About a year ago, my mother gave my one of my grandmother’s old blouses from the 50’s. It’s a sheer poly with white polka dots on it. I’ve worn it once or twice, but it doesn’t get out much. Even though it’s sheer it’s unbreathable since it’s made of polyester so I have a tendency to leave it in my closet.
Fast forward to last week, my Aunt Kathy was in town and I stopped over at my mom’s for a visit and to go to my cousin’s graduation party, as a group. When we were leaving the house, she remembered she had something for me…
In a bag, she pulled out the cutest navy linen jacket that I had ever seen! Be still my heart… And with it she also had a cream linen skirt to go with it. I put the jacket on straight away, on top of my clothes! It was a perfect fit! I had no idea my grandmother’s proportions (on the top half at least) were so similar to mine.
My Aunt Kathy told me this was my grandmother’s going away outfit for her honeymoon, back in May 29th, 1952. It was a 3-piece suit but she only had the two pieces, and was missing the blouse.
I was so giddy when I told her, I must already have the blouse! She was astonished and was like “how did you get that?!” I have no idea how the blouse got separated from its buddies, but I’m glad that I had the good sense to keep it, even though I hardly wear it.
My grandmother’s family didn’t have a lot of money, so she hardly had store bought clothes. The jacket and the blouse were bought specifically for her honeymoon, so they’re extra special. I’m not 100% certain, but I believe she made the skirt to match the jacket since I couldn’t find a tag inside (and there were pinked seams throughout.)
As you know, I generally don’t do outfit posts unless I’ve sewn it up prior to. But this…. this little outfit needed it’s own mini photo shoot. :)
I paired the outfit with my little navy and white striped wedges. They come in handy for all of my nautical themed outfits nowadays. :)
The skirt is quite snug for every day wear, so I’m thinking I’ll have to make another coordinating skirt to wear with the jacket, for daily wear. I’d love to make a matching navy linen instead of the cream linen, again with white linen details. It would be perfect for my cruise in January.
My favorite detail is the buttons! They actually look like they’re handmade and not mass-produced. The white portion is a matching linen and the navy centers is also matching blue linen from the jacket (instead of being washer-style buttons with holes in the middle).
I’m now wondering if this nautical-love of mine stems beyond my mother and from my grandmother…. who knows maybe it’s just my Norwegian heritage shining through.
In: Miscellaneous
That is truly the cutest jacket ever! You are one luck gal to be the beneficiary of that gem :)
Thanks Jenny! I can’t stop trying it on. :)
that is so cute (and a great story behind)! how lucky that you had kept the shirt. wide leg navy trousers would be gorgeous with it!
I couldn’t agree more! It would look so cute with high-waisted sailor trousers with matching buttons.
What a treat to have the entire outfit. Lovely. Any chance you can post a picture of your Grandmother wearing the outfit?
I personally don’t have any and neither does my mom. :( I wonder if my aunt Kathy has some since she had the outfit…
Oh, be still my heart! What a wonderful outfit and so special for all the reasons you stated! I would love to have an heirloom like that in my closet! It’s incredible that you have the full set too and even if you don’t wear all the pieces together all the time, that jacket is going to become a staple for you I bet ;o)
I’m already dreaming of wearing it on the cruise and making various capris, skirts, and trousers to coordinate. I bet I’m going to end up looking ‘nautical’ for 7 days straight. hehehe
That outfit is ADORABLE! And how funny that it is exactly something you would make & wear (and love!) and fits you perfectly – you & your grandmother are definitely kindred spirits, at least fashion-wise :)
It soo is! I think that’s what finally prompted my aunt to give it to me in the first place; she was hoping I could get some wear out of it.
I never knew my grandmother used to have such narrow shoulders like me and was surprised it fit. (In her later years when I knew her, she had hormone replacement and let’s just say we used to call her the human shelf. tehehe) So I never knew that she used to be petite on her top half like I am.
She was an avid sewer and made all of her own clothes… I wish more dresses & clothes of her’s survived.
That is such a cute outfit – what a lovely story, and it looks great on you!
What an amazing outfit story! That jacket is amazing. And so sweet that it would likely have been a real splurge to take with her on her honeymoon and that she might have sewn the skirt to make a full set of it. It seems like it was all meant to be reunited for you to wear. I’m sure your grandmother would have been thrilled. :)
Like most of our grandparents (I believe) she made all of her own clothes. This was one of those rare pieces that was store bought and it was extra special to her as a result.
My mom & all of my aunts also never had store bought clothes until they went to college.
What’s funny is that I wish more of her made items had survived, not just the store-bought stuff.
oh, that is such a sweet outfit! And it fits you so perfectly. what a treasure!!
How cool is that! And how amazing that the set fit you so well! What a darling piece of family history. And nautical loveliness to boot! :)
What a fabulous outfit… I mean first it is just really cute, and second- it is family history! How wonderful is that?!
I Lovely, congratulation !!!!
Ohhhh myyyyy goodness! SO cute!
Oh my gosh! What a great outfit! How special! And I love that you’re the same size as your grandmother– how serendipitous!
Wow this is awesome, lucky you! I have my mums going away outfit, the skirt is one of my fave things ever :)
Wearing history, that’s so cool. Lucky you having such awesome heritage! Actually my grandmother was an avid seamstress too but I never met her unfortunately :(
This is a fantastic story – and you look just gorgeous in this outfit! Love how you’ve styled it with the shoes.
That jacket is SO cute! I can’t believe it fits you so well without alterations! Lucky you :)
That’s sooo fun!! And it looks great on you :)
I recently surprised my mum by wearing an outfit she made for herself a couple of decades ago:
http://lifesjewelsonstring.blogspot.com/2012/06/marmee-made.html
Have a great day!
Oh honey, it’s just perfection. How wonderful that you have all the pieces to this brilliant piece of your family history :)