Gypsy Creams
Run up a little cotton something in your spare time…
Woman's Own / 20th March 1970
Wow. Now here’s a sign of the times. The reason that I have these magazines is because of the old custom of dressmaking, actually, as a couple on my local Freecycle moved into a house which was previously occupied by an old woman who used to enjoy making clothes. She left a large collection of women’s mags from the ’60s, as they were known for their dressmaking patterns, and they were eagerly picked up by me on Freecycle. Thus, Gypsy Creams was born!
Of course, due to modern technology and cheap overseas labour, it’s now a lot less cost-effective to make your own clothes, although possibly not as ethically or ecologically sound. Perhaps, given these concerns, dressmaking will make a comeback, although there is also the problem that most modern women (or, indeed, men), may have trouble finding the time!
Tags: fashion, social history
7 Comments
Joey on 21 October 2009 @ 6am
The little woman round the corner? Is being short a prerequisite to ‘running’ up clothes? Ha, I liked this one a lot.
Tanya Jones on 21 October 2009 @ 4pm
I liked the dress on the right too. I love the idea of women all over the country sitting down at their sewing machines after having got the shopping and housework out the way. My mum had a sewing machine, but rarely used it, because she had to work, being, well, working class :)
Jo on 21 October 2009 @ 7pm
Also love the one on the right! My mum had a sewing machine (still does, the same one) to make the curtains, pillow cases and other things for the new house that they moved out to in the early 60s. Like a different world. It never really made much of an appearance when I was a kid in the 80s though :)
Your website is making me wonder about whether I should chuck out all my old Vox, Select, NME and Melody Makers that have come down from the loft… will Oscar and Sam find those equally amusing and fascinating in 30 years? ;)
Estelle on 21 October 2009 @ 8pm
I feel inadequate reading old magazines that are full of this stuff – Jackie and the like were always knitting hats and things too. I wish I could make clothes, I would love to make things to my specification, although I have discovered styleshake.com which is my “little woman round the corner” but more expensive….
I’d also have the maxi dress, lovely!
Tanya Jones on 22 October 2009 @ 7pm
Jo, I think Oscar and Sam will LOVE your old mags when they get older: it’s documenting a particular period in time and if they get into the music, it’ll be very exciting for them. They do use up space, though! I still wish my mum hadn’t made me get rid of all my Smash Hits, but we had enough crap as it was ;)
Dave on 22 October 2009 @ 11pm
>Cotton…obeys your every command so precisely, you can’t call it work at all.
So don’t you dare take any pride in it.
Jules on 21 October 2009 @ 6am
The one on the right is amazing! Want.