Edwardian Silk/Linen Duster of AWESOMENESS!!!!

OHMYGOSH!!! OHMYGOSH!!! OOOOHMYGOOOOSH!!!!

Ok, before I get head of myself, let me tell you about my obsession with motoring dusters from the Edwardian Era.  Way back on January 3, 2012, I fell in love with the motoring outfit from FIDM (Here is my salivatingly crazy blog post from when I found the outfit...here.)  Since then, I have purchased the light weight cotton to make a motoring outfit/safari outfit.  I have purchased the pattern (Folkwear Model T Duster 230).  I have the safari hat, scarab beetle tie pin and goggles (for the safari outfit).  I have an Edwardian era silk/wool skirt and the black "granny" boots.  I have a passable tuxedo front shirt with an antique collar and tie.  And of course I have a Motoring Outfit Pinterest page dedicated to them.  What I didn't have was the actual duster, nor the time to make one.

That all changed at roughly 10:12 in the a.m. today at the event "Found" at The Bishops' House in Boise.  Mom and I were scheduled to work the BH table at the event which was a fabulous antique show, and were taking a few minutes to peruse the offerings before we planted our bottoms in our seats for the duration of our time slot.  We had walked into one of the upstairs rooms and mom was showing me a lovely painted silk fan, when my roving eyes landed on one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

It was like the roof of the old house opened up, sunbeams were streaming through the rafters and angels were singing the "Hallelujah" chorus.  I sucked all, and I mean all, of the oxygen out of the room....(mom was choking and grasping at her throat from the lack of oxygen).  I went on wobbly knees to the object of my instant lust, reached out trembling hands and tenderly caressed its silky essence, gently took it off its hanger and tried it on.  I dissolved into tears as I slipped it over my shoulders.....  

IT FIT!!!!!!!!!!!!

I clasped it to my heaving bosom and went in search of Nancy who owns In Retrospect, to ask about the price.  My eyes found hers across the crowded room as I possessively held my find, ignoring the curious gazes of the other shoppers.  I believe she sensed my insane obsession and said, "You want that don't you?"  All I could do was grunt and nod my head.  

Needless to say, the duster now lives with me.  Greg will be sleeping on the couch tonight as I will lovingly lay my duster on his side of the bed....

Anyhoo, here are some pictures Colton took of me.  They aren't the best as they were taken with my phone, but I was sooooo beyond excited that I wanted to share!  I will at some point in the future make the Model T Duster, but I am beyond thrilled that I own a true piece of history in my gloriously, fabulously, lovely Edwardian duster!!! 

Hello HUGE black buttons!!!!

For today, I wore my safari hat and goggles.  I will be finding a HUGE motoring hat and some silk tulle to tie it under my chin!

It has two slits in the back....

The wind was doing fun things with the fullness of the duster.

Did I mention that this beautiful thing has tabs!!! Be still my beating heart!!  TABS!

I LOVE how it moves.

My sweet Rosie!!

You can see the neat silk strips on my skirt.

Horrible exposure, but here you can see that it does in fact button and still is very roomy!!!

Made in New York!  What fun!  

I am pretty sure this is a silk duster.  It may be a silk/linen blend.  I'll have to do a burn test to make sure.

*Edited*  For anyone concerned with the burn test I am going to perform, I will be using fibers removed from inside the lining.  It is a tear in the seam allowance that will be removed then rebound.  So, never fear!!  The burn test will in no way affect the integrity of the garment!

A deaccession number from a museum?  Don't know!

Anyhoo, I can't wait for the opportunity to wear my new duster to a car show or something equally awesome!!!  Whoo hooooooooo!!!!!!  Thank you Nancy for having this lovely piece of history for me to acquire!!!

Blessings!

g