Too precious to put? How to decide to wear an old garment

I have a navy blue wool coat that belonged to my grandfather. He had it made while on a naval post in London in 1934. I know this because the date and manufacturer are printed on a label inside one of the pockets.

< p class="dcr-3jlghf">The The coat is double-breasted, falls mid-calf and is lined with thick, shiny viscose. It suits me almost perfectly. I've worn it to important meetings in London, around Paris during fashion week and at home in Melbourne. Every time I put it on, I never cease to be amazed that the fabric of this almost 90-year-old coat is in immaculate condition.

Some seams have started to break, which makes me hyper aware of its age and very careful about where and when I put it. It's a decision fashion historian Eleanor Keene says should be made "with any vintage or antique garment".

"Is- this so precious that I will never wear it…or am I going to like to wear it, in a careful and respectable way?"

For the next two weeks, we'll help you make that choice with your own treasured vintage clothes. Part two of this guide will provide advice on how to wear, repair and store vintage clothing.

Step One: Assessing Value

Bella Lipson-Smith, Conservator of textiles at the National Gallery of Victoria, recommends considering the ways in which clothing is important. "If the object has a unique cultural or research value, it is better to preserve it than to wear it.

"No matter how many precautions you take , wearing the garments will result in a degree of damage, whether it is brittleness or bleaching from exposure to light, friction resulting in pilling or threadbare areas, or more extreme changes such as tears and broken seams. our topo of must-haves, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning

Given the risks of wear and tear, Deborah Miller, an expert in clothing and fashion appraisal, says to consider whether it's so valuable or not "you'll be very upset s 'something happened to it'.

If you decide it's too valuable to be damaged - for sentimental or fiscal reasons - Miller recommends wearing it infrequently, and only on very special occasions when you have time to deal with it afterwards. "Be proud that you're about to pass it on to the next generation," she says.

Step Two: Is It Right For You?