From pinnies to hot pants: A decade of pioneering fashion and style

She is a family fashion plate; she won the Miss Henley pageant in a pretty dress and a printed hat. Her sister, a talented tailor, saw that Mum always looked her best.

When he got married he had a great community style wedding in a proper wedding venue, he saved up for years to be able to afford it. Most weddings in the 1930s took place in homes or in church halls. Meals are provided by the family, so a wedding like that will be an enjoyable experience for everyone.

When I was growing up in the 1940s, I wanted to wear overalls, but I didn’t. I was raised to be a woman. I have to be perfectly dressed all the time. It was a challenge for my mom and I, she wanted me to look like a doll and I was a crazy tomboy. I remember one afternoon I went swimming in the river in my singlet and bloomers while my dress remained dry hanging in the bushes.

Curls were the fashion of the day. No matter how hard I tried to avoid them, pin curls came in every night of my life for years.

While living in many rural areas, Mum and I took the train to shop and see Nan. Does anyone remember Myers bargain dungeon? My gentle mother turned into a lion in that place. I remember perching under the clothes rack hoping he would remember where I was, watching in amazement as Mum and the other women wrestled for dresses. Mothers have one end and women have the other. Mother understands.

We moved to the city. I love the pedal press, skivvy, and the silk Nicky Scarf. It was all the rage in the 50s and 60s.

On special occasions, or for a bit of glamour, we have to wear starched skirts. If they don’t stand on their own, you are something of a failure as a teenager.

I am married and have four children. We didn’t have much money, so I would go to local shops to find clothes I could take apart and remake. Our only son has never seen a second hand. Many boys and men from the 60s and 70s did well when it came to clothing.

I remember getting married to crochet everything from tea cosies to bikinis. My biggest endeavor is the children’s poncho. My son has hand knitting Starsky and Hutch his jacket, and he was proud like a rat with golden teeth.

I have a knit shirt that shows a glimpse of my panties. It’s just for party wear.

The short skirts I wore became shorter in my daughter’s teenage years. She and her friends went to Mardi Gras Melbourne wearing clothes they bought at the op shop. That night it rained and her short skirt began to shrink. His friends did the honorable thing and gave him a jumper tied around his waist to maintain his modesty.

Before Kylie Minogue wore a pair of gold, hot pants were in fashion in the 1970s. My mother was a widow in her 50s, but she looked to be around 40. My husband and our kids piled into the yellow Volkswagen we had at the time and went to pick it up for a drive one weekend. I will never forget that day. Out she stepped in a pair of purple hot pants and a bright pink blouse. She looks amazing!

When he asked my husband, Do you like my hot pants, Johnny? he just smiled and said “Thanks for showing me Al’s outfit. Take your time, we don’t mind waiting while you change.

They are the decade of pioneering style. No wonder some of them are back in fashion again.