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. 😉

Mid 1970s - mine was full length cream cotton with lace at collar and cuffs and holly hobby design bit down the front. My mum made it and I loved it . Was gutted when I got too big for it.

1994 - shiny dark purple taffeta on the bottom, dark purple velvet on top, with sparkly bits on.

@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. 😉

@Radio4Rocks I’m a year older than you and I happen to have a photo of my 8th birthday outfit - very similar to yours, down to the white-paste-polished sandals, but dress was pale blue, & not handmade afaik

(Also hair not pony-tailed, my mother had a thing about straight hair and insisted on perming it so it looked like Princess Anne’s
I think that would be grounds for a complaint to Social Services these days!)

I was 8 in 1978 so my party "dress" was actually a trendy "pant-suit" with flares.

If I remember correctly, it was dark blue with a white sparkly blouse with a flared collar that I wore with black patent leather shoes.

I had a short bob hairstyle I wore a thin headband that matched the sparkly white blouse.

So fashionable 🤣

Late 1970s, basically this. The dress was dusty pink baby cord with a pintuck bodice and the blouse was a lot rufflier. My sister had the same, but smaller. We didn’t have party shoes, we just wore our chestnut brown start rite T bars with everything.

OMG @elp30, I’m so envious!

Love these!

I didn't have a party dress because I was a tomboy, so I had a waistcoat and cords combo, which I loved! With extra sharp fade on my high top.

...bottle green corduroy of course.

Black on top with a full neon pink skirt with black polka dots and black taffeta underneath. Sigh!

My daughter is at ripe party frock age and so sad she is missing it all. By the time they return to parties she will prob refuse to wear anthing but leggings and converse.

Wonderful thread idea. Thank you.

1980s across Europe and the UK:

• red with black and white piping, full skirt with petticoat and white Peter-pan collar
• summer party dress of mint green floral, drop waist, Peter-pan collar
• puffy sleeves cream with red flowers and red satin sash, with nets underneath
• Ivory silk with petticoats and aqua green satin sash (my favourite)
• navy with smocking, full skirt, capped sleeves, red ribbon sash.

Late 90s (I was 7) when those trouser over skirt outfits were in fashion . I had a shiny silver one and would have glitter spray in my hair and butterfly clips in my hair lol 😂

Late 80s I had a puff ball dress from C&A that had a plain white top half and a brilliantly puffy skirt with blue and purple splashes of colour along the bottom.

I wasn’t able to wear it much before I grew out of it.

I also had a two piece set from Mothercare of all places that was a bright yellow crop top with a skirt which came out horizontally when I span around.

I called it my ‘Lambada’ skirt because I could do the sexy dancing from the video in it and the skirt twirled and span brilliantly. My mum hated it

"paper nylon petticoats" !!!! I remember them well but younger readers may need to do a google search!
I was never lucky enough to have what was considered a party dress (it had to be full and "sticky out" as we put it) and I envied my classmates who had those gorgeous party frocks. I had to just wear a smart cotton dress and nice cardigan. Poor little me.
One girl in my year in junior school was an "only child" and was spoilt rotten. Her mother made the most fabulous party dresses and she always had a matching huge bow in her hair. Not me. One of a large family and we didn't think to complain how hard done by we felt.

1978
It was red with white spots and a mock lace-up front bodice, full swishy skirt and a fake broderie anglais petticoat peeping out under the hem. The boy next door who was a good pal went all pink and unnecessary around me whenever I wore it, so it was obviously a rather fetching get-up! Spent the next 20 years trying to find another outfit that would evoke a similar reaction from males, but no joy!

Meant skirt over trousers
Lol

@oohyoudevilyou

1978 It was red with white spots and a mock lace-up front bodice, full swishy skirt and a fake broderie anglais petticoat peeping out under the hem. The boy next door who was a good pal went all pink and unnecessary around me whenever I wore it, so it was obviously a rather fetching get-up! Spent the next 20 years trying to find another outfit that would evoke a similar reaction from males, but no joy!

I was 17 that year - that wonderful year of 'gypsy' skirts and dresses, which many girls adored, and wore thereafter until they fell apart. They were actually designed to suit normal female bodies! Of course, we had jeans too, and 'hacking jackets', it wasn't all frills and flounces, but it was such a lovely change after some of the other awful 70s fashions.

I had a sailor dress and also a mint and white striped skirt that has been a pair of culottes: so when you twirled at a party if flew up. 😍

You're all so lucky. I never had any birthday parties as a child.

1970s. Bottle green maxi dress with a high neck with a white frill and lace trimmed frilled tiers. It was utterly hideous and did not suit me. I loathed it.

@Gowherewindandfiremeettogether

Late 90s (I was 7) when those trouser over skirt outfits were in fashion . I had a shiny silver one and would have glitter spray in my hair and butterfly clips in my hair lol 😂

I was struggling to remember until I read this!

I had pale blue flared trousers and a turquoise long sleeved crushed velvet top. Bought in John Lewis in Stockport I think.

Plus of course, butterfly clips, and “hair and body glitter gel”, and occasionally a glitter hair tattoo if Girl Talk had them as the free gift recently!

1980, Tartan dark red/browny coloured polyester, high neckline, long sleeved with frilly cuffs and ankle length with frilly hem.
Itchy as fuck.

I love sailor dresses on children. I had one when I was about 10 for best. I was going to say they should come back in for kids but I see H&M are selling them so maybe they never went out of fashion. I don't think my 13 and 16 year old dc would agree to wear one though

1979. It would have been something in a dull check or tartan with Peter Pan collar. Mum seemed to have an aversion to bright colours and anything pretty. For school summer uniform we could have a gingham dress in any colour. Mum made mine in dark green and navy. I so wanted the pink or baby blue.

If I unpicked it I’m sure it would be a factor in my poor self image

1973 and it was brown challis wool patterned with tiny sprigged flowers and had a dark green grosgrain sash belt. Floor length and frilled piecrust collar and slightly puffed sleeves. My mam bought it from Doggarts department store in Bishop Auckland and it was expensive. I recall trundling up to junior school with my friends and all in our finery. I fancied a boy called Colin and as we came.in sight of school he looked out of the classroom window and gave me a.big thumbs up

My mum ordered lovely Laura Ashley dresses and imported some beautiful ones.
I always ended up in cycling shorts and Tshirt