What outfits for special occasions do you remember?
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Open for suggestions: What other topic(s) would you like to see on this blog? Thank you for letting me know. 🙂
Wordless Wednesday: Fancy Frocks
by MarianBeaman | Apr 10, 2019 | blog, Easter, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite History, Nostalgia, Uncategorized | 55 comments
Good morning, Marian. What a wonderful photo! I don’t remember special dresses for holidays and such, but back in those days we wore dresses all the time. I remember it was a big deal to go buy new school clothes each year–and then it was too hot to wear the fall clothes.
Good morning, Ms. First Commenter. Yes, girls wore dresses only to school then, though I remember wearing “snow pants” when it got cold, which I believe fit inside our boots. It seems so long ago because it is!
🙂
That is such an adorable photograph, Marian. The little one on the right really seems to be enjoying herself. I remember always going shopping with my mother for a new Easter outfit and shoes. Whatever you write, I always enjoy reading!
My mother made our Easter dresses and my aunt (Ruthie) made us spring coats of pastel-colored wool. My mother probably kept dresses and coats for hand-me-downs. I’m glad this post evoke memories shopping for new Easter clothes. Thanks, Jill!
I like that the photographer didn’t worry about your sister that was looking another direction. I’ve now learned that that is important with children in pictures–one professional told us, don’t worry about what the children are doing or make them smile, you’ll love the photo in years to come anyway. Very true and this picture fits that–you look like you here! I shared an Easter photo here from years past, where I looked like I didn’t want to smile even though my sisters had lovey little smiles.: https://findingharmonyblog.com/2013/06/15/finding-harmony-across-three-generations-as-the-daughter-of-a-world-war-ii-c-o-married-to-a-son-of-a-world-war-ii-vet-part-ii/
Yes, I clicked back to your old post and left a comment. Aren’t you glad you have this record? Now you have the time to reminisce without rushing. Thanks, Melodie!
It’s impossible not to smile looking at that picture. We had similar dresses for Easter – and bonnets for the day too.
We wore Easter bonnets too, straw with ribbons, which we traded for Mennonite coverings when we were older. Thanks for chiming in, Arlene!
Sunday Best was the ‘rigueur’ for those going to church on Sunday morning when I was growing up.
I assume that meant a dress for you, and possibly a hat and gloves. Yes, Fatima?
No. No hat or gloves, just something smart. We didn’t have a lot of clothes then, so we had to have at least one special dress for special occasions.
I understand that. I didn’t have many outfits either. All our family’s clothes fit into one closet. Life was simpler then . . . and I didn’t feel the lack. Thanks for the follow-up, Fatima!
We were happier with less and that’s why I found it easy to downsize and live frugally.
Amen to that, Fatima! 🙂
Bows in our hair! I can remember Mom ironing our satiny hair ribbons Saturday evening so we’d look stylish Sunday morning. I was too young in this picture to wear a bow yet. Love the photo.
Jean
Jean, I think you may have a photo like this. Yes, I remember satiny ribbons on the ironing board too. And also the scent of chalky white shoe polish, a fresh coat every Sunday. You’re so cute with your hands folded just so! 🙂
Too cute!!! I love photos like this. I remember getting an Easter outfit every year! This included shoes, tights, and sometimes a hat!
As for topics, I love childhood memories, holiday traditions, status updates on your book, Scripture thoughts, great quotes, travel fun–whatever God brings to mind.
Thanks for replying to # 2, L Marie. As a matter of fact, a memoir update is coming in two weeks. 🙂
Marian — That black and white photograph is beyong precious! I remember my sister and I got Easter dresses that my grandmother made, white frilly socks to wear with shiny patent leather shoes, little purses, white gloves, and bonnets.
Thee dresses were hand-made too. My mother did the embroidery and smocking. How lucky that you had a seamstress grandmother, handy with needle and thread. 🙂
Tooo dear Marian, and the dresses no doubt embroidered by your grandmother or Aunt Ruthie 🙂
My brain cannot retrieve any info for dressing up for a special occasion as a child.
As for your blogs, keep ’em coming. I like ’em just the way they are ..
Yes, my mother made and embroidered these dresses. She doted on our appearance. I have speculated that we were her dolls that she was deprived of playing with because her mother died when she was nine. Thanks for your input here, Susan.
That is the most precious picture of you and your sisters. Mom would often make me a new dress for Christmas and Easter. The first one I recall was made of pink taffeta with puffy sleeves and a big bow tied at the back. I was quite little and called it my puffeta dress. I love it when you post pictures and stories of your youth.
“Puffeta” is the perfect name for taffeta, Darlene. I was baptized in a taffeta dress, but not pink: a very tame navy and white check, as I recall. As for stories of my youth: My memoir covers birth to age 24 with plenty of stories, some surprising.
I look forward to reading it.
Love this picture, Marian. I imagine the three of you can see your basic personalities on display in it. I remember Easter dresses and bonnets so well. My mother never made my dresses, but she bought them (on sale usually) at Charlotte’s Dress Store in Lititz. I remember the corner and the small area for girls’ dresses. Mother was a good judge of quality and enjoyed pushing the boundaries of Mennonite finery. I loved it.
Shops in Lititz may have been a tad more stylish than the ones in Elizabethtown. Also, we attended a country church. Still, my plain mother too pushed the boundaries with her Mennonite “dolls.” I wonder if there is still a Charlotte’s Dress Store in Lititz; Google didn’t bring up any results. I remember you referring to church and school attire in your memoir. Oh, yes!
Wonderful photo of you three!
Thanks, Jack! Maybe you remember Janice and Jean as well.
