Saturday, March 27, 2010

Easter Dress Parade


Easter is such a special time in the Christian's life. In my home growing up, we had fun with eggs and hunts and chocolate candy in our baskets. It was like Christmas, though, in that we knew there were no such things as Santa or the Easter bunny. We were focused on Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection.

I've mentioned before that we were a large family serving small churches with smaller salaries. But somehow we always managed to get new clothes for Easter. I have a very fond memory of getting up very early on Easter Sunday morning to go to the sunrise service - which was always held inside the church instead of our watching the sun actually rise. My sis and I always wore our Easter dresses from the year before to that service, then went home and changed into our spanking new clothes.

It was fun finding all of these pictures chronicling our Easter parade of dresses.


This was in the yard of our tiny little house in Batesville, Arkansas. I'm quite certain Mom made these little organdy dresses for us. I think they were pale blue.





We loved these circle skirt dresses - taken on the front steps of our first house in Heber Springs, Arkansas.




I sure wish these were colored pictures!




I loved these red and white striped "store-bought" taffeta dresses, complete with flower bands on our heads, and straw bags.


Being the pastor's kids had some perks - this particular year a lady in our church had a new fancy sewing machine that she wanted to try out on us. She bought us this gorgeous fabric and embellished the dresses with all sorts of fancy stitching. This picture was taken at my youngest brother's dedication service.




The next year somebody else offered to make our dresses. Based on the year before, we were excited. Unfortunately, these didn't turn out quite so well. For one thing she (and I'm glad I don't remember who it was) never came over to fit us. She apparently guestimated our sizes. When the dresses arrived, we were not excited about the color (a dark turquoise), the fabric, the big bows, or the fact that the dresses had darts when none were needed yet! But of course we had to wear them. Can you tell by our faces how thrilled we were??





Mom made these "walking suits" this year. Mine was lavender plaid and I was pleased with it. Don't you love the straw purse? And the pillbox hat (ala Jackie Kennedy) and the gloves --




This year our dresses were much simpler than other years - this one was pale yellow - gloves, but no hat. Much more casual.




I really had a thing for lavender, it seems. I loved this dress, matching hat and shoes - wish you could see them.




This was fondly (I think) called my "Abe Lincoln" look by my brothers. I was 5'10" tall, but thought nothing of wearing 3-inch spikes with pointed toes. The shoes to this outfit were too small, but I bought them because they were red, white, and blue and I had to have them to complete the ensemble. I suffered, but thought it was worth it! Not to mention the 6-inch-high hat - oh, my goodness - I really thought I was something! I'm not really that much taller than everyone - the angle is really strange - but I was really tall and didn't care. I wonder where I got the money to put together this outfit.




That was the last Easter picture in my mom's album - I enjoyed my trip down Easter memory lane very much. I hope you did, too!



21 comments:

Needled Mom said...

These are hysterical, Dawn. I wish I could document our Easter dresses over the years too. The changes in styles are wonderful. My mom made my sister and me a new dress for Easter and the first day of school each year. I so wish I had pictures of some of them. I can remeber her mailing a little scrap of fabric to my grandmother and describing the pattern she was using.

Hootin Anni said...

Well, 5'10" isn't all that tall...but I had to laugh...so typical of brothers coming up with the catch phrase Abe Lincoln. Geez. I bet the whole ensemble was beautiful.

I sure did, I totally loved walking in your Easter Parade showcase Dawn. That was fun.

Linds said...

I love the parade of fashion, Dawn! How lovely to have all the photos!
We didn't ever have new dresses for easter that I remember. My mother may, however, say something different! I do remember little hats with flowers on at some stage, but that may have been Christmas. Here, it is not unusual for ladies to wear hats to church on Easter Sunday. The Easter bonnet is alive and well! (Not me, though!)

Glenda said...

Oh, Dawn, I absolutely love this post! Loved seeing your dresses, hats, purses, gloves . . . It brought back so many memories of outfits my sister and I wore. Like you, I don't know how we afforded anything new, but somehow Mama managed! I loved hats - and still think I'd like to wear a big wide-brimmed one now and then!

Thanks so much for a wonderful post! Have a great week!

Susan said...

Oh I remember "those" dress to the hilt Easters very well, too!!!! I am thankful that Easter these days is more about our Risen Lord.

Midlife Mom said...

Oh Dawn, I just loved this post! We always had new Easter dresses too and it was such a big deal as we didn't have much money but Mom somehow always saved enough to get them for us.

I was always taller then everyone growing up too. Some times the boys would tease me about it but I just gave it right back to them and luckily didn't get in a fist fight! ha!

