Reading · binzie · RSS Amplifier

There’s a fairly well-known practice in fashion where a designer pulls a 1920s French cotton nightgown off a rack at a flea market, notes the weight of the fabric, the way the lace sits at the neckline, the tiny pintucks running down the front, and then a year later something that looks a lot like it shows up in a spring collection for $380. Clothing, handbags, shoes, belts— vintage pieces get purchased, studied, and sometimes fully deconstructed. The design details, materials, and proportions are then interpreted (with varying degrees of imagination) into a contemporary design.

I don’t bring this up as a criticism (that’s a whole other conversation), but more as a wink wink to clue you in. Though some designers work closely with vintage collectors, 99% of the originals aren’t hidden in some industry vault; they’re out there for you to enjoy as well. French cotton nightgowns with broderie anglaise trim, silk tap shorts with a little lace at the hem. The materials are real (100% cotton! 100% linen! 100% silk!) and the details are effortlessly sweet. Many of what you’ll find at flea markets and on Etsy and Ebay are cheaper than anything on the Doen website, though some are priced reflective of their age, quality, and intricate construction. Below are search terms to get you started on adding some romance to your summer wardrobe, as well as a curated collection of pieces.

Search terms for vintage summer clothing:

Dresses: vintage french linen nightgown, vintage cotton nightgown, french nightdress, antique italian nightdress, antique french chemise, vintage cotton slip dress
Tops: vintage french camisole, cache corset cover, vintage cotton eyelet top
Bottoms: vintage bloomers, vintage french silk shorts, vintage french cotton skirt
General: vintage french lingerie, french lawn cotton, vintage broderie, edwardian cotton

May include: A white crop top with crochet detailing and a drawstring waist is paired with a long, tiered white skirt. A red scarf with white polka dots is tied around the waist. The outfit is completed with brown leather boots.

1910s Edwardian cotton skirt

May include: A navy blue t-shirt with the text "The Boys of Summer" in white, paired with white shorts and brown leather boots. A woven basket is held in the hand. The outfit is styled in a vintage aesthetic.

Antique lace trim bloomers

May include: A cream-colored slip dress with delicate lace trim along the neckline and hemline, hanging on a clothesline. The dress has thin straps and a flowing silhouette, with a subtle sheen. The lace is a light tan color.

Antique Italian silk slip dress

May include: A white cotton sundress with wide shoulder straps and a square neckline. The dress has a loose, flowing silhouette and falls to the mid-calf. The dress features a ruffled detail at the neckline and hem. The model is wearing brown leather clogs.

French cotton dress, medium

May include: White cotton garment with delicate floral embroidery and eyelet lace trim. A pink satin ribbon is threaded through the neckline and tied in a bow. The fabric is soft and flowing, suggesting a vintage or romantic style.

French cotton nightgown with ribbon detail

May include: A white, vintage-style blouse with a square neckline and delicate lace trim. The blouse features small buttons down the front and a ruffled hem. The garment is displayed on a vintage dress form.

Antique French camisole

May include: Peach-colored vintage shorts with embroidered floral designs on the lower edges. The shorts are made of a delicate, possibly silk, fabric and are hanging on a wooden hanger.

Vintage French silk shorts

May include: A white vintage slip dress with lace detailing and a tie at the waist.

1930s French silk nightgown

May include: A navy blue dress with a scalloped neckline and short sleeves, hanging on a wooden hanger. The dress features a button-down front and a flowing, knee-length skirt. The fabric appears to be a soft, lightweight material.

1930s French indigo cotton dress

May include: A white, short-sleeved dress with a square neckline and a ruffled detail down the front. The dress is made of a lightweight fabric and has a slightly flared skirt. The model is wearing the dress.

Short-sleeve French cotton nightgown

May include: A white square-neck top with short, puffed sleeves and a tie detail at the neckline. The number "528" is visible on a sign in the background. The top is made of a lightweight fabric.

White peasant blouse

May include: A white, sleeveless dress with a square neckline and embroidered details. The dress is mid-calf length and worn with black shoes. The model is wearing a patterned headband and a necklace.

1890s Edwardian white cotton slip dress

May include: A sleeveless cream-colored nightgown featuring a scoop neckline and dark blue scalloped trim. The garment is decorated with delicate floral embroidery in shades of pink and dark blue on the chest and shoulders, hanging on a wooden hanger.

1920s pink cotton nightgown

May include: A sheer, off-white blouse with short sleeves, a scalloped edge, and delicate floral embroidery. The blouse has a rounded collar and is buttoned down the front. The sleeves and collar are trimmed with lace. The blouse hangs on a metal hanger.

Sheer embroidered blouse

May include: A white, vintage-style skirt hangs on a wooden hanger against a white wall. The skirt features horizontal textured bands and a scalloped hemline. The fabric appears to be lightweight and slightly wrinkled, suggesting a linen or cotton material.

Scalloped petticoat

Antique Italian linen nightdress dating to the early 1900s, likely the 1910s, featuring handmade embroidery broderie anglaise, fine pleating, and luminous mother-of-pearl buttons. This Edwardian-era garment is entirely handmade from natural linen and reflects the elegance and practicality of historic women’s clothing, with front button details designed to facilitate nursing. romantic character and timeless craftsmanship. Summer cotton outfit, beach cover up, French elegance, vintage dress

Antique Italian nightdress

May include: A long-sleeved black top paired with a navy blue maxi skirt. The skirt features a high waist and a flowing, pleated design. The outfit is completed with tan ankle boots. The background includes abstract art and a small side table.