My mother loved to sew and I remember a dress that had daisies similar to the one on your sister’s dress (the one on the right). I think she actually embroidered them on there, not sure how she had time to do that with a new baby every two years and one village sewing machine. Mom would rip apart clothing received from MCC, design her own patterns while waiting for her turn at the sewing machine, then sit at night by kerosene light and sew! I feel another blog post coming on. You always inspire me to tell my stories!
Although we have vastly different geography, we have similar roots, which may account for experiences that often coincide. How resourceful your mother was to design your clothing with her own patterns ~ and ONE village sewing machine. I get the impression sewing was a creative outlet for your mother. Thanks for sharing this peek into your early family life.
And I’m glad this story has inspired another blog post for you, Elfrieda. I look forward to reading it!
I wonder now if as a very young boy in dirty bib overalls, smudges on my face holding a broken kitchen faucet I saw this picture of the three sisters…that one day I might marry one of them!
But of course! You’d pick a Neatnik to complement you. 🙂
Adorable! Ugh, my mother went through a phase of dressing me and my sister in ‘matching’ outfits. I’m 6 years old than my sister, so I was not impressed when I was 10 and she was 4 and we matched. LOL 😉
I can see how such a big age gap might make a difference to a fashionista at age ten ~ ha! Of course you didn’t want to match a kindergartner. Thanks, Debby!
Lol 🙂
Adorable, Marian. As the oldest of three sisters, I assume you’re the pretty girl to the left? Cherished memories. I’ve never been into fashion or fancy dresses, so to be honest, I don’t remember any special occasions with special clothes.
On my official wedding day (which wasn’t planned), I wore my favorite skirt at the time, a baby-blue tank top bought during previous travels (Thailand), and flip flops. When we had the actual wedding party (four years later!) in St. Martin, I bought a white summer dress locally for $20, which I still have!
Both your dress and your marriage are enduring. That’s what really matters! You may have heard of the TV show called Say Yes to the Dress. Brides-to-Be spend ghastly amounts (thousands!) on their gowns, and with such a focus on looks I have to wonder if they thought beyond the wedding day.
Thanks for the compliment. Mother thought of all three of us as her dolls, so she once told a friend. 🙂
I love the picture of you and your sisters and your pretty dresses, Marian! It tells me my sister and I were right in style! Our dresses were similar to yours and made by our mother! I love going back to my childhood days, life was so simple and so fun! Thanks for the reminder!
It’s fun going back to those days. It gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling too. I’m glad this post conjured up pleasant memories of you and your sister’s dressy outfits. Thanks, Anita!
My Mom still has one of her smocked dresses made by my great-grandmother. I can remember wearing different ones. I tried smocking once – disaster! 🙂
I wonder if your mom’s smocked dress will be a pass-me-down to you. Yes, I remember smocking: so much thread twisting; I too never got the hang of it.
Thanks, Jenn! 😀
I’ve been told that when I was a toddler – and maybe up until 5 years of age, my great-aunt made dresses that she smocked. I don’t recall them, but my mom adored them and still talked about those dresses when I became an adult. What I DO remember at that age is my first fancy underpants (maybe I was just out of diapers?). They had the most amazing frills on them. My mom wanted me to wear the frills in the back, but in my little girl mind, that made no sense. I insisted on wearing those frills in the front. Of course!
You are the winner of the most adorable story! Of course, if you can’t see fancy frills they aren’t there.
One of these days you’ll post the conclusion to your latest thriller. I’m waiting with bated breath.
Thanks for checking in today, Pam!
I just put the last dot on the answer to WHAT’S in the TRUNK, so it will be out tomorrow morning. Boy, I haven’t thought of those underpants in a long time. See what your post did? I think I need to go find another pair like it – and STILL I’ll wear them ‘backwards’ so the frills are ‘frontwards.’ 🙂 xo
“Secrets of the Girl in Frilly Underpants,” there you go.
It’s “tomorrow morning” now, so I’ll go check what’s in the trunk.
I just stumbled onto your blog…..meant to be I guess! Enjoyed reading about you! Love your blog! Have a great day!
Ah, Nancy, thanks for subscribing to my blog AND leaving a comment here. We can be fancy and plain together! 🙂
That photo is ADORABLE!!
Thank you, Ms. Fiona! 🙂
Don’t you all look like little angels 😊.
I remember having a party dress that started on my knees and ended up like a mini dress . It’s strange because I don’t remember it being tight anywhere else ….
Times were hard. 😊
Today we have charity shops , cheap as chips . When used pass it on or take it back , everyone benefits.
Cherryx
Even women who can afford to shop in upscale shops use charity stores, which we call thrift shops here. If you browse in the right part of town, you can get designer labels, if that’s your “thing.” I agree, everyone benefits.
Only one of the girls in the trio could be classified as an angel, and it wasn’t moi! Cheerio, Cherry. I hope life is treating you well.
What a gorgeous photo, Marian. Thank you.
I have photos of myself in church clothes–pastel dresses and shiny shoes that didn’t take well to mud. My mother liked to dress me in brown tweed and camel colored practical clothes. It was a constant source of friction. In 7th grade, I took sewing in a home economics class and found the answer to my desire. My mother would buy fabric if I made my own clothes. So I did. Lots of black and red. I also knew how to knit so could make myself a sweater. By the time I was in high school, I made shirts for my brother. By the time I married, I made shirts and a sport’s jacket for my husband. At some point, I decided making clothes wasn’t my passions and I stopped, but I could polish up those old skills if I needed to.
Thank you for a peek into your into your sewing skills history. I notice you chose bold hues, black and red, a subtle way to protest your mother’s choice of neutral colors. Already your true self was asserting itself!
I sewed from early on; that’s what most Mennonite girls did back then, of course. After years of sewing, I put away my machine and turned to writing. You know the feeling, Elaine. Thanks for all this.