So, what do you do after your company has left for the weekend and you've shared very personal, life-altering news?
Why, to lighten the mood, you play dress up and have your daughter act as your personal paparazzi! Of course the ONLY reason I did this was to take part in this week's Fun Monday, hosted by Chris B at Ms Cellania.
(revised after initial posting) Oops, I just re-read what she asked us to do:
'I would like to see a photo
(if possible) of a vintage item of clothes- it might be something that
has been in your wardrobe for ever, that you can't bear to part with
and the story behind it (funny, sad, sentimental I know how creative
you all are). If you are someone who regularly de-clutters your
wardrobe every season don't worry you can tell us about any current
favourite item of clothes'.
Great…I didn't do what she asked, exactly. Guess I was so trigger-happy with wanting an excuse to do this post, I read the FM challenge the way I wanted to…too dang late to change it up now! Hmmm, maybe I just pulled a Swampwitch and re-wrote the "rules" to suit me…let's just go with that, k? 😉
Truth be told, this is a post I've been wanting to photo-document since January. Following my father's funeral, my siblings, Daddy's sister and I went to my grandmother's house and broke into a cedar closet that has been locked for years. Entombed for DECADES was a TREASURE TROVE of vintage clothing!! For two hours, we visited the past and imagined all the possible reasons my maternal relatives would've had reason to wear these. As I shivered in the damp, cold, wall-deteriorated basement, I tried on dress after dress; I had the amazing good fortune of being the only one small enough to fit into the clothes.
OOooooooooo, friends……this.was………impossible to describe! None of us can remember who these outfits belonged to; they're probably from the 50s, maybe some from the 60s. My mom was smaller than me, Dambarr, my grandmother, bigger. The thing is, we think they were my grandmother's, but have NO idea how she could've fit into them. Aunt P said she ALWAYS wore a girdle, but good gracious, it would've rendered breathing impossible for her to fit into these dresses. I can't imagine them belonging to my mom, though…if they were hers, she would have worn them before my earliest memories.
Anyway, here are a few of them. Rachel got bored taking pictures (I interrupted her viewing of "Miss Congeniality" every time I had a wardrobe change 🙂 ), and I got tired of changing clothes…not to mention, feelin' pretty silly/cheesy plastering on the same smile and p.o.s.i.n.g. shot after shot.
I wish you could feel the fabric of this one. It's a thick satin and the texture is luxurious! This dress is the most damaged, it's so heavily spotted, dry cleaning would
n't help. I wish the lines could've shown up better (intentional lines, lol, not the wrinkles!). The pearls were my mom's (they're real); so was the diamond bracelet (NOT real). Mama was a costume jewelry buyer for a department store before we were born…. She had tons of trinkets.
There were no "good" shots of this one; look at the mink in my right hand. Even playing dress-up, I can't pull off wearing a dead animal without looking RIDICULOUS (Rachel just LAUGHED…AT me, not with me, lol).
The neat thing about this dress is its secret compartments– 
…and absolutely BEAUTIFUL lines! They just don't make dresses like this today, do they?
Here's a close up of the jewelry…it looks better on the fur than the fur looked on me (huh?)
What's a photoshoot without a hot, skanky sexy-but-tasteful lingerie shot? This, I'm certain, was my mom's. I've actually had it for years. The quality is remarkable and it makes me feel so feminine to wear it :). 
The top is lined, the bottom is more sheer, but either way, I thought it best to upload the blurriest shot Rachel took. She thought it was a dress (lol) and said, "Mom, you could WEAR that!" Out of the mouth of babes, she's such an innocent (even at 14). That makes me smile.
We're getting close to the end. Here's my favorite, "funnest" dress–it makes me smile, too :). 
I love the layers of ruffles. 
Here's a closer look…this dress REALLY needs to be laundered and pressed, and it'd be good to go!
How can you tell I'm getting a little twitchy from all this model-y activity?
I think it's kind of obvious…!
Please be sure to visit ChrisB for an updated list of FM participants. Here's a cut and paste of what she had when I let her know my post was up.
