# What Would You Do With 175 Year Old Wedding Dress? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 18, 2002, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-175-year-old-wedding-dress/132908 "2002-10-18T23:11:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-175-year-old-wedding-dress/132908/1 "2002-10-18T23:11:52Z")
I’ve been helping a friend clean out his garage and, while doing so, we came across wedding dress which his mother gave him before she died (it’s not what you think – his parents didn’t have any daughters). His mother told him it was the wedding dress dating from 1836, or thereabouts. Neither of us know anything about antiques, so I thought I’d ask you folks. I’m assuming it’s likely to be worth something, but I’ve got no idea how much. Donating it to a historical society might also be an option. Since I realize the definition of “old” varies by country, my friend and I are both in the US. Thanks for your help! CJ ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-175-year-old-wedding-dress/132908/2 "2002-10-19T00:12:59Z")
Before you donate it anywhere, are there any female relatives who might be thinking about getting married and like to have it? I know that if something like that turned up in my family, I’d consider wearing it if possible. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-175-year-old-wedding-dress/132908/3 "2002-10-19T03:52:57Z")
No, I’d take it to a historical society before you even THINK of WEARING it! Get it appraised. Seriously, you should NEVER think of wearing something that old without getting an idea of the condition and whether or not it would have to be altered. And even then I’d think twice. Also, ask on the boards at [www.sensibility.com](http://www.sensibility.com) That is so freaking cool! ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-175-year-old-wedding-dress/132908/4 "2002-10-19T04:39:01Z")
You could sell it on eBay. Or sell it on the Antiques Roadshow. That’s right, I’m all about the money. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Magickly\_Delicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magickly\_Delicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magickly_Delicious)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-175-year-old-wedding-dress/132908/5 "2002-10-19T04:42:02Z")
I would definitely get some expert help. Anyone wearing it might be out of the question, depending on the fabric’s condition, which I would guess isn’t all that great by now. Contact a local museum and consider donating it, perhaps. Or at least get advice on how to properly store/display it if you decide on keeping it. Best of luck—what a great find! ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-175-year-old-wedding-dress/132908/6 "2002-10-19T05:02:19Z")
Does your friend have any daughters (or might he have daughters in the future)? Unless he needs the money, I would recommend saving it for them (or for perhaps another close (relationship-wise, not genetic-wise) relative, like a favorite niece or something). There’s more important things than money. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-175-year-old-wedding-dress/132908/7 "2002-10-19T15:29:59Z")
I would donate it to the local historical society and then write it off my income tax. ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-175-year-old-wedding-dress/132908/8 "2002-10-19T15:38:31Z")
Perhaps the people at the [eBay vintage clothing message board](http://forums.ebay.com/dwd?14@1035041253891@.eeb5b6a) could help you? The regulars there are quite friendly and seem to really know their stuff. I’ve seen heaps of people posting pictures of vintage clothes they aren’t sure about, and it would help you get an idea of value, and where to go from here. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-175-year-old-wedding-dress/132908/9 "2002-10-19T20:23:59Z")
Even if it’s in good condition, if you want to preserve it, I would strongly reccomend against wearing it, because that could be a potential disaster-especially for a wedding. You might spill something on it, step on it, etc. Seriously, find a way to preserve it. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-175-year-old-wedding-dress/132908/10 "2002-10-19T23:34:05Z")
Thanks for the help. His daughter’s already married, so passing it on to her is probably out, although I will urge him to mention it to her. I’m leaning strongly toward donating it to a museum or historical society. Then again, I’ve just spent a day with a few archaeologists, so my biases are showing. I’ll check out some of the other sites you’ve given me as well. Thanks, and please keep the suggestions coming. CJ ---
**Author:** ![l1I235](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@l1I235](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/l1I235)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-175-year-old-wedding-dress/132908/11 "2002-10-20T07:56:37Z")
Insanity, all of this! give to me. I’ll give you 10 bucks, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-175-year-old-wedding-dress/132908/12 "2002-10-20T19:13:55Z")
**mademoiselle** , you greedy little thing! LOL ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-with-175-year-old-wedding-dress/132908/13 "2002-10-20T20:21:07Z")
Nah, you need to let _me_ borrow it first, 'cos I want to go as Miss Havisham for Halloween. **mademoiselle** can have it when I’m finished.