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. 😉

About 1982 at my own birthday party, I had cherry red velvet knickerbockers with a matching velvet waistcoat, teamed with a white ruffle front blouse with gold trim. Topped off with black patent shoes from Clarks!
It must have been in fashion (possibly just in our town ) as one of my friends had the exact same ensemble but in black! I’ve a photo somewhere!....

1982. It was a floaty chiffon thing in dark brown with gold threads through it. Sounds hideous now but I seem to remember feeling rather elegant in it.

1992

M&S obviously. Black crushed velvet jacket thing with gems on the shoulders. Skirt was floral with mustard and purple flowers and teal leaves.

I'm not entirely sure I loved it but my DM def did.

1982. A red gingham sundress style with ties on the shoulder and a broderie frilled edge. Bloody loved that dress.

I don't remember, but my dad ran a kids clothing company, for inexpensive places like C&A, but used to buy expensive sample clothes in our sizes (as inspiration for designers) so it was possibly something quite fancy from Paris!

I think I remember one from one when I was 9 - it was in a black-based flower print (very bright colours), buttoned up at the front, had a sort of frill around the waist and flared skirt and a waist tie, sleevless with straps.

1987 - my party outfit was a white flippy skirt with very small black polka dots & a white cap sleeve t-shirt with a zebra on. C&A's finest - i adored it.
One of our interns had a very similar top from topshop about 3 years ago. It made me feel very old.

1969. I didn't have a proper 'party dress' like the OPs. I had a pink A line crimplene dress with some sort of white trim, which I didn't like.

I refused to wear a dress!
I remember having a complete meltdown in C&A looking for a 'nice dress' for my cousin's wedding... eventually I gave up and we got a dress. I had a face on me for the whole wedding.....and to rub salt in the wound the wedding was on my fucking birthday!!!!!!!!!

I loved my part my dress

It resembled an abstract picture of a bluebell wood. With smocking and a collar.

I also had a pale yellow dress which had daisys on it. Which was for the summer

Both were probably from m&s mid 90s

My mum made my communion dress out of a white summer dress, she sewed on the sleeves of a silky blouse, and sewed on lots of little white roses.

I then wore the sleeveless blouse and flowery shorts for the party afterwards.

Dms still got the dress at her house, I only have boys (so far) but if I ever have a DD I'd love for her to wear it, it was such a nice dress.

When I was eight, in the early sixties, the standard party dress was pink organza over another silky layer, with frilly petticoats underneath. Sometimes there were raised white patterns, flowers or bows, or spots. The style was short puffed sleeves, a round or Peter Pan collar, a full gathered short shirt and a h-u-g-e bow at the back.
There were white ankle socks and patent leather strapped shoes in white or red, or white sandals.
Everyone but everyone wore these, and I can remember the surprise when someone turned up with a blue version of this dress.
Once England began to swing, and we got Mary Quant, and boutiques, they all disappeared, as though they had never been...

I prob had several as my mum never had many clothes when she was young so went overtop on us.
Remember a glitzy pink one and pale lemon and hared them all as I was never a dress little girl , preferred jeans or tracksuit bottoms
So would of worn reluctantly whatever one she got out wardrobe

I only ever had one-for my 8th birthday in 1980.

It was a maxi dress with a plain white top and three quarter length sleeves, a band of smocking and floral embroidery at the waist and a long red skirt. I inherited it from my American cousins.

I also went through a phase of wearing nighties as dresses in the 1970s. Glad I'm not the only one.

About 1987. It had a velvet bodice and a purple taffeta skirt with black spots on it. I was 8 and my nan made it. She was a seamstress and made virtually every dress I wore as a child. I just used to tell her what I wanted and she would draw a pattern and make it for me. I had no idea how lucky I was!!

Mid 90s. Gold velvet dress worn with black tights, gold t-bar shoes and a black alice band. My younger sister age 3-4 had a matching outfit. It was adorable.

1980 something, black velvet with, short puffed sleeves and a big floppy bow, worn with bright pink tights I invariably laddered and patent black shoes

This is such a sweet thread. I doubt I had one, but love hearing these memories

Mid 1970s - maxi, probably crimplene, brown with a tiered frill at the bottom and a brown/pink floral inset placket. Lace trimmed. Probably came from Littlewoods or M&S.

Revolting in retrospect but I loved it. Everyone I knew had a dress a bit like it for parties.

Similar to @Thecazelets, mid-70s crimplene floor-length monstrosity, brown white and yellow, I think. Always worn with silver sandals.

Did someone ask for photos?
Here is the dress mentioned in to OP.I loved it so much OI insisted on wearing it to the beach on holiday.

And another one a year earlier at a birthday party. I'm second from the right in the tiered nylon frills.

This is me off to a party with a friend I had known from babyhood. Sadly all I can remember was the other girls teasing me and laughing at my little apron.

@marjorie2607

How adorable 😍😍

Some gorgeous photos. Wish I had a photo of girls in my class all in 70s floor length home made dresses but I don't unfortunately