An astonished fashion TikToker has discovered that an old velvet dress kept in her attic for 25 years is actually a valuable Dior gown worth around $43,000.
Colored version of the photo of the grandmother of Adeline Vining, 36, from London, England, wearing her Dior dress. (@adelinevining/Zenger)
He said the typography on the label suggests the dress is an early Christian Dior design, adding: “The hourglass silhouette was reminiscent of his revolutionary ‘New Look’ that began in 1947.”
Based on the zigzag trim on the strapless dress, Wilkinson estimates it came from Christian Dior’s autumn/winter 1949 collection at a time when the designer was still creating fashion ranges personally.
Adeline said: “Henry encouraged me to get my grandmother’s dress valued and put me in touch with Kerry Taylor Auctions in London.”
The auction house valued the dress at between $36,000 to $43,000 based on its current condition.
The TikToker said: “This completely floored me!”
The grandmother of Adeline Vining, 36, from London, England, who found her grandmother’s Dior dress in the attic. (@adelinevining/Zenger)
Adeline was recently sent a photo from an uncle that shows her grandmother dancing in the dress before her death in 1956.
She said; “I’m glad through the dress I’m finally able to meet my grandmother.”
She told Zenger News: “The dress was in my grandfather’s attic for 40 years, then I’ve had it for the last 25 years.
“My grandfather worked in the Foreign Office so my grandmother would have worn the dress for events held by my grandfather’s office, or events he was invited to.
“I’ve kept the dress for this long because I had always planned to wear it. But it’s so beautiful, it needs a really special occasion.”
The grandmother of Adeline Vining, 36, from London, England, who found her grandmother’s Dior dress in the attic. (@adelinevining/Zenger)
But despite the tempting price tag, Adeline has no plans to cash in and sell the designer frock.
She explained: “I plan on keeping the dress, at least until I’ve had a chance to wear it!
“It’s a part of my family history, and I think I would really struggle to part with it.”
Adeline told Zenger News: “My TikTok followers were all incredibly supportive in helping me date the dress and find out its origins, and also in encouraging me to wear it.
Adeline Vining, 36, from London, England, shows another one of her grandmother’s dresses. (@adelinevining/Zenger)
“I think lots of people were also really interested to know its value, but overall, the interest has been mostly around how my grandmother came around to having a custom-made ball gown.
“Also, people have enjoyed hearing about my family history.”
