A 27-year-old woman who discovered a suitcase filled with outfits her grandmother wore during her honeymoon in 1952 has earned viral fame by trying on and showcasing the vintage looks 70 years after they were last modeled.
Marie D’Allesandro Donato and Anthony James Donato tied the knot in the ’50s, and after saying their ‘I dos,’ the couple packed their bags and headed to New York City for their honeymoon.
After the trip was over, Marie washed the clothes that she wore on the vacation and put them back into her suitcase, where they have sat untouched ever since.
Now, seven decades later – Marie’s 27-year-old granddaughter, Maddy Bill decided to pull them out and try each and every piece of clothing on.
She captured herself in the outfits and shared the results to TikTok, alongside pictures of her grandma, who is now 91, in them all those years ago – and it quickly went viral.
‘My grandmother kept all her honeymoon clothes in this suitcase to this day. Opening it up 70 years later,’ she wrote in the clip, which has been viewed more than six million times.
A TikToker (right) tried on the outfits that her grandmother wore to her honeymoon in 1952 (left), which have been preserved in a suitcase for 70 years
Marie D’Allesandro Donato and Anthony James Donato (pictured at their wedding) tied the knot in the ’50s, and then packed their bags and headed to New York City for their honeymoon
After the trip was over, Marie washed the clothes that she wore on the vacation and put them back into her suitcase (pictured), where they have sat untouched ever since
Now, more than seven decades later – Marie’s 27-year-old granddaughter, Maddy Bill (pictured in one of the outfits) decided to pull them out and try each and every piece of clothing on
Marie and Anthony met shortly after he returned from World War II, according to Insider.
The 91-year-old told the outlet that she played hard to get until her sister finally forced her to give Anthony a chance.
The pair wed at the Saint Cosmos Church in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, when she was 22 and he was 27.
They then headed to the Big Apple via train, where they stayed at The New Yorker hotel on the corner of 8th avenue and 34th street in Manhattan.
After the romantic getaway came to an end, Marie explained that she decided to preserve her clothes in the suitcase because it was one of her favorite memories – and she wanted to pass down the ‘excitement’ that she felt about her ‘future’ with Anthony.
‘The excitement of the future ahead was what my honeymoon meant to me. I guess, in a way, I wanted to save that feeling in the suitcase for my daughters and their daughters,’ she said.
However, the suitcase remained unopened until Maddy got her hands on it earlier this year.
Maddy (right) captured herself in the outfits and shared the results to TikTok, alongside snaps of her grandma (left), who is now 91, in them all those years ago – and it quickly went viral
Marie decided to preserve her clothes because it was one of her favorite memories – and she wanted to pass down the ‘excitement’ that she felt about her ‘future’ with Anthony
When Maddy and her grandmother (pictured with her husband) finally got to go through it together, she said it was ‘remarkable’
It turns out, Marie had given the fashion capsule to her daughter – who is Maddy’s mom – but Maddy said she never opened it because she wanted to save it to experience with her daughter.
The first thing she tried on what a black, button-down dress, which her grandma had worn out to dinner during the honeymoon
And when they finally got to go through it together, Maddy said it was ‘remarkable.’
‘When my mom and I opened it up, it was like all the photographs I saw of my grandma growing up came to life,’ Maddy gushed.
‘It was remarkable because I felt like we were bringing the past to life. Everything is honestly in pretty amazing condition.’
The first thing she tried on what a black, button-down dress, which her grandma had worn out to dinner during the honeymoon.
Maddy said she ‘couldn’t even describe the feeling’ of putting the gown on and seeing it fit perfectly.
‘I always remember seeing the photograph of my grandmother in the dress growing up, but I never saw the physical dress,’ she shared.
‘I can’t even describe the feeling of putting it on for the first time and having it fit perfectly.’
And when Marie saw her granddaughter in it, it quickly flooded her with memories from the trip and made her feel like she was back on her honeymoon.
Maddy also wore the outfit that Marie donned for the train ride from Pennsylvania to New York, which included a black and white, striped shirt and a gray jacket and skirt combo
Maddy said she ‘couldn’t even describe the feeling’ of putting the clothes on and seeing it fit perfectly
Maddy also tried on a silky, button-down shirt (left) and a yellow and red striped, turtleneck sweater (right)
‘I wish I was young again and could do it all over,’ gushed Marie. ‘Seeing the dress fit her as perfectly as it fit me was like jumping back in time.’
Maddy then wore the outfit that Marie donned for the train ride from Pennsylvania to New York, which included a black and white, striped shirt and a gray jacket and skirt combo.
Marie, who Maddy said ‘always looks pristine,’ takes her style very seriously.
‘They didn’t have a lot of money, but they took a lot of pride in the things they wore,’ she said of her grandmother and her grandmother’s sisters.
Maddy then tried on a light pink, sundress – which contained a sheer cut-out in the center and butterflies stitched into the top – as well as a silky, button-down shirt and a yellow and red striped, turtleneck sweater.
Maddy also wore her grandmother’s red and white, polka dot bandana, as well as pieces of her jewelry, including a watch, necklace, bracelets, and a few pairs of earrings.
When Marie (pictured) saw her granddaughter in her clothes, it quickly flooded her with memories from the trip and made her feel like she was back on her honeymoon
Maddy (right) then wore her grandmother’s (left) red and white, polka dot bandana, as well as pieces of her jewelry, including a watch, necklace, bracelets, and a few pairs of earrings
Since going viral, Maddy has tried to explain the impact that her clothes have had on the internet to her grandmother – who doesn’t quite understand the video streaming site.
‘My grandmother doesn’t understand TikTok, but I explained that people all over the world are infatuated with her fashion sense and see her as a fashion icon,’ said Maddy, adding that Marie has always been bummed that she lost the best dressed contest at her school – by one vote.
‘This video going viral was my way of showing the world how stylish and amazing she is. Even better than winning best dressed at Conshohocken High School.’
After trying everything on, Maddy packed the clothes back up in the suitcase, and plans to someday pass it down to her own daughter.
‘My grandmother took pride in the way she presented herself, and I think this is a wonderful thing and what I hope to emulate in my life,’ she concluded.
‘I’m glad I got to share my grandmother and her fashion sense with the world and shine a remarkable light on a woman that truly deserves it.’
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