chemise or shirt, dating from around the end of the 19th to the beginning of the 20th century, or possibly even up to the '30s - the shirt is a little deceiving as it is in such fine condition. It is made from coarse hemp and is so stiff, you could almost stand it up by itself.

A rare find in this lovely condition - and very popular now for historic re-enactment groups, or as a nightshirt for both men and women - even a great tunic over leggings!

You can see lots more photos in my Ebay listing here.


The collar has been added later of course: it's made of cotton and was probably added by a loving - or long-suffering - wife, fed up with the farmer complaining about how scratchy the shirt was. In fact, I'm told that some wealthy farmers would get their labourers to wear their new shirts in for them, to soften them up a little!


And of course, the farmer's wife would have added her husband's initials, as indeed she would have embroidered a monogramme on all of the family linen and clothing - including her bloomers!


I just love the yoke on this shirt - the gathers were designed to allow for movement and comfort of shape. Also, the shoulders were often reinforced for strength.

sold
And here is the cuff - lovely little white glass buttons, and the gathers which match the shoulder detail. The buttons match the front fastening too, and there is a placket down the front for 'gentlemen's ease' - don't like to think about what this means but definitely for ease of movement at least, and possibly a big belly...


Now, this of course is a much more modern farmer's shirt - made of wool, greatly reduced in quantity of fabric used, much more comfortable I guess. I haven't listed this for sale yet.


And, it's got a rather nice Parisian label, so I would think it's not for a real farmer - just to give the look for a weekend in the country, huntin', shooting and fishing...

sold

Here is another shirt, also made from hemp, but it has been washed so many times, it has lost the original honey/ecru colour and is now white. the more you wash these items, the more they lose the colour and soften up - one way of establishing the age. The fabric is soft and 'floppy' - it could be linen but I think hemp as the fibre is coarser. I haven't listed this shirt either yet.


It was probably a nightshirt due to the fact that each side has a sewn in flap or pleat for ease of walking (and getting into bed) and the neckline is cut lower.


Also, there are no buttons or button holes to put a collar on, so yes, I think it is a nightshirt - probably for summer as I have seen what was worn in winter and believe me, the nightshirts are very heavy. This has a red monogramme too - now bleached to a fetching shade of pink!

The first shirt is already listed on my Ebay site here, the other two not yet, so contact me if you would like more information.

Have a good week everyone!

Perfect gift for expectant or nursing mum

Sorry but this is sold
Just thought you might like to see this gorgeous vintage French maternity nightdress - with a secret front flap held up by tiny mother-of-pearl buttons - trimmed with broderie anglais lace, pintucks and the sweetest little monogramme...you can see more picture here. I just loved this - not everyone wants to slob around in an old tee-shirt you know!

Bon weekend!

Pintucks - on vintage clothes

A nightdress, with simple tucks down the front, for comfort

Sorry, this is sold
Sewn by hand, and a nice monogramme in red as a bonus


close-up of the monogramme - more photos here.


This is a jabot or shirt front - you can see the button holes for fastening on a collar.

Sorry but this is sold
More complicated than the nightdress - more formal. I suspect this might be either for a young man, or even a woman as the neck is quite small. This has also got a small monogramme on the bottom tab - you can see more in the listing here.


Now this piece is really amazing - the pintucks are very well hand stitched, in perfect rows - and so many of them!

It's complicated and just lovely - the bottom of a petticoat I think - late Napoleon III (Victorian) edging into the beginning of 20thc/Edwardian age.

sorry, but this is sold
There is over 10 feet or 3 metres of it - you can read more here.

I just LOVE pintucks - imagine the patience needed to sew them... and really, they are quite unnecessary but so evocative of a lost time. Can't imagine many girls know how to sew pintucks now - I remember having to do (and re-do!) some on my domestic science apron back in the 1960s at my strict Lancashire school. And, sewing on my initials - couldn't call it a monogramme as it wasn't so decorative, but at least everyone in my class knew their apron...

Some old needlecraft work for sale

Sorry, but this trim is sold
I love this lace/crochet trim - it forms a square frame 2 feet by 2 feet, with sweet corners perfectly turned - just right for decorating a bedcover, curtain or tablecloth - my Ebay auction is here.



sorry, this doiley is sold
This French doiley is amazing - look at the work - it must have taken hours to make. Read more here.


Sorry, but this cushion is sold
A pair of doves, sitting on a sprig of blossom - this wool work cushion is from the 1950s and has a burgundy velour base - see more here



This waffle weave hand or guest towel is a little shabby, but we can forgive that because it has an enormous monogram in red cross stitch 'LR'. You could use it to make a fabulous cushion or bag - or, if you don't mind the slightly shabby fringe it would be perfect in a guest room or cloakroom.
The Ebay listing is here.



Sorry but this item is sold
The ever-popular basket of flowers - hand embroidered on this table runner. SO pretty - and useful - you can read more here.

I just love these items - they're just simple, household linen that have been lovingly worked by a past generation - they're not museum pieces nor rare works of art, just nice, comfortable things to have around the home.

All these skills used to be taught at school, and girls learned by watching their mothers and grannies - such a shame that there is no time nor room in schools these days for such crafts. Thank goodness for a revival in interest in all things vintage and retro - and for places like Etsy and Ebay where we can buy and sell these gorgeous items from the past.

Bath-time finds...

Sorry, but the bath rack is sold



Sorry but Thea Nigra is sold

Sorry, Cinnamonum is sold



Sorry - both pairs now sold


Just a few bath-time finds I have for sale - the vintage bath rack is just great for soap, sponge and propping up the latest novel - do you read in the bath? You can buy it here and save yourself from getting your book wet!

The antique glass Pharmacy jars came from an old shop in Rochechouart, a small nearby town where millions of years ago, a huge meteorite crashed to earth - now, many of the houses are built from the resulting vulcanised pumice stone. You can read more about the jars here and here. These vintage jars are SO handy for storing cotton wool balls, bath salts, soaps - and they look good too.

Working on the fact that you can't have enough guest or hand towels, these vintage snowy-white finds are soft towelling and monogrammed in red cross-stitch - just in case a guest absent-mindedly packed one away in her bag! I've got 2 pairs and you can see the Ebay listing here. Sorry - the sweet little towel rack isn't for sale - yet...