Beccy peppermint tea (done)
Sam becks&posh (done)
Enidd Third Person Singular (done)
mjd The return of the White Robin (done)
Pamela The dust will wait (done)
Karmyn Dreaming What ifs (done)
Artist formerly known as purpleworms (House of Purpleworms) (done)
Steffi (done)
Swampwitch Anecdotes etc (done)
Stephanie mamadrama(done)
Min mamadrama(done)
Okay, Robin. I’ve been out of town, so I’m just now catching up on all of your posts and you TOTALLY FOOLED ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was sitting here, eating my lunch, mouth GAPING open, believing that you ACTUALLY had a bun in the oven! You little stinker you! But very, very clever 😉
And on top of all that, I missed your birthday! My FILs b-day was Friday, too and we went to visit him. I know I’m late, but I would like to wish a great big heartfelt
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! to you.
Great pictures, btw – you’re a knockout! 😉
Wow Robin, you look stunning and I love all the dresses. I hope you are going to get to wear them lots.
This is a brilliant fashion show I love love love it. You are so lucky to be the custodian of some beautiful classic vintage clothes. I can see why you love the lingerie- Madonna eat your heart out!!
Susan, whew! For a minute, I thought I had offended you with my “let me say this gently….” comment :/. Funny with my April Fools joke, I really didn’t plan that. I sat down to see who had popped in over the weekend, noticed the date and started writing. As you could tell, I ended up with tons of giggles :).
Thank you for the party wishes (and for my e-card–it made me grin ’cause you chose a perfect one for me 🙂 😉 ). And I’m sure you’ll never forget the date again since your FIL and I are birthday brothers…or sistahs…or something…!
Beccy, the thing is, I WILL wear some of these! It blows my mind I C.A.N., ya know? Thanks for your kind words.
Chris, THANK YOU for prompting me to take these pictures and have much fun in the process :). I feel like such a little girl playing dress up, and to tell the truth, that’s a nice feeling when you’re all grown up.
What marvelous clothes – and you are right the lines are gorgeous and they don’t make ’em like that any more! What a terrific blog entry!! I enjoyed reading it!
How fun! My 80 yr old MIL has always been very thin. She told me once that a girdle was necessary even on thin ladies to get the dresses to hang right.
Oh my goodness, what AWESOME clothes! You’re so lucky. Now you’re going to have to make your husband take you out A LOT so you can wear those beautiful dresses.
I think those dresses are absolutely gorgeous. And sadly, yes, you probably could wear that negligee today and get away with it.
Vintage clothing is all the rage.
I really enjoyed the pictures and the commentary,and I really loved the first dress though they are all pretty!
I especially liked your pose in the last 2 pics:D
PW, Thanks for your more-than-kind enthusiasm. I soooo wish I had pictures of my grandmother? Mom? Aunt?? in these dresses. If nothing else, I’m glad we took ’em for my own kids.
Gina, my aunt told me my grandmother had to have help putting it on, lol. They didn’t exactly have control panties back then.
Rachelle, people don’t dress like they used to, just like they don’t make clothes like they used to. I’m thinkin’ June Cleaver wearing her pearls 24/7 and ALWAYS wearing a dress and heels. Heels….yuk! Then again, I prefer no shoes at all ;).
You know, Karmyn, when I wrote that, I wasn’t even thinking about all the skanky, cleavage-bearing lingerie tops you see these days (do I sound like a MOTHER or what??). Rachel gets disgusted when we go shopping…I can assure you, I am VERY thankful for that!
Mary/Mert, the first dress would feel better (and probably “hang” better) if I was about 5 pounds lighter :/. I love the neckline, it’s amazing. I wish you (y’all) could handle these garments, I don’t own anything currently that comes close to the detail and quality.
Just thank you for stopping in my blog!Yes,I understand you what you mean!And I find it´s a really good idea from you!I will try it….Thanks!Perhaps I hang on it in our bedroom!
Wow…very beautiful pictures of your vintage clothes!Your black dresses are all classic fashion and you can use it now too.
I personally think that you should have went into modeling. You have a great figure for it :)…The dresses are my style :). Thank you for sharing, Robin.
Blessings on your day and always.
Your a nut case. I love that about you. Makes me feel all cozy and normal inside.
I must say… very clean windows!
UR 1hot mama!!!
Steffi, thank you :). If you decide to frame your tee, please post a picture of that as well.
Iris, I think you’ve turned into a comedienne now, my friend (and thank you just the same). These dresses ARE classic and I’m truly thankful to be in possession of them. Kid in a candy store :).
