Sunday, at brunch, I was telling the girls that lately I’ve been receiving emails from people asking me to help them pinpoint the era of beloved treasures – family photos, vintage accessories. Tink exclaimed, “You’re a History Detective!”. I had such a good time helping a gentleman figure out who the relatives were in a set of antique photographs. We were able to determine that the mystery family members were alive in the late 1800s due to their attire. He was able to determine who these folks were and what their relation was. He was so grateful and happy.
Just last week, a really nice woman named Monica contacted me from Italy and wanted to know about her Gucci medallion clutch. She was trying to decide if she should keep or sell her grandmother’s bag. After I told her how much its current value is, she decided to keep the heirloom. The internet has really made it easy for people with specialized needs to connect with people who have specialized skills. It felt really good to help two people answer some questions that they may not have been able to answer if it weren’t for the web.
In light of all this connecting, digging and detective work, I have decided to add a service to Debutante Clothing. If you have questions about a vintage item, especially if it involves fashion, please email me. The digging is what makes selling vintage fun!
Disclaimer: I am not a certified appraiser. I cannot give documentation establishing value for purposes of insuring. The only thing I can ethically (and probably legally) do is give you an estimate on how much the item has recently sold for or an approximate age and some background info, based on my years of experience and resources.