Italian linen maxi skirt

May include: A sleeveless white blouse with a round neckline and a row of buttons down the front. The blouse has vertical pleats and a delicate lace trim around the neckline. It is hanging on a wooden hanger.

French cotton corset

May include: A white, sleeveless garment with a scalloped neckline and straps. The neckline features delicate floral embroidery. The garment is hanging on a wooden hanger against a textured, off-white background.

French nightgown with embroidered bow detail

May include: A white, short-sleeved garment, possibly a nightgown or dress, hangs on a clothesline with wooden clothespins. The garment is made of a light fabric and has a button-up front. The background features lush green foliage and sunlight.

French country monogram dress

May include: A white, sleeveless dress with a ruffled neckline. The dress is long, reaching the ankles, and has a button-up front. The person is wearing brown boots. The background is a plain wall and a patterned rug.

Vintage Lanz of Salzburg nightdress

May include: A white sleeveless blouse featuring a button-down front, delicate floral embroidery on the chest, and diagonal stitched detailing across the bodice. The garment has a frayed neckline and a sheer lace trim along the bottom hem.

French cotton camisole

May include: A white, floor-length skirt with an elastic waistband and intricate floral embroidery. The skirt has a scalloped hemline and is hanging on a wooden hanger against a weathered wooden door.

Cotton voile skirt

May include: A white, sleeveless dress hangs on a wooden hanger against a weathered, white-painted shutter. The dress is made of a lightweight fabric. The shutter is set into a textured, beige wall.

French sleeveless nightgown

May include: A white camisole with delicate lace trim along the neckline and straps. The camisole is hanging on a floral-patterned hanger. The bottom hem has a scalloped edge.

Floral lace trim camisole

May include: White two-piece outfit featuring a short-sleeved top with floral cutouts and a tiered mini skirt. The outfit is made of a lightweight fabric, perfect for warm weather. The background is a solid light blue.

Boxy broderie top

May include: A white, vintage-style slip dress on a wooden mannequin. The dress features a delicate lace trim along the neckline and hem, with a textured fabric. The dress is displayed in front of a white door with a number 21.

Antique French white cotton slip dress

May include: A white sleeveless dress with lace trim, hanging on a green wooden hanger. The dress features a square neckline and a tiered skirt. The lace detailing is visible on the straps, neckline, and hemline. The dress is made of a lightweight fabric.

Victorian underdress

Antique Italian nightdress from the 1910s, heirloom-quality and entirely handmade from a crisp linen and cotton blend. cutwork embroidery and luminous mother-of-pearl buttons. Flowy silhouette, drapes beautifully on the body. A romantic vintage nightgown or graceful summer dress. Still perfectly wearable. A rare early 20th-century Italian textile, ideal as a poetic “something old” for a bride or a meaningful gift for vintage lovers. French Provence chic countryside. Victorian Edwardian dress

Antique Italian cutwork nightdress

May include: A long, white skirt made of a lightweight fabric, likely linen or cotton, is displayed on a mannequin. The skirt has a high waist and a full, flowing silhouette. The fabric appears slightly textured, with visible seams and pleats adding detail.

Antique linen petticoat

May include: A white short-sleeved blouse featuring a square neckline and intricate white embroidery. The garment displays a detailed floral pattern on the front panel and a geometric border around the neck, crafted from a lightweight fabric.

Cropped sheer top

Antique French chemise

May include: A white linen dress with wide shoulder straps is displayed on a wooden dress form. The dress has a simple, classic design and hangs to about knee length. The background includes a wooden door, a ladder, and other vintage items.

Antique white linen shift dress

Note: many of these pieces were originally intended as undergarments and, as with most light cotton and linen, tend to a bit semi-sheer.

xx
Lindsay

From Handwoven Raffia to Ethereal Organza: 9 Etsy Shops for Chic Summer Bags

May 5, 2025

Temperatures are rising, days are growing longer, and I’ve been searching for the perfect summer bag(s) to accompany beach trips, farmers markets, and evening spritzes. Here are some of the best shops handcrafting thoughtful designs, plus a roundup of vintage gems and search terms to get you started on your own hunt.

Curtain Call

May 25

My Pinterest is awash with curtains of all shapes and styles— crochet antiques billowing in coastal France, colorful bohemian stripes hiding a pantry in a London flat, dramatic floor-to-ceiling panels in an architecturally significant mid-century California home. As I find myself deeper in the endless scroll, I can't help but feel that these curtains are portals to all of my potential life paths. Perhaps if I were to tack a simple handkerchief-style panel across my window, I would immediately step into the effortlessly chic life that I imagine comes with it, one in which my beauty routine is instantly reduced to a mere three steps, and I shop exclusively at the local farmers' market.

The Vintage Pieces Your Favorite Brands are Referencing This Summer

From Handwoven Raffia to Ethereal Organza: 9 Etsy Shops for Chic Summer Bags

Curtain Call

Comments