Museum fashion collections preserve important examples of twentieth-century clothing and accessories and provide useful reference material for understanding changes in fashion, construction and materials. (The Metropolitan Museum of Art<\/span><\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n A wide range of natural and manufactured materials has been used in fashion and accessories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on the garment, accessory and period, these may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The type and quality of material can provide useful clues to both the period and intended market of a piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Luxury garments may combine several materials, such as leather with corduroy, silk linings, branded metal fittings or specialist decorative finishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Original labels are among the most useful identification features found in vintage and collectable fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Useful markings may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Label designs often changed over time, making them useful for approximate dating when compared with documented examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Original swing tags and price labels can be particularly desirable because they help establish how a garment was originally marketed and sold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Country-of-origin markings such as Made in Italy<\/strong>, Made in England<\/strong>, Made in France<\/strong> or Made in Australia<\/strong> may also assist identification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Useful dating clues include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n No single feature normally provides a precise date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most reliable assessment usually comes from considering several characteristics together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Collectors may look for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Condition is particularly important with leather and delicate textiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dryness, cracking, staining, moth damage, weakened seams, missing fastenings or deteriorated linings can significantly affect both value and practical wearability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Original components such as belts, buttons, buckles and branded zip pulls can materially improve desirability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Designer garments can be collected for their design, craftsmanship and place in fashion history. A photographed runway design may provide a useful comparison, but a photograph of the same design does not establish that a particular garment was worn on the runway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When researching a designer piece, compare its labels, materials, cut, hardware and construction with reliable collection imagery. Keep any documented attribution separate from assumptions, and describe missing components or wear clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our Gianni Versace jacket is attributed to the Spring\/Summer 1992 collection. The studded Gianni Versace Couture linen skirt displayed with it is attributed to Autumn\/Winter 1992. They are two separate collection pieces styled together, rather than an original matching outfit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scarves, shawls and wraps can bring colour, pattern and texture to a vintage wardrobe. They range from light decorative scarves to larger woven pieces that can be draped over the shoulders. Floral, paisley and geometric designs offer different ways to wear and collect them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When identifying a piece, check its label, fibre content, weave, dimensions and finish. A maker\u2019s label can help identify a brand, while a fibre label is the best evidence for descriptions such as pure Merino wool. The word \u201cpashmina\u201d on a label or in a style name does not, by itself, confirm the fibre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Measure the main fabric separately from any fringe and note whether the fringe varies in length. Look closely for pulls, holes, stains, fading, loose threads and wear along the edges. For patterned pieces, photographs of the full shawl and close details help show both the overall design and the texture of the weave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n TMC Emporium\u2019s scarves and shawls include floral and paisley designs, branded examples and a labelled Australian Merino wool shawl. Each piece is photographed and described individually so its colour, size, material and condition are clear.<\/p>\n\n\n Find a shawl that speaks to you<\/p>\n\n\n\n From colourful florals to intricate paisley patterns, explore the scarves, shawls and wraps currently available at TMC Emporium. Each piece has its own photographs, measurements and condition details to help you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shop Scarves, Shawls & Wraps<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Gloves were an important fashion accessory throughout much of the twentieth century and remain an important specialist area within vintage fashion collecting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the 1950s and into the 1960s, gloves remained a familiar part of women’s wardrobes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Different styles were worn for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lengths varied considerably, from short wrist-length gloves to long evening gloves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leather was particularly suitable for tailored day and winter gloves because it combined durability with a close, elegant fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute preserves numerous twentieth-century glove examples, demonstrating the continuing importance of gloves within fashionable dress during this period. Fine gloves were traditionally made from relatively thin, flexible leather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on maker and period, this could include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNappa\u201d generally refers more to the character and tanning of a soft, smooth leather than to one particular animal species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For an unmarked vintage pair, it is therefore safer to describe the material visually as soft nappa-style leather or simply genuine leather unless the original label specifies the animal hide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winter gloves could be lined with a variety of insulating materials, including wool, cashmere, fabric and natural fur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Natural fur was traditionally used in better-quality cold-weather gloves and can add considerably to both warmth and luxury.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMaterials Used in Vintage Fashion & Accessories<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Labels, Tags & Country-of-Origin Markings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nDating Vintage Fashion & Accessories<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nCollecting Vintage Fashion & Accessories<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Designer Fashion and Runway Pieces<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Vintage Scarves, Shawls & Wraps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Multicolour](\"https:\/\/themccorrycollection.com\/m\/shop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/N01-multicolour-floral-paisley-woven-shawl-red-roses-fringe.jpeg\")
Vintage Gloves<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
Gloves in Mid-Century Fashion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nLeather Used in Vintage Gloves<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nFur-Lined Gloves<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Vintage](\"https:\/\/themccorrycollection.com\/m\/shop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/vintage-jenners-tan-leather-gloves-palm-view-03-1.jpg\")
![\"Mulberry](\"https:\/\/themccorrycollection.com\/m\/shop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mulberry-cord-trim-poacher-jacket-vintage-fashion-hero-scaled-e1786795818895.jpg\")