Good style is timeless. It’s something that lasts for generations and always stands out. Just ask Maddy Bill, a 27-year-old resident of Ambler, Pennsylvania. She recently discovered her grandmother’s 1950s honeymoon wardrobe, and people can’t believe how good it still looks!
Maddy’s grandmother, Marie D’Alessandro Donato, is now 91 years old. She kept her wedding wardrobe in pristine condition, and now Maddy had the opportunity to wear it with just as much panache, seventy years later. The contents of the suitcase were a true treasure. It held every dress her grandmother wore while visiting New York City during her honeymoon in 1952. According to Maddy, this was the first time someone else had opened the suitcase in seventy years!
To ensure its preservation for future generations, Marie diligently washed every item of clothing she wore. And it worked! Even after seventy years, thousands of people are still appreciating her contributions online.
Maddy, in an interview, shared her excitement about the suitcase: “I opened it up and I was just like, ‘This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.’ It brought back so many memories of my grandparents, especially of my grandfather who passed away twenty-one years ago. It’s just really cool.”
Marie and her late husband Anthony James Donato got married in 1952. They spent their honeymoon in New York City, visiting iconic places like The New Yorker Hotel in Manhattan. Despite not having the most expensive clothes, Marie only had eyes for her husband. As Maddy puts it, “She didn’t care about anything else because she was with her honey.”
After sharing a video of the suitcase on her TikTok account, Maddy received an overwhelming response encouraging her to try on the gowns. And so she did. She tried on her grandmother’s dresses and jewelry, and everything fit perfectly. Maddy was amazed at how well-preserved the clothing was. “It’s pretty cool how intact they are after seventy years. Some pieces still have elastic and it’s still springy,” she said.
One of Maddy’s favorite items is a black dress with short sleeves and a cinched waist. She recalls seeing a picture of her grandma wearing it while staying at The New Yorker Hotel, and it had always captivated her attention.
But the surprises didn’t end there. Maddy also tried on an elegant gray jacket, skirt, and sleeveless top that her grandma had worn on the train to the city. The fashion sense of her grandmother is truly remarkable.
Now, Maddy is excited to introduce the world to this facet of her grandmother and showcase the kind of woman she was. She plans to save the wardrobe for someone special, perhaps her future child or a younger loved one, just like her grandmother did for her.
This charming story highlights the unique bond between a grandmother and her granddaughter and reminds us that fashion never goes out of style. Share this tale to show everyone how fashionable the 1950s truly were!
