Dot Cotton's housecoat

[Teael]

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!

My Nan always wore a pinny, an apron with a bib that had crossover straps at the back .

I know exactly what you mean. My Nan was a dinner lady and wore them in the seventies and eighties at work and at home. I have actually tried googling before for nostalgia purposes.

I don’t own a housecoat but I do have a collection of wrap round aprons which are sleeveless but put on as a coat and come to my knees. They are thick cotton rather than poly and some very vintage. Normal pinny’s are useless as I have habit of wiping my hands on my sides.

furry slippers with heels very ooh la la!
women certainly were more practical guess as there were not the same washing machines as today and lots of items had to be made either knitted or sewn.
Tabards were what dinner ladies wore I had one with my first job big pocket on the front for odds and ends in mum's case a tissue and ciggies!
button up nylon overalls usually checked housecoats usually quilted or mum had one that was a sort of red fleece with a rough inside and scratchy gold braid trimming, you would need to wear it over things as it was too rough!
Granny had the usual cotton wrap over apron think it hitched their ample bosoms up too!

@HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime

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.

I fished mine out because I wanted to clean the mat quietly. If you get one with a handle consisting of 3 or 4 sections which screw together, you can leave one out to make it child sized. Much better than a toy vacuum cleaner.

I don’t own a housecoat but I do have a collection of wrap round aprons which are sleeveless but put on as a coat and come to my knees.

Wrap around aprons are a different era, and probably more acceptable fashion wise. Dot's housecoat is a crime against fashion (but as PP pointed out, I love the brooch to jazz it up!) And given her proximity to electrics in the launderette and her fag habit, a massive fire risk. It's a wonder they didn't combust.

With them being nylon, mind, they'll last forever...

And I love the plan of setting toddlers to work with a carpet sweeper. Mine love hoovering with Henry.

I can't believe the price of some of these. My grandmothers had them, but I'm sure they'd have come off the local market and cost less than £10 each.

They also had the vinyl head scarf covers too, to keep your head scarf dry when it rained. I'm trying to think when the wearing of head scarves stopped. My mother didn't wear one (adult in late 60s / early 70s) but her mother did.

@PineappleWilson Probably when people started washing their hair more, and a home, rather that it only being done when you went for your shampoo and set?

I bought a plastic rain hood ten years ago. Very handy item.

I have wanted to make a 1940s style housecoat for a while - I mean just look at this pattern! i.etsystatic.com/13671338/r/il/d38db6/1110814727/il_570xN.1110814727_9nru.jpg

@MedusasBadHairDay Fantastic, but you wouldn't bleach the floor with it on! And no pockets for your pledge and duster (and fags).

[quote Teael]@notwhatineednow

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

BEDJACKETS! No one has a bed jacket any more...[/quote]
I've got a bedjacket.

@Lovebroccoli

But doesn't your bottom get cold?

[quote Teael]@Lovebroccoli

But doesn't your bottom get cold?[/quote]
No, I 'm in bed. Covered with a duvet. The bedjacket is for wearing when sitting up in bed.

I found another website for housecoats. So there must be still people buying them. Other nightwear too which is quite reasonably priced.

www.sandras-online.co.uk/

@Viviennemary

I do like Sandras-online, but I don't think they do housecoats in the way we're discussing them here.

@namechangerqwerty

https://www.constanceswiftltd.com check out Constance swift, they make beautiful house coats.

Stunning BUT how could I pay £90 (cheapest) for something to protect my clothes (which are less expensive!).

I love this thread!
I wasn't brought up with any grandparents but our neighbour was of the housecoat era and always wore one. We used to get static shocks from hugging her too 😁

She used real hankies, always wore a pleated skirt and used those plastic headscarf things to protect her shampoo and set.

My mum had one and wore it with her dr scholls while cleaning. She would never wear one now-she has a cleaning tracksuit!

@sleepyhoglet I know, I can't afford one either unfortunately.

However I do think this is a genuine cost of bespoke, hand made & designed clothing & materials. Rather than the mass produced stuff that's more widely available.

I have a fluffy fleece hoody which I use as a bed jacket nowadays. It's great for MNing reading in bed - easy to take off without getting out of bed, unlike dressing gowns which are liable to get caught underneath you.

There are often warm tops of various sorts sold in the nightwear section, sometimes part of sets - I got my young adult DD a comfy cardi from Next which she liked so much she got herself another.

@Teael

And I love the plan of setting toddlers to work with a carpet sweeper. Mine love hoovering with Henry.

When I was a kid of around 5 I found a carpet sweeper in my dad's house, which he had since the late 60s. I was fascinated by it and would always want to sweep a carpet when visiting.

Wanders of to search for them for small child....

very eco-friendly no electric Bec Bissell just press the lever over the bin and hey presto! the dust falls out so no touching dirt etc. I have a very old still in box Bex Bissell carpet cleaner put in soapy water and drag over the carpet back and forth again no electricity but don't push the release lever too much or you end up with soaking wet carpets

Can I just remind you all of that other housecoat icon, the magnificent Hilda Ogden (RIP). Hers is my preferred style.

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/hilda-ogden-jean-alexander-dies-12029152

Those cross over style are quite different, and easier to find, I think. Hilda's is almost pretty. Whereas Dot's is not pretty.