Style Memories from my Childhood and Youth
Growing up in our small town, style was not a topic that was discussed much, except that you should look presentable. The grown-ups had a classic dress code which most people adhered to. The younger generation, however, took to trends like the scandalous mini dress and the bee-hive hairstyle with youthful enthusiasm.
Everybody had clothes to wear at home, clothes for going out, and clothes for church. All new clothes were for church which were later demoted for wearing elsewhere. Hats for church were essential, not as a style accessory, but for religious reasons: women should cover their heads in a place of worship. The necessity for a hat was phased out in later years, but to this day there are ladies from the older generation who still wear hats to church.
Heels, high or low, with stockings, were de rigueur for church, even during the hot summers. Clothes for church was the most formal style of clothes for us; my mom used to refer to your “Sunday Best”. Men wore their suits and ties, even in the sweltering summers of the Northern Cape. Community life revolved around the church and few other occasions presented dressing-up opportunities.
In our community, most women were housewives except for a few teachers and nurses. Many women’s daily uniform was a nylon “overall”, which was available in green-, pink-, blue- and orange-and-white gingham print. Some ladies also added a doek, mostly for hygienic reasons when they were cooking. The doek was also used by children to gauge their mother’s mood. If it was drawn low over her forehead, you treaded very lightly around her, because she was not going to take any nonsense from anyone. It could also just mean that she had a headache and that we must be quiet.
These ladies would not dream, however, to wear that overall to go “out”. You dressed up when going to weekly prayer meetings, usually on a Thursday afternoon, the shop or to visit friends which was mostly done over weekends. People were proud of their appearances as it showed self-respect. We were taught by example to look presentable before leaving your house.
As a teenager in the seventies, I did not like the fashions of the time and fervently wished that I lived in earlier decades when women dressed in those long, poufy dresses. Fifties fashion was also not too bad in my opinion and I preferred it to the trendy bell bottoms, mini dresses, hot pants and bell sleeves. One of my aunts described a bellbottom as “those pants with a skirt for each leg".
When I started teaching in 1973, I spent most of my meagre salary on clothes. I always loved dressing up which I did every day going to work and of course I still wore my special clothes on Sundays. We also started going out to dances, the movies and house parties which presented more opportunities to dress up. I never grew tired of putting outfits together or trying new styles albeit modest and classic. I preferred my heels high and unfortunately, today I have corns and calluses to show for that pleasure.
My love for dressing up and interest in style was the motivation for doing the Image Consultant course when I stopped teaching. I still love playing with clothes and will dress for my day with care even if I do not have to go anywhere. My daily style now is relaxed, but polished and I feel presentable, comfortable and confident in all my clothes and shoes.
What is your clothes philosophy and how much thought, if any, do you give to dressing yourself?
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Wishing you a stylish day till we chat again.
My sis Valerie and me with niece Esme
on her wedding day.
Bertie with Mamma and Pappa Feris in 1975.
Pictures of hot pants and bellbottoms from Pinterest.