Spring has had a rather slow start so I only started waering my spring/summer coat a few weeks ago. I found it at the Waterlooplein fleamarket together with the fur trimmed coat I wrote about a while ago.
I was so lucky to find a coat in such a light color for a good price! It also features some nice decorative padded stitching in the front.
Because of that it looks like quite a thick coat but it isn't, the wool is very thin as is the rayon lining.
The coat was not in mint condition: some stains and smelly armpits. Here is how I took care of the latter. It is a different method than the one I decribed here:
http://vintagewardrobe-of-missb.blogspot.nl/2015/02/from-frump-to-fab-some-basics-of.html
Because it is impossible to wash the entire coat, vinigar could not be used. Another good method for removing smells is the use of 'baking soda' (not to be confused with regular soda used for cleaning), ' called 'zuiveringszout' in Dutch and 'natron' in German where I sometimes buy it because it is cheaper.
Baking soda can be used for many things, like cleaning your teeth (tastes salty, but removes stains much better than toothpaste).
It is very effective with bad smells and some stains in clothes that cannot be washed but can stand some moisture/damp. So you have to check if the fabric is not prone to water staining first by putting a drop of watter on a hidden place (seam) and letting it dry.
I mainly use baking soda for heavy garments made of wool, like coats and jackets. Normally the baking soda does not leave any residue if removed properly. I've only noticed a faint white glow on some lining satin once (could be removed with water). There are two ways of applying the baking soda onto your garment. I used both of them for my coat:
1st All you have to do is put the baking soda in a cup and add a little (really only very little) water
to make a paste. You can rub this on the affected area and let it dry. When it is dry the baking soda has turned into powder again and you can brush it off.
I used this method for the lining (when you have a garment with a lining you have to treat both lining and outer fabric).
The method above I see most described, but it can be rather messy when you apply the paste.
2nd When you have a thick fabric that can take some moisture you can also choose to wetten or dampen the fabric. The baking soda will stick and form a crust. This can be removed in the same way after it is dry. I used this method for the outer fabric.
After this treatment the smell was removed. I did have to send this particular coat to the drycleaners because it was a bit grubby allover (not strange given the color). I chose to remove the smell first because experience has learned drycleaning does not resolve smells that have been there for some time.
One of the first times (and the one best documented) I actually wore this coat was on a vintage bikeride in Leiden two weeks ago.
Normally I would opt for a more 'sporty 'outfit for a bikeride.
The event however cosisted nog only of a bikeride but also a party in the evening. As there would be no time in between to travel home and change my outfit had to be both bikeride and party proof.
My shoes had sensible heels. I wore my favorite beret/hat on top of a curly updo. As feared loose curls would not survive a windy bikeride. Quite dressy but still cyclable. During a stop a woman asked me if I could actually cycle in that oufit, haha well of course (it was hardly a ballgown).
Here I am toghether with Martine who organised the event, we obviously had fun! Check out her website:
http://www.beleefhetverleden.nl/
The weather was so nice I did not wear my coat all the time. Underneath my coat I wore a 1940's rayon floral dress that is both sturdy and flowy.To match the hat I wore a dark blue cardigan with leg of mutton sleeves.
For the evening I let my hair down and changed into thinner stockings. Party proof!
Next week I will be joining another vintage bikeride, this time the Tweedride in Urtecht. But more on that later.
