Its never easy saying goodbye, especially when its to something that has been an important part of your life, given you butterflies in your tummy at the thought of its arrival, and made you look and feel fabulous. Yes, dear readers, I am talking about the moment when you realise that you are not going to wear that item of precious vintage anymore, and its better off in someone elses wardrobe.
Recently I set up an Etsy shop, because I knew I had a few bits and pieces that I had been meaning to sell. Last week I sold a pair of shoes, and as shallow is it sounds, I was genuinely really very sad putting them in the box, taping it up and sending them off to their new home. 'Why did you sell them then you silly woman?!' I hear you cry. Well for multiple reasons:
Times are tough and I need the money
Its a sad fact, but as someone that doesn't own any property, a car or any expensive jewels, my collection of vintage is probably the most valuable thing I own. The fact that vintage is an investment, that you know can be sold on, has always been an another appealing reason why I love it, to add to the long list.
I don't wear them anymore
The shoes are from the early 1940s and they no longer suit my style. As much as I loved them , I know someone else will bring them back to life again. That's what vintage is all about isn't it? Actually wearing clothes that once belonged to someone else, keeping them alive when the person who first bought or made them is now long dead. I hated the fact that those lovely, comfortable and practical shoes had been lying untouched in a box for over a year. The recipient will get tonnes of wear out of them, I'm sure, and that makes me happy.
I don't want to be a crazy hoarder
Sometimes you just have to accept that you don't have room for any more shoes, and if you hope to buy more (yes I do!) then you need to make space.
Its the same story for the two amazing Swirl dresses I have just put in the shop as well. Both beautiful, but just not my style anymore. Sometimes you have to accept when something just doesn't actually suit you that much. The necks on these dresses are far to high for my bust, giving others the impression that my boobs are far droopier than they actually are *yet*.
However...
There are some exceptions that I would like to make to the above. Every now and then you come across a piece of vintage, that although might not fit you or suit you, or even be your style at all, you can really appreciate how wonderful it is, and want to be really selfish and keep the goodness all to yourself, even though you know you could probably make double what you spent on them if you were to sell them. Sometimes this means items that should be in books or in museums, as an illustration as what was really great about the design and fabrication of clothing/accesories/homeware during that period.
I believe these shoes fit the bill...
I bought these darlings on Ebay about 4 years ago for an absolute steal. I wore them once and they hurt my ankle so bad it was bruised for days. They are about half a size too small for me, but I thought I would make them fit somehow. I didn't. I keep them in a box and take them out every now and then to swoon over. I think I've worn them for photoshoots too, because I can just about manage to wear them if I'm not moving about too much. You may or may not like them, but for me they are just a really stunning pair of shoes. They are so of the era, I can practically picture the dame who owned them. Those among you with good eye sight might have spotted the CC41 stamp too, so they have a historical connection, and can be dated very specifically because of this. The fact that they are reptile skin makes them extremely glamorous, the kind of glamour that we relate to the 1940s, and we know was born out of an era of deprivation and hardships, making it somehow more special. I don't think I'll be saying farewell to these beauties for a while yet.
How do you feel about getting rid of your vintage?
I find it very hart to part with anything I own- but I’m a collector too, so I buy things not only to wear but also to add to my ever growing collection of everything! I get so attached to the silliest of things as well. The only bits I have parted with are some bad mistakes from my early years of vintage buying! I s’pose one day I might feel differently?
ReplyDeleteI can see why you can’t part with those utility darlings- they are super : )
T x
I'm currently clearing out some pieces from my own collection in my etsy vintage store (avintagestory), but I have to admit, I have pulled a few items down that I had put up for sale as I just cannot bear to part with them. x Fran
ReplyDeleteInteresting summary on why sometimes we have to move on. Those shoes are really something special and as long as they give you some joy (even though not from being on your feet) I think they deserve a place in your house! x
ReplyDeletetotally understand where you're coming from, when I make the decision of parting with things I do it for the exact same reasons(I've just put somethings in my etsy shop at end of a lengthy fight with myself :))
ReplyDeleteApart from very urging ones like need of money and space, the continuous purging on one's own style leads to this naturally. But it is so difficult at times, letting go of that special piece because is that bit too small when you know you may never come across again anything like that, parting with something that fits perfectly your style and size, but the colour simply isn't right, or letting go of something that suits you in every possible ay but just isn't "you" anymore. Sigh...
In addition to that I always get frustrated as to why I couldn't make the right choice from the start and save myself the trouble now...
ReplyDeleteI love love love those shoes! I'd frame them or present them or something! I have a MASSIVE pile of 'to sell' sitting at the end of my bed. I wish it would shift itself! Ax
ReplyDeleteThere are some things I find easier than others and over the years there have only been a couple of things I have really REALLY regretted letting go of. I like to think of them going to someone who will wear them and love them. However there are a few items, like your shoes that I could never let go even though they don't fit, because like your shoes it makes my heart happy just to look at them! I have these out on display.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain! I often wish I had the money to seriously collect old clothes, I'd like a little personal museum, the kind that could be opened now and then for charity perhaps, to preserve these wonderful old things. I'm not into reptile skin myself but they are a wonderful example, as you say. I'd have them in a glass cupboard to view. Let's hope they are bought by someone properly appreciative, can't stand to see things trashed by thoughtless folk.
