Tailor’s shop, Amman Sachs, 1568
Buying clothing second-hand is very well-documented in the 16th century, and really, in most eras. Clothing and fabric were big investments before the post-World-War-II manufacturing boom that lead to our current state of disposable fast fashion. If a garment could be used again, it was. Best dresses became second-best or everyday dresses, garments were altered when body shape changed due to age or maternity or garments were passed on to other family members or servants or they were sold to the second-hand clothing dealers.
There was a brisk used-garment trade in Elizabethan London, which Laura Mellin has a brief article on, worth reading.
Anyway, that’s a long-winded intro to say that I bought some cool stuff at the GBACG Costumers Bazaar this past weekend! Sarah, Kendra, and I shared a booth to sell things, and we all did clear out our closets and fabric stashes somewhat.
Of course, I ended up spending half of what I made on amazingly wonderful items. Not much, but some really lovely things — a few yards of embroidered silk, a bunch of pretty wool, a practically new Elizabethan corset, and best of all, a fabulous new 16th-century doublet, in fact, the one made and worn by Genevieve de la Mer Bleue here on Featured Attyre. I’m lucky to call her a friend, and I already knew how exquisite her work was. A while ago, she had sold this doublet to a mutual friend, and now that woman was clearing out her closet. This piece shall be thrice loved, indeed. In fact, looking at the wool I bought at the same time, that will make the perfect kirtle to wear with this doublet. A new outfit is born…