Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree...


I've had this dress for a couple of years....I'm fascinated by the fabric, the style, the cut...oh look at the rose...oh the sailor collar...hey, those seams are fancy!


The blue and green says early 60s to me...I remember the Blue and the Green combo really well. But late 50s, mid 50s or early 60s?? The emphasis on the bust....the wittled waist...the length....that's sexy !

Investigation was needed!


It has its original tags about the fabric.
I knew it was pre-fabric tag requirement ...that was 1960...and no care labels...that became mandatory in 1971.
there 's no printed tags inside, just the paper hangtag pinned to the sleeve.

Purchased at Zukor's dress shop in Seattle, 216 Pike St....also, pre-zip code......(zip became mandatory in 1962 as well as shortened state name....Wash became WA)




so this slim fitted dress pattern dated 1959, from etsy seller, SelvedgeShop , shows that style and length.....oh, the colors....blue. green. for the 2 dresses.....
the plot thickens.


and this one from 1962 ....The Worlds Fair in Seattle, the year my husband was born!
By '62, it's getting shorter...it's not so sexy...and dare I say....getting dowdy. and motherly. yes. The 50s was about catching the man, getting him married, and then having a few babies and a white picket fence. That's it. and then the 60s....the early 60s. pre-Twiggy. pre-Mod.
from etsy seller,SewUniqueClassique ....

 So we know....the approximate date......pre-62.


I opened the sales slip.......oh look !



12- 3 - 1960


well, hells bells. A gal bought this in the dress shop...and then never wore it.
Hey. don't let that happen again!
This dress is beautiful and sexy!

a size medium to large.
bust - 44",waist - 32",hips - 42",length - 44"
and blue and green. like sea glass......like the ocean....like...Camelot.......Jack  and Jackie Kennedy were about to take up residence in the White House come January 1961
bye bye Eisenhower....the young fresh new idealism was swept in..... a young vibrant President and his lovely wife and sweet little children........

........Maybe a striped-suited brand new 1960 Barbie Doll was wrapped  and waiting under the Christmas tree.....maybe a special dinner was planned for Hannukah.
Yeah, let's Party !
click this link for more 1960 hi-jinks!

Here's a song played at the Holiday party this dress never went to.......