I have been watching a stunning, mid-1930s evening dress pattern on eBay this week and while I had intended on bidding, the price very quickly became too high for my modest budget.
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| McCall 8013, circa 1934 |
As the days went by, the price climbed higher and higher and when the auction finally ended on Friday the final sale price was a whopping US$423.30!! Wow!! All I can say is the winning bidder must have really wanted it. I don't think I've ever seen a pattern sell for anything close to this amount. It is an amazing dress but is it really worth $400+?
What say you dear readers? Would you be prepared to pay this sort of money for a vintage pattern? I don't like to pay more than $20 for a vintage so I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.
- Tamara
I've had several discussions about crazy pattern prices and I'm convinced that when they go this high, the buyer must be a designer or with a fashion house that plans to make gowns for retail sale or to use for movie/tv costumes. It could also be some woman's dream wedding gown. I can't see any other reason for it to go so high.
ReplyDeleteI have had several patterns sell for $200.00 (I don't do auctions) and each buyer was delighted to have found a treasure. So while it does seem like a lot, you wouldn't be surprised to see somebody pay that for a ceramic vase from that era. And paper and tissue are much more fragile. And they weren't designed to be kept forever, most were thrown away.
ReplyDeleteSo whatever a final price is, it was worth it to that buyer.
If it was a ready made dress I still wouldn't pay that much for it. $400 is just too much. I wouldn't go any higher than $40 for a vintage pattern.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely not! That's 95% of half of the rent!
ReplyDeleteHi, I must agree with you, that price is way too high for me. The most I've paid for a pattern is $35, although I did sell one of mine on ebay for $88 and I couldn't believe someone would pay that!
ReplyDeleteWIF - Thanks for a sellers perspective. I agee, it's totally what it's worth to the buyer and in such good condition it could complete someone's collection.
ReplyDeleteAndrea - A production house or costume company is an interesting possibility. Good thinking! And as a wedding dress, it could be the bargain of a lifetime!