My friend, Sheryl, of A Hundred Years Ago shares her Grandma’s own words (from her diary 100 years ago) a about shopping for new clothes and finding a gray suit. Her Grandma’s young-girl excitement in 1913 over the new additions to her wardrobe got me thinking about yesterday’s fashion trends.
It doesn’t seem so long ago I was looking for my first job and hats were still in. It was the 1950’s and we wore gloves too, “for special” (even in Florida). We wore short gloves for daytime and long gloves for formal occasions. A matching purse and shoes were required to complete the picture.
At the junior prom I actually wore long white gloves and they went all the way to the elbows. They were slightly difficult to peel on and off. Note: The fella in the pic was a boyfriend named Bobby. My to-be, long-term husband, Bill, showed up later.
From the Prom to the Beach
And what about Bathing Suits? The most popular bathing suit in my teen years was always a semi modest one piece! There were two piece versions for the slimmer girls and I suppose there were bikinis but I don’t remember seeing any. Maybe “foreign women” wore them. Very short shorts were risqué enough, even in the Florida sun.
And I rolled my jeans up. Did you? Ooops… the hairdo needs some help from modern day beauticians!
And Before That?
Are you watching Downton Abbey? Aren’t the styles delicious?
And Before That?
What about the long bouffant skirts ladies wore in the Civil War era? Did you know that false hems were loosely attached with big stitches?
Those delightfully swinging skirts would swoop along the ground picking up dirt and mud. The dirty (false) hem could be removed, washed, and basted on again. Voila! Now you would not have to wash the whole dress every time – just the hem!
Looking back at fashion trends is fun, no matter how far back you go. I tend to dress for comfort now, but keep a pair of short white gloves tucked away in case I ever need them.
I don’t much like the skinny jeans and other unflattering looks today, but who knows what we will think a hundred years from now?
I, too, wore long gloves to the prom. And I think I wore short white gloves to church once or twice and to my older cousins wedding in 1962 (when I was 9). It’s fun to look at how fashions change…
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Ahhh! I remember long gloves. They made you feel so elegant until you got ketchup on them. I don’t remember rolling my jeans but I do remember pedal pushers (they call them capris now) and my sexy 2 piece swimsuit was just missing a 2 inch band of fabric around the midriff! It would be called granny-style now! Life was good.
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I forgot all about pedal pushers and the were a big thing, and I love it that you wore a granny style swimsuit! 🙂
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Fun to see the younger you. You were definitely stylin’. 🙂
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This is an awesome post Dor! My mom had a pair of long gloves like that, and I actually still have them. I loved them when I was little, so I asked her if I could keep them. I love looking at photos of all the beautiful dresses my mom used to wear too.
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Downton Abby clothes…….aren’t they just elegant! My daughter is wearing 1950’s vintage for her upcoming wedding. I am wearing a beaded Downtoesque shift……Fascinating post. More os this please?????
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Thanks for the nice mention of A Hundred Years Ago. I’m glad that it gave you the idea for this wonderful post. I especially enjoyed the photos of you when you were a teen. You are so beautiful and glamorous in the prom photo. I never had a pair of elbow-length gloves, but can remember really wanting a pair.
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I love your Prom picture. You look like you belong on the Red Carpet! I am watching Downton Abby and can’t get enough of those wardrobes…they are stunning. I remember having my little white gloves for Easter, with a hat and dress coat too. This was really great!
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OK, I loved reading every last word of this. And looking at the pics! First of all-I know Sheryl a little bit and love to read from her grandma’s diary. Second, your photos are the cutest. And third, don’t get me going about Downton Abbey. So love it…
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I remember being totally shocked the first time I saw a string bikini on a live person. That was tantamount to being seen naked in public. The one piece bathing suit was the only option back then.
Those short white gloves were terribly hard to keep clean, and if they were leather ones, bad luck for you if they got spotted.
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The much much much younger me! 🙂
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My Mom was a 1920’s flapper girl and I love looking at those old styles and the dresses that let them dance the Charleston. 🙂 Glad you liked this post Cindy. 🙂
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Ooooh! Take pictures. Share – please! 🙂
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Thanks Sheryl. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy your blog. I know – I have said that before. I did not feel beautiful when I was a teen (although maybe a little bit in the prom photo) but I’m glad you think so. Maybe my granddaughters will see the post and think the same. It’s not a hundred years ago, but long enough.
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Oh I’m so glad you liked the look back at yesterday’s styles and thank you for that great compliment! I told someone else that I never felt very pretty in those days, but somehow that dress and those gloves in the prom pic made me feel special. 🙂
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You have made my day with your comment Kathy! I don’t think I can wait for January to watch the next segments of Downton Abbey. Wasn’t the ending to Series 3 a shocker? Did you know they actually have Downton Abbey parties around the world? Obviously I love it too. 🙂
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Yes, it certainly was a shocker! Still can’t get over it…but am wondering if maybe it isn’t what we thought it was…? Do you get my drift?
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LOL! I had a pair of short white leather gloves I treasured until they got wet in a downpour. Years later I remembered them when I was watching the OJ Simpson trial! 🙂
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Yep, I get your drift, but no, I think it’s a done deal and just the way it looks! 🙂
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Awww….darn…I was still hoping…
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Yours is the perfect after-the-Oscars fashion post. I just love your beautiful prom photo, and getting to see you in your suit! What fun! Downton Abbey is a favorite of mine! I am so involved in the story that I take the fashion for granted, I’m afraid. ~Lori
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I definitely dress for comfort but I must say that some of the older fashions were really beautiful. The long gloves were so elegant (although I have a feeling my somewhat rebellious nature might have clashed with them 🙂 )
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Oh how I would love to dress up for an occasion with gloves and all. Your pictures of yourself are absolutely beautiful, Doran!
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Thanks Lori! 🙂
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Thanks *hugs*. Hugs in return. 🙂
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