Remember the days of beehive hair, viscose twin sets, and very pointy bras? What about crippling stiletto shoes? Certainly the latter have made a comeback (and a sling back).
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At the museum we collect costumes to remind visitors that if you look after it, years down the track you’ll be back in fashion.
Original period clothing and accessories are getting harder to find without spending big dollars; and more recent decades are less interesting to represent, reflecting the ready availability of cheap imported garments and throwaway fashion.
We explore magazine and dressmaking patterns which reflect the first 60 years of the 20th century when magazines weren’t devoted to faux celebrity, but catered for the domestic goddess with free tissue thin dress patterns.
Later, a sweet pin-tucked blouse, Fair isle for him or raffia beach bag for her; maybe a “poodle” skirt for your teenager, or knitted five-piece baby layette.
Finding an early pattern for a gym slip, recalled my mum’s dismay at the price of a high school summer uniform, matched by her dismay at having to make one. Slippery polished cotton. Full skirt, two pockets, self-covered belt, cuffed short sleeves, non-detachable boat collar. A non-sewer’s nightmare.
Patterns also reflect our changing social history in their design and function: a crocheted removable collar could practically adorn several outfits; Aussie pride in a waratah embroidered “supper cloth”; stenciled embroidery for a Duchess set for the kidney-shaped dressing table.
Lovingly and longingly, handmade items for the “glory box”.
We recently acquired a handknitted pilcher, to display in our laundry exhibit with a terry towel nappy square and galvanized soaking bucket.
My mum also soaked dad’s disgusting cotton handkerchiefs before boiling them in a saucepan. That’s a whole other story.
But it is disconcerting to see cloth nappies marketed with the buzz word recyclable. They always were. Washable, one standard size - no need to pay for different proportions - just fold.
Gripe juice aside, back to fashion. Somewhere a woman is watching reruns of Dynasty, treasuring (possibly wearing) a genuine circa 1980s outfit. The look that launched a decade of female power dressing. Fitted waist, straight skirt and shoulders that would grace a gridiron player.
Thanks to popstars shoulder pads also made a mini return in 2000 and 2010. Can you fill our power pads costume gap?
M Thompson © general@oldcourthousemuseum.com