My mom, Dolores, wore this dress on her first date with my dad, Henry, in the summer of 1953.
They went on a double date with my dad's cousin. She doesn't remember where they went.
She made the dress herself and we still have the pattern she used.
My mom learned how to sew so she could make some nice clothes to wear. Her mom didn't sew so she asked if she could get lessons. She taught my sisters and me how to sew.
The fabric has some discoloration from age but overall the dress is in good condition still.
The dress is too tiny to put on my skinny mannequin (my shape 35 years ago) so I had to take the pictures with it laying out on the bed.
I put the fabric in the scanner. I am going to do that with other dresses I have that belonged to my mom and grandmas. I did that once with one of my grandma's dresses and then I printed it and used it as a background in my art journal.
I don't have a photo of my mom wearing this dress but this photo was taken the same summer. She is standing on Mt. Washington overlooking the city of Pittsburgh.
I think it's amazing that you still have this dress from 1953 (not to mention having the pattern, too) and that it's still in good condition! I sometimes look at the shapes of ladies these days and the shapes of ladies in photos from the 1950s. Considering how a photograph makes people look heavier, I'd say the ladies of the 1950s were practically skin and bones! Great post, Susan.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nancy! I love that my mom saved so many neat things! You are right about the shape of the ladies. I love how everyone dressed nice to go everywhere back then. I like comfy clothes too much to put on a dress and heels. Thanks for your comment!
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