To think housecoats were a great idea?

[Chickenagain]

Had a massive amount of hoovering and floor washing to do this morning as guests were booked for the weekend. Also beds to make up and final polishing.

Knowing how hot & sweaty I was going to get, I did it in my dressing gown as there was no point showering & getting dressed as I would need another shower.

I was hoovering the balcony (as you do) and hoping no-one accidentally got an eyeful..... then it occurred to me - housecoats!!

That way, you would look decent if you needed to open the front door or pop out to the bins etc

I'm imagining something not too fussy, with big pockets for 'bits' .

Have I liost the bloody plot?

I'd forgotten about housecoats until this thread.
Same as Yarg, my grandma had a selection of them, mostly floral but some were pink check fabric.
Had a quick look on Google but the images there weren't like the ones my gran had.

www.camille.co.uk/camille-soft-fleece-ruby-red-zip-front-house-coat-p1915 looks comfy, not sure of the style though

That's what I do! Clean in my nightie and then have a dressing gown/house coat near the door in case there is a parcel or something!

SirVixofVixHall I like it and that’s lovely it was your great Aunts!

@Juells it has a sort of hideous charm....my great Aunt was actually rather elegant, I think this was just the bog standard housecoat on sale for cleaning in, in the late 60s and early 70s. There were orange or pink swirly ones too. Then later into the 70s they seemed to go all Dinner-Lady-gingham.

My Grannie wore printed cotton wrap over ones if she was cleaning.

A Housecoat Shop ? How fab. Are you in Stamford Hill ? Golders Green ?

My mum had one but I get very hot when I clean so I can’t imagine it would be comfy. I use a t shirt and leggings.

..as a non floral option (but not with sleeves) how about a very substantial apron?
Muji does a lightweight denim, massive pockets, below the knee, covers back and front legs jobby:

www.muji.eu/pages/online.asp?Sec=11&Sub=111&PID=9351&qclr=&qsiz=875&qsel=

This is the same as my Grannie’s. Excuse the creases, I just foraged for it in the vast ironing mountain.

A housecoat shop ? Are housecoats popular in jewish culture

SirVix, yes!

MrsJayy, I've always assumed they were an (orthodox) Jewish thing as the shop is in a very Jewish area and I've never seen non-Jews in there.

My Nana had a number of cotton wrapover pinnies but my Mam had floral nylon overalls.
They had BIG buttons.
When she took them off, everyone anywhere near her, including the dog, used to get a shot of static electricity and look mildly alarmed.
She kept her Senior Service in one pocket and Ronson,, engraved with her name, lighter in the other.

I'll cover the buttons thing first! DP & I have been together 15 months. During that time, we have spent 5 months away together, renting a studio flat. Despite that proximity, possibly due to the nature of clothing involved - thermals, ski jackets, metal fastenings, the 'buttons 'thing' has not ever come up.
During a phone call, I mentioned this housecoat thing and he was laughing, saying what a good idea it was (pervert) then all of a sudden said - no buttons though. Well I thought that was back to square one, but no - poppers or Velcro . Then started the story of how buttons make him feel odd/weird/not right. Then he started on about the button that fell off the duvet cover and how it migrated over a number of days down the stairs until it made it to the front door, then after more days he felt brave enough to Hoover it up!! Yes, I was WTAF?????
I mentioned buying a jar of buttons from the charity shop and spreading them all over the bed (under the duvet) to surprise him and he said he would really loose his shit and couldn't even bear to imagine it.
So there we are - who knew?

I know two people with a phobia of buttons.

I have a lab coat somewhere, perhaps it should be promoted to housecoat...?

I think denim dungarees and headscarf for cleaning is my top look though

I want a housecoat

I worked in quite a few Orthodox Jewish households years ago. The women were covered neck to feet at all times, no flapping wrap around robes. So before dressing, zip or button to the neck ankle length dressing gowns or housecoats were required around the home.

Beyond I would do this too if I knew how to tie a headscarf properly. Never mind for cleaning just around and about.

www.headcovers.com/resources/hats-scarves/how-to-tie-a-head-scarf/

@NetofLemons - I think I love you!!

That is bloody brilliant. I can pop out to the bins with it, the car, the unexpected caller need not feel embarrassed...

The reason I can't wear joggers & T-shirt is I don't like to get dressed without a shower first. IAnd, I am a procrastinator so I would fanny about in the shower, look for T-shirt etc then might nip to the shops..... All the while, time is ticking away.

So, still in my dressing gown, I strike while the iron is hot. I decorated a cake, planted two garden tubs, did many sets of washing & drying, hoovered the balcony, hoovered the deck, hoovered the whole house & washed the floors and hid masses of stuff in the shed. I was rancid & sweaty when I finished and went off for a lovely shower and (clean) clothes. The only thing annoying me was my dressing gown flapping open at inopportune times and fear of a random doorknocker.....

No excuses now, Net.

Fascinating re button phobia - I've never come across that before.

What does he do about shirts? Trousers? Jackets with buttons? Can he trace this back to a traumatic event in childhood?

This thread is worth reading just because I have discovered the word koumpounophobia.