Unbelievable! "Museum Quality"

I e-mailed Roberto Cavalli customer care in New York last night and got a reply back already. They're sending the photos to Italy and will get back to me shortly with more info. such as the year the garment was made.

Meanwhile, they said this [sic]:

You own a real treasure , it's a magnificent piece of history of fashion, a museum quality garment. During the past years five Roberto Cavalli 's garments have been acquired by the prestigious Metropolitan Museum of New York for the permanent collection of the Costume Institute.So .. hold on to it ... it's pretty valuable !

I guess my instincts were right on when I said: "Seriously, it's the type of item I would have expected to get a chance to see nowhere but in a museum in the course of my life."

I've been talking to clothing collectors and dealers, and the lowest guess I've gotten so far of its possible value is upwards of $1,000--but it might be worth a lot more than that. Looks like it's far too valuable to sell on eBay . . . it would probably not get anywhere near its true value there.

There's no way I'm wearing this thing anywhere--I'd be too afraid of spilling something on it or having one of the kids touch it, LOL. I am hanging it carefully in a safe place, out of the direct light.

If you want to stay up-to-the minute on the drama, you can follow the conversation on eBay's Clothing, Shoes and Accessories discussion board here.

This is so incredibly exciting. Hang on for the ride!

I'm going back to that thrift store today to go over every rack with a fine-toothed comb. :)

[Update here. The news may not be quite so exciting after all, but we'll see.]