Easter Dresses from the Past (and my 200th post!)

My friend Betty told me about a fantastic blog that is linking posts of past Easter dress photos in her blog. Please visit: Eileen's Attic for the Easter dress parade!

Easter was and is my favourite time of the year. Of course I loved it when I was a child because my Mom made it such fun! She always managed to buy us a new dress and new white patent shoes, with an Easter bonnet to match. Her favourite store to shop at was Simpson Sears bargain centre! I think she only paid $2.00 or $3.00 for each dress. Of course mine were always passed down to my younger sisters, although once in a while they got a new dress of their own.

My Mom always hid our baskets the night before Easter Sunday, and we were up bright and early to hunt for them. I remember finding mine in the kitchen cupboard, or on the dining room chair, hidden under the table, and sometimes even in the coat closet in the living room. My Mom patiently assembled our baskets very artistically, and put plastic wrap over everything to hold it in place. My basket smelled wonderful for days afterwards. I loved jelly beans, malt eggs, and anything chocolate! I remember once I got a Matchbox car with a trunk that opened; I played with it for hours, with my Easter chick going for long rides in the trunk!

After breakfast we scrambled to get ready in our Easter best. After the picture taking, we were off for Sunday School and church. The true hope of Easter still remains in my heart; the lovely Easter story I learned as a child still brightens my outlook of life, and I know that Christ is risen indeed and that is what makes Easter so special for me.

In this photo, Leona on the right is wearing a pink straw hat, and I'm wearing a white one. I still have them both, and yes, I have my Easter basket too! This photo was taken in our living room on Monmouth Street. My Mom made the drapes. EASTER 1966

My Mom, with Marlene on her lap. Easter 1967

Easter 1967: I loved this purse! Yes...I still have it! I was wearing a pink lace dress. (see close up picture of purse down below) I think Leona's dress was white.

(Easter hats; click on photo to see detail)

My parents took a lot of pictures this Easter! Maybe we were too cute to resist!

Easter 1968. My Aunt Frieda (my Mom's older sister) made Leona and I matching sleeveless dresses with a jacket; a turquoise colour, with tiny flowers scattered across the fabric. Leona is standing in back and looking ill, as she had eaten most of her chocolate rabbit, and refused to hold it or get near any more chocolate.

Easter 1970; we look better in colour! I loved this turquoise dress; it had a sheer fabric over a pretty cotton print underneath. Leona had a brand new dress in matching green, and Marlene also had a brand new pink dress. Look at our knee socks!

I love this photo. I was 10 years old, Leona was 8, Marlene was 5. I loved my sailor coat too; it was given to me by someone at my Dad's work. It seemed that no matter how cold Easter was, it didn't matter; out came the thin spring coats, spring dresses, and summer shoes!

I hope you've enjoyed this tour down memory lane! I'll have to visit my parent's home and see if I can find any more Easter pictures. In 1971 I had another sister, so she needs to be added to the blog album!

Loretta Houben