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Original poster

Dot Cotton's housecoat

184 replies

Teael · 04/04/2022 23:06

The sad news today and the pictures of June Brown (rest in peace) reminded me of a question I've had for a while:

What happened to those polyester housecoats middle aged women wore when I was a child? When I google housecoats, I just get dressing gowns, which isn't what I'm meaning. They had enough static to power the national grid (with the hair spray used, I'm amazed there weren't more hair spray/house coat induced self-immolations), but were worn for housework, and were quick to wash.

Not dressing gowns, nor aprons. They were literally coats you wore in the house.

Where does one buy such an item these days?! I'm quite pleased to see the photos of June Brown wearing one, as I'd started to think I'd made them up!

OP posts:
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Original poster
Teael · 04/04/2022 23:24

A google for overalls tells me they're still using them in France!

thegoodlifefrance.com/le-housecoat-its-not-exactly-jean-paul-gaultier-darlings/

OP posts:
Original poster
Teael · 04/04/2022 23:26

@Ifionlyknewthenwhatiknownow3

That would possibly fulfil any practical need I could have for such a garment. But this isn't about practicality, it's about nostalgia!

I'm glad others agree they're called housecoats. I just got so frustrated that google kept giving me dressing gowns!

OP posts:
BonnyandPoppy · 04/04/2022 23:27

My daughter wears a tabard at work as Ort of her uniform

ozymandiusking · 04/04/2022 23:29

I worked in a factory that made these quilted housecoats after I left school, before I went away, ( not prison!) 1977. They were light blue, pink, yellow. One job whilst there was marking the button holes. They arrived at my bench in bundles of 10 very quickly, It was like being surrounded by giant marshmallows. The pay was very good though.

lapasion · 04/04/2022 23:29

This website still sells them;
www.chums.co.uk/products/lk132/quilted-housecoat

That site is delightfully old fashioned. You can also get a girdle or one of those old lady tracksuits with the embroidered flowers.

Wazooks · 04/04/2022 23:33

For both my children, during the ‘baby-led weaning’ phase, I have wanted a housecoat to protect my clothes. I quite fancy the ones off that chums website.

Viviennemary · 04/04/2022 23:34

Do you mean these quilted ones.

mrssmiling · 04/04/2022 23:34

Bed jackets here. 😁 And housecoats.
www.suzannecharles.co.uk/bed-jackets.html

Caminante · 04/04/2022 23:34

This?

Dot Cotton's housecoat
LizzieSiddal · 04/04/2022 23:36

My lovely grandma had one in pink. She wore it when she did the cooking and cleaning, even if it was only a bit of light dusting.

emsyj37 · 04/04/2022 23:36

My nan always wore a housecoat. Always gingham check, she had a pink, a blue and a minty green one.
Every now and then I feel like buying a Ewbank for nostalgia reasons. My nan used to run round with the Ewbank about 15 times a day.

PerkingFaintly · 04/04/2022 23:37

Oh dear. The housecoats aren't flattering at all... but so practical.

And they do mobility aids!

It's clearly a shop for People Like Me...

watcherintherye · 04/04/2022 23:37

‘Nylon overalls’ seem to bring up what I think you’re looking for.

KitKattaktik · 04/04/2022 23:39

As a teen I worked in a shop that sold housecoats!

emsyj37 · 04/04/2022 23:40

Like this: housecoat

PrincessFluffyPants · 04/04/2022 23:41

My mum worked in a mill until she retired and all the ladies there wore them, she had two, a navy blue and a brown one, both gingham. Worn with her American Tan tights and wedge heeled mules, full face of make up and laquered hair, on her feet all day walking up and down the huge spinning machine replacing the bobbins. I remember she had patched the navy blue one with a black pvc patch and in one pocket was a pair of scissors and long tweezers in case a bobbin got caught and in the other a packet of silk cut and a silver engraved lighter. Piece work from 7.30am to 5pm everyday. When I look back she worked bloody hard, they all did.

There was a stall in the local indoor market that sold the overalls and tabards on one side and lingerie and nightwear on the other. Long gone now.

AdaColeman · 04/04/2022 23:42

If you are off to France for your hols, the Gamm Vert garden stores sell floral wrapper style housecoats. One would make an unusual holiday souvenir.

averylongtimeago · 04/04/2022 23:42

[quote Teael]A google for overalls tells me they're still using them in France!

thegoodlifefrance.com/le-housecoat-its-not-exactly-jean-paul-gaultier-darlings/[/quote]
Our local market has a stall with racks of these.
I used to wear them when I first got married- not sure when I got rid of them- possibly when I got an automatic washing machine rather than a twin tub, so it was easier to wash clothes.

Viviennemary · 04/04/2022 23:44

Even I don't remember women wearing those crossover aprons or pinnies. The two ronnies did a daft sketch about them.

perimenofertility · 04/04/2022 23:47

Both of my grandmothers used to wear a house coat when doing the cleaning and housework. It wasn't so easy to do laundry in those days so it kept your clothes clean during the day. One grandmother in particular used to remind me that she always made sure she had removed the house coat and put on some lipstick ready for when my grandad came home from work.

Nnique · 04/04/2022 23:52

I’ve no nostalgia about them (don’t recall my grandmother ever wearing one) but I’ve been thinking for ages that I should get a couple. Very useful for cooking/cleaning.

PrincessFluffyPants · 04/04/2022 23:55

Just had a quick look on eBay. If you want to recreate the 1970s/1980s Northern Mill Town vibe then here you go, only £45 each Shock

Dot Cotton's housecoat
AdaColeman · 05/04/2022 00:05

Alexandra Workwear are sure to sell them.

DramaAlpaca · 05/04/2022 00:15

I have nostalgic memories of my paternal grandmother and her daughter, my aunt, both long gone now, who used to wear housecoats. My mother, still stylish at 86, wouldn't have been seen dead in one. A pinny for baking yes, but a housecoat, never.