Elegance With a Purpose
Mid-20th-century houses were chock-full of details like this. Usefulness and aesthetics were one. That cushioned sleeve safeguarded delicate cloths like silk and rayon. There was no such thing as clothes mass-production. People were buying fewer things, and holding onto them longer. They were looking after what they already had.
My aunt told me she hand-washed her good blouse because her mother would have had a fit if it went through the machine. That blouse did have a hanger, after all—not the same one used for coats. There was a system.
Fast Forward to Now
Most of us have fast fashion items filling our closets. Wire hangers, plastic ones — they serve their purpose, but do not exactly encourage care. When I discovered that satin hanger cover, it occurred to me to treat my wardrobe better. Not because it’s stylish, but because caring for things is the correct thing to do.
