No matter how many times I look through old issues of The Australian Women’s Weekly, one thing that never fails to make me drool amaze me are the ‘ready made’ or ‘cut out ready to sew’ dresses you could order by mail. Sure, this was during the 1960s and sure… it was a common every day thing to do and my grandmother would probably wonder why I’m making such a fuss about it, but… I’m jealous!
I mean… just at look at the dresses you could order!
I’m always a little tempted to mail in an order myself (especially for the last two appliqué pocket dresses) but I suspect who ever is at the address in Sydney today would wonder what I’m on about!
If you could order any of these dresses, which would you choose?
Images from The Australian Women’s Weekly: 19 Oct 1966; 16 Jan 1963; 15 Jan 1964; 24 Jan 1962.
ooohh i can;t choose between the blue gingham or the pink one!!! how amazing huh? time to do more sewing T!
The gingham dresses are so adorable! Definitely time to do more sewing… for the both of us! :)
oooooh! I am jealous too! if you ever call the number and find they are still selling those babes, please let me know! :D
I will Frida! Although… if I do call the number and they are still selling these dresses, I can’t guarantee I won’t buy them all for myself. ;)
I love that navy polka dot number (and that those gals are posing in a picture frame!)…but I’d have to hire you to make the dress for me, T.
Are those little pintuck pleats on the bodice of the pink gingham dress? I admit I don’t know much about dressmaking, but I bet those aren’t easy to do at home!
I love the the floral picture frame too Karen. So pretty! And yep. Those are definitely pintucks on the bodice of the pink gingham dress. I’ve only been brave enough to try some pleats so far with my sewing… I can’t imagine the amount of cursing pintucks would induce! ;)
oh my gosh I adore those full skirts – so flattering! I really want to learn how to sew so that I can make these sort of things – i have been talking about it for years so need to bite the bullet and just do it.
Yes, you should Megan! :) I learnt to sew back in my school days but it’s only recently that I’m starting to try and do more with it then just mending and hand-sewing… and I’m enjoying it. It’s finding the time that can be a problem!
They are all fab but ERMAHGERD the gingham and striped one with the huge pockets make me weep!! Sarah xxx
Oh, I know! Those two are my faves too Sarah! The little appliqué pears are soooooooo adorable!
Oh I adore all of these, very hard to choose! But I do like the classic plain peach/pink frock in the first photo, and I could definitely see myself living in the dark blue shift dress in the second shot…but then who can resist a bit of gingham (+ pockets!)?