I can remember in my early twenties when I wanted everything to be new. I didn’t appreciate the things that have been passed down in my family and wanted to create my own sense of style. Now our home is filled with almost everything from our families, right down to my dad’s worn-out easy chair. I’ve developed a sentimentality about faded objects from our past and I’m quicker to repair old things rather than toss them out. The cracks just add memories. And in these times, it’s good to remember that it might be less expensive and better for the planet to refurbish something from the past rather than buy something new.
And I’m a total sucker for an old baby dress. When visiting my parents over the holidays, I came across a box of old baby dresses that included my christening gown. I’ve gently washed and pressed it and now it’s hanging in my younger daughter’s room. I’m thinking of doing a whole wall of hanging baby dresses. Much better to look at baby dresses on the wall than for me to have another baby! I realize that there’s something narcissistic about wanting to hold on to my memories of childhood and imagining myself as an infant small enough to fit into this dress. But it just makes me feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of our quickly changing lives.
My grandmother bought this gown in Europe, possibly Germany or Switzerland. It’s a simple cotton with eyelet details and a yellowed ribbon that should probably be replaced. It is still hanging on the early 1970s pink plastic hanger. Be sure to check out Courtney’s post over at style court that features my Liberty of London dress from the same box.
This is a beautiful christening gown. I think it’s sweet to keep these items for history and sentimentality. I have always loved the idea of having these items in the family.
Of course I love it. Your family has great taste. All of the baby dresses I’ve seen in your pictures over the years are so pretty and sweet but never fussy. Totally agree about appreciating old things.
That dress is beautiful. There is something to be said about some old stuff. Not all, but some. This is one of them.
Oh, it’s beautiful!
I feel the same way about cherished mementos of my past. Of course, I come from a long and proud line of rednecks, so I don’t exactly have beautiful christening gowns with eyelet detail to display…
Instead, the display shelves around the top of my daughters’ room shows off my childhood He-Man toys, and My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake, and the Transformers.
Finding such a beautiful treasure with so many memories would have made my holiday. You are very fortunate to come from a family that has so many pieces of it’s past.
I’ve always been disappointed that there hasn’t been much handed down from previous generations in my family. I think they thought a lot of it wasn’t of value, neglecting to consider the sentimental value. You’re very lucky. Those dresses are beautiful.
Gorgeous! What a treasure, indeed.
My mom has a couple gowns hanging up on the wall in my old bedroom. It’s a nice way of decorating and helps her enjoy the beautiful dresses she has worn & made for me.
Both dresses are beautiful!
What a beautiful dress! I wouldn’t replace the ribbon, I like how it looks yellowed. And the little duck hanger is a nice treasure as well.
What a beautiful dress that is! My family does not keep anything out of sentimental value so we have a lot of things from my husband’s childhood only.
That is beautiful!
What a beautiful dress. I do hope you display it in some way, definitely too gorgeous to be put away. What a treasure.