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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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DameHelena · 05/04/2022 08:03

Plenty to be had in my neck of the woods. North-east London, on the fringes of a Haredi community. There's a housecoat emporium up the road from me that sells nothing but.

PeskyRooks · 05/04/2022 08:17

Ah that nearly made me cry @mellongoose
My nan had one of those on her back door. When I was little I used to put plaits on it!

catwomando · 05/04/2022 08:22

My mum used to refer to dressing towns as housecoats and what you use for cleaning in as overalls.

Housecoats in my house were quilted things (often from Brentford Nylons Grin) that were ankle length that you wore over a nightie (often nylon from Brentford Nylons too) cosy if a little stiff early on in their usage. We also had nylon sheets (from guess where?) which went all hard and bobbly as they aged. so. Much, nylon.

Recycledblonde · 05/04/2022 08:24

My Mum had a house coat (she would have been 99 this year), it was plain light blue nylon and was generally worn over clothes for housework and cooking. When it was really hot she wore it over bra, pants and a full length petticoat. She cut down 2 adult sized ones for me and my sister, we wore them over clothes in the mornings while we did any chores or helped with baking.
An incredibly useful piece of clothing and definitely an extra layer in a cold house.

User748956 · 05/04/2022 08:27

We will all be wearing them soon, ( the overall type) they will probably make a comeback with the increasing energy prices.

lapasion · 05/04/2022 08:41

Having just discovered a bleach mark on one of my favourite jumpers, I’m actually thinking these things need to make a comeback.

I’m also eyeing up an old lady trolley for when DC are too old for pushchairs. I love being able to walk to the shops and shove the stuff in the basket underneath, and think how much shopping I could get in one of those things.

dayswithaY · 05/04/2022 09:02

Never mind a Bessel carpet sweeper, I now need a metal column ashtray with a flip top lid, a serving hatch and a teasmade.

And "Sandalwood" talcum powder by Morny if I'm going full Nanna.

Sunflower101 · 05/04/2022 09:03

My Mum used to wear these. Wore them over her clothes to keep clothes clean while doing jobs around the house such as laying the fire in the grate which is a messy job. It’ was so much easier to wash a nylon non iron overall than a whole outfit as remember majority of wash days were just on Mondaysin a twin tub machine.

PattyMelt · 05/04/2022 09:14

@BastardtheCat

Wales has a 'Shaws' which sell Bedding, towels, random items of questionable quality.

Maybe there?

RIP Dot. Say hello to Ethel for me Gin

There's a place in Llandudno that sells them too, that and the long vests and big bras.
LetsGoCrazyPurpleBanana · 05/04/2022 09:21

Yes!! And hairnets and rain hats. Never see grannies wear them anymore.

ErrolTheDragon · 05/04/2022 09:39

My dm didn't have a housecoat but she had sleeve covers - tubes of water resistant fabric elastic aged at the wrist so that her cardi sleeves didn't get wet or dirty. Those plus an apron.

WeeOrcadian · 05/04/2022 09:42

[quote Teael]@notwhatineednow

Those are not quite it- lots are like slightly longer bedjackets.

BEDJACKETS! No one has a bed jacket any more...[/quote]
My gran has a bed jacket. She lives in it! She is almost 90 mind you....

BaconAndAvocado · 05/04/2022 09:45

@emsyj37

Like this: housecoat
My Nan wore ones exactly like this. She was about 4' 10" so they used to swamp her! Very fond memories.

RIP June Brown. Hope you're enjoying a nice fag up there 🚬

Rubyupbeat · 05/04/2022 09:50

My Nan used to wear an orange one. Always had a tissue in the pocket.

Dibdobdoo · 05/04/2022 09:53

I have a ewbank!

thebabessavedme · 05/04/2022 09:56

aww, lovely memories of my nana,

her housecoat, nylon, always got a static shock when she hugged me

her bedjacket, didnt see that very often as only 'types' sat about in bed drinking tea

the smell of her, it was bathcubes, mainly lavender ones

plaiting the plastic door curtain to the back door

she was a little cockney sparrow and would give us pennies to 'bugger off'

I was sent to the off licence bit of the pub to collect 2 bottles of stout and a packet of woodbines for my grandad, it was never questioned.

thebabessavedme · 05/04/2022 09:59

oh yes, and the hanky up her sleeve and the constant presence of a see-through plastic folded up 'rain hood', to cover her 'set' in wet weather.

Original poster
Teael · 05/04/2022 10:21

@CoverYourselfInChocolateGlory Those duster coats are something else entirely! You wouldn't want to splash jif on those at £85 a pop.

While the quilted items may induce nostalgia for others, they are dressing gowns, and NOT the housecoat a la Dot Cotton, and my grandma. No quilting. But I can buy one on ebay, or amazon.

I think they should come back- no one can be washing clothes if they don't need to, so protecting the outer layers will become a thing again, I'm sure.

OP posts:
Original poster
Teael · 05/04/2022 10:22

I am a bit scared of all the nylon, though! They really went in for nylon.

OP posts:
Jins · 05/04/2022 10:24

My mum lived in hers. She had four on rotation and I think they are as old as me.

In fact when she died in December I brought one back with me. Nothing reminds me and the DC of her as much as the housecoats do

Original poster
Teael · 05/04/2022 10:26

@Jins Flowers I'm sorry for your loss.

OP posts:
HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 05/04/2022 10:34

I have a carpet sweeper, I bought it from Argos when PFB Dd (now 12) was a baby and I didn't want to wake her hoovering as we live in a flat. It's super handy and I still use it instead of getting the 'big' hoover out, plus she loved to use it as a toddler and actually cleaned the floor whilst she played.

Jins · 05/04/2022 10:34

@Teael thank you. It was her time.

So for reference here is a photo. A fetching mix of polyester and nylon with original ric rac braid.

Not as old as I thought as it’s in euro sizing

Dot Cotton's housecoat
Dot Cotton's housecoat
spiderlight · 05/04/2022 10:36

This is making me miss my mum. She had several brightly coloured overalls that were worn for housework and cooking and hung up in the cupboard under the stairs, next to the Ewbank. I don't remember what happened to them after she died but I wish I'd kept one.

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