1900-1910s German antique cotton blouse

Antique German cotton blouse.

Dates from around the 1900s to 1910s.

You might be thinking I'm releasing a lot of items all of a sudden,

but thanks to a wonderful encounter with the German couple who are dealers that I’ve mentioned before,

and because the response was better than expected, I was able to acquire more for the shop.

Antique lace is just wonderful, isn't it? Having been influenced by my mother, who worked in this field full-time, I personally love it.

This particular blouse has a unique collar shape, and I love how understated the ruffles are.

Since there is plenty of ruffle at the hem, it’s fun to layer it under a knit and let it peek out from the bottom.

With cutwork adorning the sleeves, hem, and bodice, it's a piece where you can really enjoy the sheer aesthetic.

Of course, lace from this era was all made by hand. Cutwork lace requires cutting patterns with scissors after the fact, then finishing and reinforcing every edge—I always shudder to think of the incredible amount of work that went into creating every single one of these holes.

I also appreciate that this is a shirt-jacket type that can be worn open. The Dorset buttons made with cotton thread are also, naturally, all handmade.

The sleeves feature beautiful tape lace, but I suspect there may have originally been ruffles or something similar attached.

It was likely damaged at some point and neatly trimmed at the tape, resulting in slightly shorter sleeves, but this actually makes it easier to show off bracelets, and you can wear it without worrying about getting them wet while working (a very specific situation, I know, haha). I think this is a charming point all on its own!

It also looked cute with a bit of the sleeve showing when I wore a turtleneck underneath in the photo.

In all the time I’ve spent buying in France and America with my mother,

I’ve always associated France with the gold standard for antique lace blouses,

but the appeal of German blouses is that the cotton fabric is incredibly sturdy, making them unparalleled for actually wearing.

Generally, blouses from this era are so old that the fabric has weakened, making them prone to tearing, too delicate to wash, or otherwise very difficult to handle.

I personally own many blouses that I’ve had to stop wearing over the past few years.

That’s why I think this blouse is truly wonderful, given its condition and fabric quality despite its age.

Because the lace isn't as fragile as tulle, you can wash it in a regular washing machine—the fabric is so tough you could even bleach it if it got stained. (This one has already been bleached.)

Also, the bodice is made of a rare cotton fabric with a pattern woven directly into it. It’s not flimsy at all; it has a nice, substantial weight to it.

If you prefer an antique blouse that isn't too ruffled and has just the right amount of sweetness, I highly recommend this one.

While there are many recent items from the 80s and 90s that recreate antique styles, they just can't compete with the texture of the real thing. Since these are very limited in number, I definitely suggest grabbing one while you can find them.

As always, I truly recommend this piece. Please take a look!

*Has been washed once.

送料・税込みの料金です / World Shipping And Tax Including Price

Model height - Model height 167cm

Material - Material cotton

Size - Size fits M

Measurement on flat - Flat measurement (cm)
Length Length 62
Width Width 52
Shoulder width Shoulder width 37
Sleeve length Sleeve length 48.5

Condition - Condition: The top button and the middle button show some damage (the frame-like part of the button has come off). They still function perfectly fine, but please be aware of this.