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1930s GIFT FROM OP-SHOP GODS

EVERY op-shopper has had a heart-stopping, whisper quiet “Oh My God” moment when the op-shop Gods shine a radiant light on some small...






EVERY op-shopper has had a heart-stopping, whisper quiet “Oh My God” moment when the op-shop Gods shine a radiant light on some small piece of op-shop gold. I’ve had my fair share of these moments, the most recent when scouring the dress-up rack of one of my favourite op-shopping haunts.

The good op-shopper I am, I tidy racks as I go and was rewarded when a piece found kicked under a pile of sweeping wedding trains and after-five frocks was nothing more than a hand-made wool crepe frock from, I am guessing, the 1930s. Nary a zipper in site, the press studs may have been replaced at some point but the hooks and eyes are original … and it’s hand beaded.

Sadly the hem has been slashed away and I don’t really know how long it would have been in it’s original form. And, oh, the design. The skirt panels are cut to create a fluted kick at back and front, there's a scallop-cut detail falling from the hip, beaded bows, hand cut and stuffed shoulder padding. Did I mention it’s wool crepe and as far as I can tell there’s no sign of silver fish having gnawed through it - well, one teeny hole in a spot I can mend.

I haven’t yet figured out a way to wash it. It will need to be hand laundered and I fear what’s in those shoulder pads - I think it may be folded newspaper. True.

I was just going to iron up and hand stitch a new hem in, but saw Bekvam’s scalloped hem on Chelsea’s blog. What do you think, straight or scallop? Or beading. Maybe beading. Could have been a beaded hem, couldn't it?

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