School Clothes

When we started school each year my mother would sew my sister and I a number of new outfits. Until we were almost 10 and 11 years old they were usually identical and we never thought anything of it.  My mother had always wanted to be a fashion designer so our clothes were always very well made and designed.  I was never much into clothes and accepted the status quo. It was my younger sister who became clothes conscious first and who began to object to us looking like twins.

       One outfit in particular I remember very well. When I “graduated” junior high school we had a dance where all the girls were going to wear new dresses.  I listened to all the talk and went home to my mother to tell her I needed a new dress too.  Surprisingly she agreed to make me one.  Off we went to buy paisley fabric, after all this was 1967.  What did I know about making clothes despite 2 years of home ec?  So I made no objection to the fabric.  What I ended up with was a paisley mini skirt and a store bought knit top.  It was all the rage and extremely cute but somehow I had an uneasy feeling this wasn’t the kind of new outfit I was supposed to wear to a “prom”. 

       I went to school in the outfit, very nervous and dreading being made fun of.  Instead the other girls gave me approving comments but I noticed that not one of them was wearing a skirt.  They all wore dresses but the good news was they were not extra frilly.  Of course, I did not really blend in but at least I wasn’t being made fun of.  It was one of the few parties that I actually enjoyed attending.

       Sweet memories.