Such wonderful memories of grandmother in her starched “house dresses.” They normally were a pale-colored plaid, cotton blend, with a hem below the knee. Grandmother, a small woman, in wire-framed glasses, whom was kind but spoke her mind, washed her face and brushed her teeth, and put her hair into a “bun” before she greeted the kitchen – or us – each morning. God bless her.
How about the memories of dressing up just to go shopping? Going to Sears was a big deal! We didn’t have much money, but we did look respectful. There was no excuse for being dirty or messy. Manners were also highly rated!
My grandmother and mother spent hours at the sewing machine each and every spring and fall, sewing dresses, pant-suits (in the late 60’s, early 70’s), and even coats. I can still smell the fresh fabric as the steam from the iron pressed open the new seams.
I sometimes miss those special times. I’ll throw on a decent t-shirt and jeans, and sometimes a pair of flip-flops and make a quick trip to the grocery store. Yet, I sometimes miss the big a-do of shopping. Perhaps in prior times it was all about not shopping often, it really was a treat. Wasn’t it?
Can we call them vintage memories? Perhaps. I want to hear about yours!
Annies Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps 
I love this Mary. My memories are 2 favorites, one when my grandmother would save as much money as she could to take me school shopping at Mays which was located on 14th St and Union Square. Now the space is occupied by a Whole Foods, DSW and Filene’s Basement. The other was going to Alexanders on 59th St which is now occupied by Bloomingdales. I remember being able to enter via the subway directly to the store and now that is all sealed up. Thanks for sharing..wish my grandmother knew how to sew! LOL
Entering Bloomingdales via the subway must have been very much a treat. Do you remember walking downstairs (ceter stairs) at the Woolworth’s and Murphy’s? Normally a person was greated by the aroma of hot cashew nuts or popcorn. The toys were normally downstairs. It was a fun place to visit for youngsters.
Did you dress up to go shopping with your grandmother? School clothes shopping brings back fond memories. I cannot imagine making them even more fond by being with a much-loved grandmother.
I can sew, but for some reason I cannot find the heart to do it. I bought fabric the summer before last. I was going to make 5 peasant blouses. I ended up using the fabric for crafts. Some of the fabric wrapped soaps. Fond memories, but also bitter-sweet, from the sewing machine to the ironing. Perhaps someday?
You are a dear…thanks for your conversation!
Wearing a hat and gloves to church! when I went off to college I had 9 pair of gloves – dressy gloves not mittens or warming garments – different colors, lengths and materials but to be worn when one was “dressed up”. I love the shirtwaist style dresses my mom usually wore – oh and long full aprons – which were used to keep clothes cleaner not to be cute!
I still love those aprons, Linda Sue. I made one a short while back. I wear it in my soap shop.
Oh, the gloves! I wore them to Sunday School. I didn’t remember the lengths, and colors until you mentioned them. See, you must have seen the significance in them, especially since you remember taking 9 pairs to college.
My Mom made jumpers for me when I was young and a dress that I would to this day love to have back. It was ruined when our house burnt.
About the time I went to jr. high, she went to work in a women’s clothing store. And got a charge card. She worked till 9pm on fridays, so after school, I got on the bus that went to town. I made a great friend with the bus driver during that hour long drive. Usually I was the only one going TO town at that time. Most were coming FROM town. I got on the bus on his last run of the day.
No, I didn’t dress up to go to town. Jeans were my favorite and that’s what I wore all the time unless we were going to church. I hated wearing dresses and eventually quit going to church because they demanded that I wear a dress. I was very active or athletic and dresses were not ….ahem…appropriate. Even at a younger age when they said I had to wear a dress, I always had shorts on underneath. LOL
Mom loved to dress me up in pretty little dresses, gloves and bonnets or hats when I was young and I hated every minute of it.
Oh Becky, what a story, which stirred more memories in me. We were not allowed to wear pants to school until the 8th grade. Later, if we wore pants, pant-suits were required. The tunics, over the pants, had to be knee length.
You were a Tom-Boy then! Since you wore jeans, I can see you falling into the fashion arena about 10 years behind me in age. Nobody wore jeans when I was in grade and high school. Interesting, isn’t it?
It sounds like you enjoyed life, just as it was!
My mom made all my clothes until I married and taught me to sew. I still enjoy sewing, but I rarely make clothing since buying all the patterns, fabrics, and notions is relatively comparable to buying new garments. My favorite outfit was made in 1968 by Mom which was a hippy pattern of bellbottoms and top in a bold, yellow print. I think I wore it at least twice a week. She also made my wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses. Good memories.
Debbie, I remember my first pair of bell bottoms, and mom made those as well!
I had to giggle when you said you wore your hippy outfit at least twice a week! Not that I think it is funny. It was obviously your favorite.
Very good memories.
Oh yes, a tom-boy then, a tom-boy now!
Still don’t like dresses.