Sometimes people send me really interesting things. I’ve had fabulous fabric, vintage goodies and various natty novelties in the post – but I’d never received any frilly frocks – until now.
A whole box of frilly frocks arrived the other day. They’re vintage of course, dating from the 1950s and 1960s, and travelled all the way from America. Someone for whom I am making a set of dolls sent them – she wore them as a child.
I knew they were coming, but until I opened the box of frocks I had no idea what treasures lay within…
These little dresses are just so of their time!
I remember Nanna (my Dad’s mother, who lived with us when I was growing up) often telling me how happy she was that she had granddaughters.
Nanna loved and treasured my sister and I and having had no daughters of her own, she relished dressing us up in similarly lacy, girly, frilly frocks.
Nanna used to make dresses for us on her old hand-cranked Singer sewing machine. I remember being mortified more than once as she yanked up my skirt to show off to her friends the bit of handiwork she was most proud of: my matching frilly knickers.
There are no matching knickers with these frocks and they have labels, so were shop-bought. But the person who wore them may have had habits similar to my sister…
I was the sort of child who could be dressed up and would remain in the same pristine state: my sister was not. My mum always joked that if she turned away for a matter of seconds, my sister’s frock would be stained when she turned back.
There are stains on these frocks. Little girls who dribbled and smeared food with grubby fingers have worn them. And the dresses are all the more charming for it.
They seem to me to whisper a story of very-much-loved little girls who were dressed in their best, but still allowed to have fun.
In my mind I can almost hear the giggles from parties long ago…
The frilly frocks from the box will become outfits for a commissioned set of tiny fairy dolls. They will be turned into miniature frilly frocks. I will cut around the stains.
But I can’t say I’m looking forward to wielding my scissors…
I will have to steel myself to destroy a little piece of the past – and silence those ghostly girly giggles forever.♥
I don’t think for one second you’ll be silencing the giggles. You are giving those dresses a new life, a second chance at being adored, fresh outings on little people. Wield those scissors with pride….
Going to have to steel myself… I always struggle to cut up nice things, be it fabric or frocks! Even when I know that it is actually repurposing them (and in line with the person who sent them’s wishes!)
What beautiful photos of the frocks!! I am using some of the clothes my mother made me to recreate…I dreaded doing it …however now seeing the new life. Gives me JOY!!! Have fun recreating from the past…peace
What made these delightful garments so special I believe, was the fabrics used in making the garments. Beautiful crisp organdy, dotted swiss, fine cottons in wonderful Easter egg colors made ready for spring. Gone are the days when you could shop at the local fabric store for special fabrics and trims. Now you have to shop on line for better fabrics and trims which is not as inspiring as being able to see and feel the fabrics. Very poor quality locally in my area (states) I think in the U.K. you have quality fabric goods and access to European fabrics.
Hopefully you will give us a peek at the reinterpretations. Have fun.
A great big thank you to the person who parted with these keepsakes to give them new life. I can’t wait to see what you do with them. I wish I could sew like you!