Thanks for reading my story about Skipper. You know, I feel better already by just putting it out there. Will continue in a couple of days.

It's cold here but no snow. We went from unusually high temps back to the real world!

Linda said...

Something happened to my nice long comment.....sigh
This post brings back such wonderful memories for me Dawn. My Mom and I were just talking (a short while ago in her rehab room) about the Easter outfits she made for my sister and I when we were growing up - matching dresses (blue for my sister, pink for me).
We always had the "works" from new shoes to hat to new white gloves.
I can remember carefully placing my shoes by the side of my bed - so anxious for Easter morning so I could finally wear them.
Thank you for this wonderful post. You brightened my day!

Unknown said...

Oh, those are fun pictures and fun memories from that time of your life. I have the same.

I always had a new dress, a new pair of shoes, white gloves, hat and purse, even at age 2.

My boys never needed such things. They just wore what was clean, and there was never money when they were little, to buy them or myself new clothes all at once.

So we made do, which is what I intend to do this year for myself.

...You May Say I'm A Dreamer said...

These are precious pictures! I totally can remember those days and the wonderment of the holidays. We too were taught to focus on the Savior and the significance of His life. Thanks for the walk down memory lane! So adorable:]

Sharon Lynne said...

What a fun post!
I loved your Easter pictures and especially the last one, and the way you described yourself is so funny.
Actually you look pretty good...the fashion plate of the family.

I also have many fond memories of Easter dresses when I was young, because my mother sewed.

I remember wearing gloves, and when I was very young---new patent leather white shoes.

Baba said...

Hi Dawn, thank you for sharing your Easter fashions from the past.

My sister, brother and I always got new outfits for Easter.Twice a year we got new shoes, at Easter and the beginning of the school year.I loved getting a new dress,fancy underwear,patent leather shoes and of coarse a Easter hat and gloves..I don't know how my mom could afford all of our new clothes.. but we did not lack anything in our childhood and she always made us feel special..

Have a wonderful Easter with your family.... hugs, Baba

Diane@Diane's Place said...

Love the new blog background! :o)

I really enjoyed the trip down memory lane and seeing your family's Easter finery, Dawn. I only have one Easter photo that survived our house fire in 1987 and I treasure it. I happened to have the photo since Mom shared some family photos when I got married in '85, or I'd have no Easter pics at all. My sisters and other family have some photos too, but I don't think any of theirs are Easter pics.

Have a great new week, and happy almost April! ;o)

Love and hugs,

Diane

Brenda said...

OMGosh, Dawn. That was fun. I see that you and your sister grew into the darts eventually!
Fun seeing the fashions of yesteryear.

someone else said...

I love those red and white stripe dresses. Soooo cute.

Anonymous said...

I couldn't get all the pictures to show up, but loved the ones I did see. I loved dressing my little girls up for Easter each year. The last photo reminded me of the Easter corsage we always got for my mom and grandma.

Great memories. I wish I had photos of my little girls together on Easter. I guess we were too busy to get the camera out.

jmckemie said...

Loved the Easter parade and my own memories it brought back. A few years, mom, my older sister and myself all had matching outfits. Reality is, what was stylish and appropriate for one of us really was not for the other 2, whichever way you looked at it! Thanks for sharing.

Sam said...

It's a tough choice, but I think my favorite are the walking suits. However, I really do love them all.

This is a wonderful post! I loved seeing all the photos and hearing the background on each dress. And how incredibly special that your family took a photo every Easter. This collection is such a treasure!

Devoted said...

I love these, Dawn! To this day I have never had a new Easter dress, but I never miss an Easter service!

p.s. The flowers are pictures I took at the market where I work. BJ Plants and Produce. Spring has definitely arrived here. I hope the snow does leave you soon!

Jess said...

This was very neat Dawn...I bet i could go back through photos mom has and find all mine...man that must have taken a while to find all those! Hope all is well with you.

Have a great rest of the week

love, Jess

Carole Burant said...

Omigosh, Dawn, look at all those wonderful pictures from past Easters! How wonderful that you have so many of them throughout the years and I really get a kick out of the styles! hehe I remember my mom making me new dresses every Easter and they all had frills and lace:-) I remember wearing white gloves, an Easter bonnet and one of those little straw purses like you had. Such a delightful post which I thoroughly enjoyed!! xoxo

groovyoldlady said...

This was great! I love the outfits!

Easter wasn't a big deal at our house. In fact, I remember being angry that we we had to go visit church with friends (some friends!) BEFORE I could eat my hoard of chocolate. My life is so different and SO much better.