What was your party dress like when you were 8

[Radio4Rocks]

Inspired by another nostalgia thread.

I was 8 in 1960 and my party dress was made by my mum and was the envy of all my friends.

It was tangerine nylon with a full gathered skirt with a border of white flowers around the hem, lovingly applied by hand. The same flowers were around the neckline as well. It had a sash that tied in a bow at the back.

Underneath I wore a white layered paper nylon petticoat to make the skirt of my dress stand out.

White, lace trimmed ankle socks and white sandals. The sandals had to be cleaned with that white pastey stuff that came in a tube with a sponge on the end.

My long hair was dragged into a high pony tail with a huge white bow.

I loved that dress. My mum made me a new party dress every year until I went to grammar school and was too sophisticated for such things. 😉

My mum made me a dress and took me to the fabric shop to choose the material. I chose a silky cotton fabric in a sort of ivory white, with small green camels printed on it. My dress had puffed sleeves and a green ribbon sash. I loved that dress!

1984. I'm not sure, but I did have a fetching pair of silver sandals I was extremely proud of!

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Cream and pink Laura Ashley fabric, handmade into a dress with a lacy frilled collar and puffed sleeves. White ankle socks but sadly no patent shoes. The year after was a set from similar fabric but pedal pushers and a waistcoat, worn with a white blouse from M&S. Shoes had upgraded to patent ankle straps. I don't need to tell you what year...

In the early 70s,my sister and I wore nighties to parties. Every year! Always pretty and floral but for crying out loud mother,why?!

I should preface this with the fact I hated dresses, pink, dressing up or wearing anything that wasn't practical for having fun, which to say the least clashed with my mothers ideas of how I should appear. So most got accidentally or intentionally damaged.

1989, a selection of hideously pink and frilly things. The most loathsome had nasty little silk flowers sewn on the bodice, and a big netted underskirt. Always worn with vile pink tights, or white tights with flowers or similar shite on. A spectacularly nasty pair of white leather shoes stands out, as do some pink leather sandals with fucking butterflies on, but I couldn't swear to being 8 when I was forced to wear them.

1978 my party dress was a full length smock, long sleeves, navy polka dot with a separate sleeveless white lace overdress that buttoned down the back. Always worn with patent buckle shoes and white ankle socks.

@MossandRoy

Oh god, awful brown monstrosity with lacy cuffs and ruff neck thing and smocking. Looked a bit like a frilly sack. 1978. Mother loved it!

Ooh sounds familiar. 1970s party dresses for girls were long.

1989 a black taffeta above the knee skirt with a red short velvet jacket style top, red patent shoes and my hair curled with benders! Thought I was the bees knees

75
Orange high neck shift dress with appliqué elephants sewn around them hem

79 brown and beige flowery dress with puffed sleeves and a house on the prairie styleeee

1987 I had a Laura Ashley dress, light blue floral pattern with smocking, cut just below the knee, I think puff sleeves.

I was a bridesmaid for my aunt that year too, peach dress, lace over skirt with gathers and bows, many layers of petticoats. I had my hair set in ringlets. Hottest day of the year, I was so hot!

Early 90s, a dress my mum spotted in a charity shop and brought home, I loved it. Navy polyester in a texture a bit like slub silk, with a full gathered skirt, puff sleeves, and almost certainly some smocking. Little bits of gold trim. I felt so grown up because it wasn’t pale pink!

Kerkyra you weren’t alone. I was just remembering how my aunt made me and my two cousins wear long white floaty nighties with printed pictures of Holly Hobby or similar on the front - to her wedding 😮 We were the bridesmaids. Heaven knows what the vicar made of that.

Me in the 60's I remember have a pale pink party dress, peter pan collar, puff sleeves that were seethough (I think), matched the top layer of the skirt part, it was three layers, white underskirt then pink shiney then pink see though chiffony stuff and a sash waist. A hand me down from my sister. Then I grew into the Yellow one same style.
I loved those dresses. Also had patent leather shoes and ankle socks to finish the look.

1995 a pink satin dress with puff sleeves, full skirt and a high waist. It had a long grosgrain ribbon that tied at the waist and the same ribbon decorated the neck and hem.

It was perfect, I loved it.

1978. Brown patchwork with white collar and cuffs. I think my gran must have made it, she made a lot of our clothes back then. I loved it!

2003 - it wasn't a dress, it was a black velvet catsuit with a halter neck and flared trouser hems.

Something from my mums Empire Catalogue. Nylon, purple flowers, floor length with scratchy lace at neck and cuffs.

I loved it. Lit up the bedroom when I took it off at night, crackling and sparking

1976. Long blue skirt with a shirred waistband and emu prints all over it. Worn with a high-necked white broderie anglaise blouse with buttons down the back. I can't imagine it was comfortable. We were put in the same blouses for our first ever plane trip.

I had a nightie at the same time that I loved so much I tried to wear it to school. 100% nylon, with a floral skirt, white bodice and red sleeves. My clearly-unreasonable DM made me take it off again 😟

Trousers. Or shorts. I utterly refused to ever wear dresses age 5-10.
I never got invited to parties, anyway.
Didn't brush my hair either.
Once a scruffbag always a scruffbag.

My mum or nan made all mine....My fave was when I was 7/8 ?? 1974.... it was velvet orange and pink floral with a lacy white collar....I thought I looked like a princess!

1980s. navy velvet, tartan trim. with a big-ass hair bow for that slight Grayson Perry as Claire vibe.

I can't remember at 8 but in the Infants (age 5-7) in the 70s the mums made party dresses. They were all floor length. I remember my mum bought fabric with a black background with pink roses on it which I liked.

A sort of little house on the prairie/Holly Hobbit dress complete with a little mop cap!

Probably my sisters cast offs.
But when I was 12 in 1970 I got a purple trouser suit with a matching cap for Christmas.
I thought I was the bees knees.