Sunday 4 July 2010

Arsenic & Old Lace


Want to see more of my family heirlooms? This is my Great-Grandmother's wedding dress I uncovered packed away in a box whilst clearing out my parents' attic.



I occasionally wear the silver monogram brooch Great-Grandma's wearing at her throat.


What a shame I have no intention of tying the knot myself.

102 years old and still going strong.

Some Victorian glass bottles we dug up in the garden of our old house.


I love the way the sunlight shines through them.


How very odd that I'm exactly the same size as my Edwardian ancestor.



32 comments:

  1. What extraordinary sleeves. I thought they'd be very fitted but that's a most interesting construction.
    How very Henry James!

    ReplyDelete
  2. this wedding dress is amazing! i wish i could feel the history like you do! awesome...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow that is beautiful. It is bizarre that it fits you perfectly. I love that there is a note with it, perhaps I should add one to my dress for future generations to find.
    Kandi x

    ReplyDelete
  4. OMG you're so lucky to find that! I definitely want to ask my grandma where her wedding dress is now, and that note is WOW, I'd be hanging that on my wall if i were you! :D

    classique chérie

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow the dress is beautiful. I wish my mum had kept her wedding dress, she wore a gorgeous white minidress when here and my dad married, it was so beautiful x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Such a treasure! It doesn't matter if you don't want to tie the knot, Vix, the dress looks beautiful on you (and isn't it amazing that it fits you like a glove? All women in your family seem to be tall and slim built). xxx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow gorgeous wedding dress! My surname was Chapman before marriage like your grandmother! Hope you are well.x

    ReplyDelete
  8. This post is FABULOUS !
    And I adore this fantastic dress !

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is such a great post, love a bit of history.

    How strange you both were the exact same size.
    Love the note detailing the wedding, shame these days it'd be in a text or email eh.

    X xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. O my!!!How divine a/that you have such a wonderful thing,and b/that you can wear it!!!!
    Arrrgrghgghgh!!!
    Gorgeousness!
    LOVE Helga XXX

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful wedding dress, looks like it was made for you (if you ever have a change of heart!). xx
    http://www.weshopthereforeweare.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dear Vix,
    That is such a precious thing to still have.
    It's a really beautiful dress that exudes quality & craftmanship.
    You look absolutely stunning!
    ...xXx

    ReplyDelete
  13. That dress is so precious! I love how it fits you so well. I can't get over how pretty it is, so lovely! What a treasure! x

    ReplyDelete
  14. That is such a beautiful dress, maybe you should change your mind!

    xx

    ReplyDelete
  15. So so beautiful! What an amazing piece to be able to keep and share forever. And yes, you are the same size! It fits you like a glove!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I like its construction & lines. Can you identify its fabric? You are gorgeous - as usual. Will you be putting this back in the box or what idea do you have for displaying it? (Personally, if it doesn't harm the dress, I think it should be left out where everyone can admire it!)

    ReplyDelete
  17. That dress looks fabulously vintage on you, Vix. You look like you stepped straight out of the 1900s - stunning. x

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow. My favourite post you have done so far.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh wow! That last pic is abit similar to a uv my dad recently gave of my late nan on her wedding day, it's not exact but the setting, dress etc is very similar! my heart stopped when I seen you! must post it!
    You look gorgeous BTW vix
    xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  20. Gorgeous photos and the dress is awesome!!!!
    I too collect old glass bottles. I once bought an entire metal basket full that once belonged to an old doctor for a buck!!!
    Thanks for all your support. it really means the world to me. I am feeling a bit sappy today.
    I lost a follower after my last post.
    My hubs says, "Joke em' if they can't take a F#ck" ! Tee,hee. I love him, the crazy!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I adore antique bottles and decanter. I would not worry about the "Knot", dear, wear the dress in memory of her. I think that would be a fabulous tribute. What is the fabric of the dress, dear?;-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hello, I used to run the 'Martha Lust' Blog, but it stopped due to breaking up with my boyfriend :( I LOVE this post! That dress is amazing :) Commenting from my illustration blog, which is now up and running! http://catherinewhittaker.blogspot.com/
    :) LOVE YOUR BLOG xxx

    ReplyDelete
  23. Such a beautiful dress with a great story to tell - I wish I had some memories like that from my ancestors. It's great that it fits you as well, even if you don't use it for it's original purpose!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thanks for reading (and commenting)!
    The dress feels like very fine cotton or muslin, it's quite see-through but very easy to iron.
    Vix
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  25. You look amazing Vix and I'm so impressed at your tiny figure - she must have been corsetted up when she wore it! The work that must have gone into making that is unbelievable, it's so detailed and beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wow hon... this is amazing... how did you feel wearing this dress?? This is history!

    ReplyDelete
  27. That is so, so cool! Wow! Love the dress, and it looks fab on you, how about that, you're the same size! Those glass bottles are cool too, I wish I could dig up my yard and find something worth a damn in it, other than cable lines or something! LOL! XO!

    ReplyDelete
  28. What an incredible piece of family history and what an amazing thing to be able to wear. You look fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  29. ur one lucky girl to have ur grandmom's wedding dress fit u... i never knew my grandmoms too well coz they passed away way when i was little..but i must go ask mom for her wedding saree to see what it was like... !! brillaint idea!! u look gorgeous btw

    http://donotshoeme.blogspot.com/

    follow if u like what u see?

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  30. That dress is amazing and fits you like a glove! You are so lucky to have such amazing heirlooms!

    ReplyDelete
  31. wow, cant believe that dress is 102 years old ..it really emphasizes ur tiny waist:-)

    ReplyDelete
  32. elle est magnifique cette robe. j'aime beaucoup

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix