Tips for saving money on fancy children's clothing

This guide shows the general, simplistic differences between eras of clothing so you can make an accurate "guesstimating" of ladies clothing your grandmother wore. So, when you discover that special piece in the attic and wish to sell it on eBay you can confidently use this guide to help you make an accurate decision on the date, which is very important to collectors. Stating, "I don't know anything about clothing..." drives the price of your clothing auction substantially downward. It pays to know more about the clothing you are selling!

This guide has been a lifetime in the creating. As early as I can recall, I’ve been fascinated with history. Beginning at age thirteen, I’ve collected antique clothing, shoes and accessories, plus Victorian costumes to wear to costumed events...

Most authentic old gowns are made of naturally occurring "breathing" fibers such as 100 percent silk, cotton, linen, wool or a mixture of those. Thread is always naturally based silk or cotton, and usually has less strands interwoven in them than found today. Brass hook and crocheted eyes are more common for earlier or couture pieces, while some mid-Edwardian pieces will use snaps. Many early gowns required the wearing of a corset to round the waist and smooth the bumps while reducing the waist.

Sewing machines weren't well in use until the mid 1860's, so you will find many Civil War gowns feature both hand sewing and machine sewing. You will find whale bones in some 1860's- often becoming "feather boned" by 1915. Most gowns were not boned inside beyond then. Laces and buttons became fancier, larger and heavily in use by the 1880's. By the 1890's, fabrics were usually expensive.

Note: If your item has a zipper, rayon or polyester/ nylon fabric, plastic buttons, nylon lace, netting or Velcro, usually this is a sign of a costume (be aware- some costumes have a very authentic look to them.)or it may be a piece of clothing made later than the 1930's. It could have been heavily reworked to be worn at a later time, such as for the stage, or as a "fancy dress" for a reenactment or a tea. Being dirty, torn and age stained does not guarantee an item is old. Some antique gowns are still found in mint, almost new condition!