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!

vintagevisage.co.uk/product_1083_Vintage-1950s-Mrs-Mop-Tie-back-apron

Pretty, not likely to set yourself on fire with the static. Not quite what I mean!

Well I've just ordered a £9 polyester gingham one from Amazon, it seems silly to ruin clothes doing chores and it should mean that washing is kept down. I'm past the age of caring whether it's fashionable or looks good or not, it's practicality from now on!

Here's where if I were devious, I would have a company to promote making non-flammable, non-static housecoats like nana used to wear!

(Mods, I'm not actually selling housecoats, promise.)

I wear a tabard in work. I also wore it in the last 3 jobs I’ve been in, 2 factory and two cleaning. They are the most practical thing ever and I love mine

I’m curious what the linked companies’ think about the sudden influx of visitors to their websites selling housecoats. “Better step up production! The housecoat is back!”

@lapasion haha!

I'm bringing sexy back...

With housecoats!

I was talking to DD the other day about turbans which women used to wear to do housework. She told me off as she thought me saying turban not relating to ethnic minority people was racist! I said no, they used to fold a scarf up in a certain way and it was called a turban. Usually with two hair rollers sticking out of the front. I think this was mainly in the 40's and 50's but I might be wrong. I always had a carpet sweeper before lightweight cordless vacuums were available. I was laughed at for being like someone's granny but I could clean the floor even during a power cut.

I need this only life. I currently wear a thin puffer coat in the house from
Primark it’s my house coat but I need a proper one

I have a houseboat! A flower power 60s one. I got it in a vintage shop and am yet to wear it - maybe ill just start wearing it around the house?! (As it was intended....!)

A house COAT, not boat, obviously

[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 manky old cardi at the side of my bed for when I’m sitting up in bed watching Netflix on my iPad. I wish I had a nice bed jacket.

@Skiptheheartsandflowers

Also hairnets. My nan wore these daily. You could get them in multi packs at the chemist. Gone now.

I would love a proper bedjacket too. Good for reading in bed.

RIP June Brown. Very talented actress. Dot was so well played.

Hairnets are definitely still available. My dancer dd knows all the best brands that don’t get holes in on the first use.

@Redcrayons There are links here... go one, you deserve a bed jacket. Like a 90 year old granny.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134024694968 This is perfect and just like my nan wore. House coats back in the day in the East End had nothing to do with sleeping or keeping warm and everything to do with cleaning

I’ve got a lovely bedjacket. I wear a silk chemise type nightie in bed and I need it for reading/watching tv in bed.
Wouldn’t be without it.

@Scarby9 - as soon as I read 'housecoat' I immediately thought 'Brentford Nylons' -we had calamine pink and lemon bedsheets from Brentford Nylons in the seventies - right back to childhood.

And yes, to me, a housecoat is a quilted nylon dressing gowns thing, not a work overall.

I have seen them for sale in Spain a couple of years ago. El Corte Ingles store. I think they are bought as uniforms for staff. I was nostalgic and nearly bought a couple.

I know St Michael’s (M&S) sold them in the 1960s.

This company sell bed jackets and housecoats. I found them while Googling after having read Live Alone & Like It

Do you mean something like this? I remember my nana had one and we had them as kids, very warm and quite thick. Could do with one now I reckon.

My mum had a bed jacket. If I ever get to go Sunday morning lie-ins I will get myself one (but not the bri-nylon/polyester I think hers was).

I love a Ewbank. My Granny had one and I used to love using it as a child.

I had a momentary flash of nostalgia for Brentford Nylons, and then thought of all that static. Those shops were probably self-sufficient for electricity!

I was thinking about the hair turbans earlier. My mother used to wear a scarf like that when the chimney sweep was in, otherwise only at night to cover rollers.
She had all the other pinnies, housecoats, dressing gowns etc. Chums is an excellent site!

@Unforgettablefire

Do you mean something like this? I remember my nana had one and we had them as kids, very warm and quite thick. Could do with one now I reckon.

Like that but not full length - that one is a dressing gown. The quilted housecoat was about knee length, practical for doing the morning chores in.

I have a houseboat! A flower power 60s one.

I wouldn't mind one of those. And of course you could wear a flowery housecoat on it, to be decent on deck when morning dog walkers pass on the towpath.

Went into a shop in Hunstanton at the weekend which sells these!