ReplyDeleteI have a gorgeous silk Chinese style Monsoon jacket in my wardrobe that is too small for me now...pause to have the vapours because I don't know when or how I stopped being a size ten!....and although it's not vintage I can't part with it because my husband bought it for me, it wasn't exactly cheap, when he couldn't really afford to it at the time and it has huge sentimental value. But there are times when I think it's a shame that it's not getting worn, it's such a lovely thing, it deserves to have outings, with the right garments etc it has a whiff of the past about it.
Perhaps I ought to have it hung on the wall to look at. Gosh, I wish it still fitted me, big boobs and all that though, sigh.
I hear you loud and clear, and could feel twinges of the pain of having to part with a beloved vintage piece just by reading your words. There have been times in my life when circumstances dictated that I had to move and part with nearly everything I owned (three times - which I hope and pray is it!), including my vintage garments. Though it often surprises people to learn, my present vintage collection (which is the largest - relatively speaking! - I've ever had the honour of owning) only got its roots about four years ago.
ReplyDeleteHaving had to part with everything (or thereabouts) before, I'm so selection with what I buy and rarely spend a lot on a single item (always on the prowl for a good bargain), but this works well in a lot of ways because it ensures that I usually utterly adore those pieces that I do buy (and thus they get lots of play). The downside is, if I did have to sell some of my things, I'd have a devil of a time deciding what to part with now. I'm sure over time, for whatever reason, some pieces will bid farewell to my closet, but it won't be easy and I'll definitely go through the same kind of emotions you've been, my dear gal.
♥ Jessica
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ReplyDeleteI LOLed a little at "I don't want to be a crazy hoarder"... I know that feeling. I recently tried to convince the husband that the dresses hanging on hangers off every door, hook etc' was because I had seen it in an interior design mag... not simply because we have NO MORE WARDROBE LEFT! I may need to EBay soon... sigh...
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to part with my vintage. After 20 years of collecting, I have to down-size periodically too. It's tough but I'd rather see my dressed out and about rather than shoved in the back of my closet.
ReplyDeleteI feel for you!!!
it's always so bad if nice vintage shoes doesn't fit. a lot of my fabv vintage shoes doesn't fit right anymore after my foot got broken this spring - and i don't know if i ever will be able to wear them (all) again. ...
ReplyDeletethose shoes are adorable and i feel how hard it is to give them a go ...
http://wardrobexperience.blogspot.de
Yesterday Girl I feel your pain. I have a number of pieces that I will never fit into again (I can so relate to LollyWillows above!) and this is why I call it a collection and justify its existance. And of course I'm keeping it for my daughter, who at 14 isn't showing a whole lot of interest but I live in hope.
ReplyDelete~ fantastic post! It sounds like you have a very common-sense, levelheaded approach as to dealing with your own collection, J. I'm sure you also consider passing off your "castaways" to high-end vintage boutiques for resale, when your pieces are in such great condition...
ReplyDeleteI go 'round and round with myself constantly regarding a dress I purchased prolly 10 years or more ago, made in the 1920's...a wonderful example of the style and fabric of that era...(I'll have to post a photo sometime)...but I *never* wear it. Partially due to the fact that it hung flat on me at 170+ lbs and I'm now @ 130, so, I would look even more true to the era, I suppose, as an impoverished, malnourished woman in a wonderful dress..*ha! Still...it just takes up space in the closet, and I have to be very careful with it as it's almost 100 years old now...is it worth it, just to be able to say I have it?
I don't know! I suppose with a hat and gloves, it could be a costume.
Well thanks for bringing up an important point about "when to let go"...it's different for everyone, isn't it...and I'd say this point goes hand-in-hand with "when to stop" if you're wearing your vintage, but plan to keep it in your collection...you want it to be in good condition, not threadbare or over-worn (shoes).
You must have a fantastic wardrobe & I would love to have a peek in your closet sometime! Maybe a future post...? :)
I find getting rid of certain items of vintage really really hard. I also think that your tastes change through the years too and I now know that some things I sold on, I would wear again WHAAAA! Anyway things do move on and if I'd kept every item of vintage I ever owned at 45 I would need mansion now. I have always parted with stuff and always regretted but that's the nature of loving it so much.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good thing to do, I keep buying shoes but I also know there are only so many pairs of shoes you can wear :o)
Oh and I know where you are coming from on those shoes, I had a pair of shoes for 18 years which I never wore but were so beautiful I just couldn't bear to part with them, I finally sold them last year, and the person who bought them wore them that night at the Rockabilly Rave and looked fabulous in them so I'm glad I finally parted with them.