Dressing up as an evacuee

[Sinkingfeeling]

My twin girls are doing WWII and have to dress up as evacuees next week. Help! Anyone got any ideas? How can I make a gas mask? Limited time and even more limited talent.

Sorry can't really be of much help but, I can sympathise Ds1 had to this earlier in the week for a trip to STEAM in Swindon - he did come home with a list of suggestions for clothing though. They might have a website that you can get some ideas from. Didn't have to make a gas mask though just a box to carry it in, are you sure you haven't got in a mix on this one.

cotton frock, ankle socks, cardi, a parcel label with their name on it pinned to the cardi and a brown cardboard box (the gas mask box) around their neck on string.

And plaits tied with rags if they have long hair.

Ribbon is fine - a lot of mums would have been dressing their child up to look their best so they'd get a 'good' family...

You can't make a gas mask but you can make something that looks like a gas mask box out of brown card with a string.

Yes...make a box...the clothes should be quite drab...floral rint cotton dresses and a beige or green cardigan....floppy bow on side of hair and a label with their name and destination pinned to their frock...oh and black wellies or t bar shoes with ankle socks!

rickets

my sis commutes to Swindon and says she's always seeing "evacuees" on her way to work.

Must be a bit scary if you drop off on the train and that's the first thing you see as youu open your bleary eyes...

Box details here

Easier way to make box - if you get washing powder tablets, and have a box nearly empty, use that. Carefully unstick the seams, turn box inside out and restick. Add string and voila.

Apart from that, yes, cotton frock, ankle or knee socks, knitted cardi and plaits. Label round neck and box on string.

LOL my youngest is off to Steam at Swindon next week and my dd went a couple of years ago.

Re the gas mask box: they made theirs at school but dd brought hers home and still has it. It is fairly simple: just a squarish box eg tea bag box or small box of dishwasher tablets/washing tablets etc, covered in brown paper and with string attached to make the strap to go round their necks.

And a dolly or teddy
www.bringtonprimaryschool.org.uk/images/uploads/world-war-two-evacuees.jpg

Could also do kilt type skirt with knitted jumper and collared blouse/shirt under. I think long hair would pretty much always have been tied back in plaits or bunches. The children in photo above seem to have their change of clothing tied up in a brown paper parcel which should be fairly easy to replicate.
If you haven't got any "suitable" clothes you could maybe try a charity shop on Saturday - amazing the sort of stuff you can find. Probably could get knitted cardis or jumpers there?

Thanks everyone - that's really helpful. I did mean gas mask case, rather than gas mask honestly, just typing without engaging brain earlier. :)
Will definitely check out the charity shops on Saturday - source of various other dressing up outfits in the past. Love the idea of label and teddy.

Have a look on ebay. You can buy the whole lot, even a ready made box with string, should you so wish.