A lot has changed in the fashion world in the past 70 years, but good taste never goes out of style.
Maddy Bill of Ambler, Pennsylvania enjoyed a close relationship with her grandparents growing up. Her grandfather passed away two decades ago, but 91-year-old Marie D’Alessandro Donato is still alive and well. Recently, Maddy inherited a suitcase full of her clothing that she’d kept untouched for more than 70 years.
Marie wore these clothes on her honeymoon trip to New York City, so each outfit is imbued with beautiful memories of young love. When she returned home to Pennsylvania, Marie washed all of the garments and then placed them back inside the luggage as a sort of time capsule for her future grandchildren.
“I’ve always known about this suitcase ever since I was a little girl,” Maddy explained. “My mom discovered it when she was a little older and she told me about it and she selflessly saved it for me and my sister for when we were of age.”
She opened the suitcase in a TikTok video, and was soon inundated with requests for her to model the clothing. Happily, she obliged!
Reply to @desertabode Part 1 of trying on the clothes in her suitcase 💗#grandmascloset #grandmasclothes #vintage #vintageclothes #vintagefashion #thenewyorker #honeymoon #tryonhaul
Opening the case brought back sweet memories of Maddy’s grandparents. She remembers hearing about their honeymoon as a child. Even though it rained the entire trip, Marie says she didn’t care because she was with her “honey.”
Reply to @annivanderbeek #grandmascloset #grandmasclothes #vintage #vintageclothes #vintagefashion #honeymoon #tryonhaul #fashion #vintagetryon
Reply to @moomoozr #grandmascloset #grandmasclothes #vintage #vintageclothes #vintagefashion #honeymoon #tryonhaul
Reply to @evangelinestottart #grandmascloset #grandmasclothes #vintage #vintageclothes #vintagefashion #honeymoon #tryonhaul
Reply to @_cmilll_ #grandmascloset #grandmasclothes #vintage #vintageclothes #vintagefashion #honeymoon #tryonhaul #vintagetryon
Reply to @sameena422 #grandmasclothes #grandmasoftiktok #grandmascloset #vintageclothes #honeymoon #tryonhaul #vintagewatch
Reply to @itsnicolettelovell #grandmasclothes #grandmasoftiktok #grandmascloset #vintagesclothes #honeymoon #tryknhaul #vintagejewelry #vintageearrings #vintagehairstyle
Reply to @alixtate12 #grandmasclothes #grandmascloset #vintage #vintagesclothes #honeymoon #tryonhaul #vintagetie #grandpasclothes
Reply to @genevievemorton #grandmasoftiktok #grandmascloset #vintageclothes #grandmasclothes #vintage #honeymoon #tryonhaul #mygrandma
Reply to @emmkaty #grandmasclothes #grandmasoftiktok #grandmascloset #vintagesclothes #honeymoon #tryonhaul #vintagejewelry #vintagepearls
Maddy plans to wear Marie’s dresses on a future special occasion. The rest of the wardrobe will go back into the suitcase to be preserved for the next generation. Perhaps in 70 years, we’ll see Maddy’s grandchildren wearing these clothes!
Share this story to celebrate timeless fashion and unbreakable family bonds.
Sign up for Smile, our free daily good news email with over 600,000 happy and optimistic subscribers!
$16.14 raised today! Learn more here.
Every time you share an article, we donate to Smile Train to help provide life-changing cleft surgeries to children in need. Spread good news, change lives! Learn more here.
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.
InspireMore and Smile Train have partnered together to help bring life-changing smiles to children in need in 2022. We’re not stopping at sharing good news, we’re going out and creating good news!