Ooooooo, Vicki, YIKES! The windows are clean??? It must be the leaves in the background. Wanna hear something funny, I noticed the stupid air vent on the floor and some kind of dead bug on the tile when I posted these pics today :/…sure didn’t notice it at the time.
P.S. Are you saying I’m crazy? I totally own that!
Steph, would you like my phone number so you can text it to me, babeeee?
If your not one hot mama! (and you are)
Wow girl. Lookin good!
You made me laugh out loud in your reply comment about the vent, and the dead bug on the floor……….I still think you rock. btw – I love the color on the wall behind you (the first pic, with the white(?)dress) Oh yea, and you look amazing in that dress too !
Okay, enough compliments.
;o)
Everyone has already said how hot you are, so I’ll skip that bit. Those dresses look very stylish, even now.
You were brave to put them on, I couldn’t do it (no, not because their dresses, well yes, that too) because I have a phobia about putting on clothes that have been hanging a a closet for a long time without washing them first. Seriously.
Robin you are very pretty and quite the stylish model in those fun dresses. You look ready for a night on the town in any of the dresses
Ahhh… you look great! And it looked like a ton of fun. Umm… I think. I’m not supposed to like dress up and things like that 😉
Glad you you had a great time, my friend.
OK, you are gorgeous ! Hope that little black dress fits in about 7 months…giggle, giggle. When you do want me to host your shower? Let’s see. Registered at Williams-Sonoma, Ann Taylor, and Tar-jay. I’m thinking you should name her Swampette and him Swamper. Whadya Think?
I noticed how beautiful the dresses were, how beautiful the model is, and how clean the windows are
darn her– she knows she should read all the other comments before she becomes a wooden dumby – and repeats everyone elses lines.
You look just like Sara Jessica Parker, but with a better looking husband.. and no city.
ME2
I wasn’t going to visit you anymore after what you pulled yesterday, but I just had to peek in and see what kind of lame clothing you had.
I’m so jealous now!! You have all that cool stuff! Please tell me that this is still part of your April fool’s joke.
EVIL prank. I almost fell for it. Evil.
You are gorgeous.. even in the strange straight jacket black dress. It has it’s own built in handles? I don’t get it?
But you’re still gorgeous. I’m going to go stairmaster now.
Kristy (and Steph again), IF I lived in Houston AND was talented enough, I could be a Drama Mama…apparently the hot one (I’d be in good company 🙂 ). Ummm, not because I said so, b/c you both called me H A W T (but I can tell you’re both totally hetero…).
WT, I believe your phobia; for a split second, I hesitated, but got over it quickly. The cedar closet did its job of preserving the clothing; they weren’t nearly as musty as they could’ve been after all that time. They were sooo crammed together, though, wrinkles were ironed in by time…
Yeah, yeah, I know you think I’m delta-hot (rolling my eyes) :).
Mike. One word. Metro. Nuff said.
Kristy, that paint is a GREAT color; we were nervous before getting it on the wall (what if it looked like an orange threw up), but it ended up being a fantastic shade!
Aunt SW, Love the names :). And I don’t need no stinkin’ corsage, but I do like me some petit fours!
Pamela, if I give you Tad’s email address, will you gush about the windows to him? (btw and for the record, lived here almost four years, haven’t cleaned those once :/…apparently, not only can the dust wait, so can washing the windows!).
ME2 is full of cute this morning…or last night…heck, all the time!
Min, you are not allowed to give me the silent treatment; I’m on your personal staff, remember (sheesh!) :).
Marnie, I think it’s to “give” you hips if you don’t have them. Thank goodness black is slimming, because it kinda made me look like I had four hips…or two butts…or something! But v e r y cool, no matter what.
A blast from the past.
What lovely dresses! I love looking at vintage clothing. And I think your daughter’s right–that nighty could be a dress. If you hadn’t told us how sheer it is and that it *isn’t* a dress, I bet no one would have known. It’s beautiful!
What awesome history to keep! I’m so impressed when people hang onto important historical stuff like this. I go through “purge” stages where I get rid of truckloads of stuff. But I always wonder if I shouldn’t have kept this or that for posterity.
I like pearl, I like shopping on the net for example?jewelry wholesale?pearl wholesale,wholesale pearl
, and so on
those dresses are beautiful….and you look lovely in them!! 🙂
how did i miss this post before….