What was your first Satin Outfit / Garment Purchase?
Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2023 5:24 pm
It's time to say goodbye to another load of satin outfits today. The giveaway load includes my second satin purchase. When I was 16, I bought my first satin. Before Valentine's Day, I took the bus to Hillsdale Shopping Mall in San Mateo to visit the Macy's Lingerie department. It was a trip I had made many times before, looking at satin. This time I had my savings and mustered the courage to actually shop. I was on a mission to buy an outfit for my 'girlfriend' - who was me.
In 45 minutes of deliberation, and with the helpful assistance of a middle-aged sales associate (who knew within 3 minutes that the purchase was for me), I selected a pair of purple satin jacquard pajamas. The top was a tunic with a boat neck and kimono sleeves. It was a pair of wide trousers with a wide leg, almost but not quite as wide as palazzo pants. The fabric was soft and flowing, the top was a bit oversized for me at that time - which I am grateful for as I was able to get a decade worth of use out of it. I loved the swish and delightful caress that the wide leg pants gave to my shaved legs (I was a competitive swimmer, so shaving was normal for me). I still remember on the bus ride home, sneaking my hand into the bag to feel the soft fabric.This was 1979 and I paid about $50 for this.
The sales lady rang me up with a smile and assured me that I could return the pajamas if "she" didn't like them. I kept them hidden during the day between my bed mattress and box spring. I would hand-wash them in the bathroom and dry them in the corner of my closet.
That same Spring, I was determined to buy another piece of satin to start building my wardrobe. As we were nearing Mother's Day, I took my part-time job savings and ventured back to Macys lingerie department. I was looking for the same sales lady, but she was not there. What I did find and instantly fell in love with was this Ivory Laura Adams full-length satin robe. See photos. I swooned at the 1930s starlet bias look. I said this was for my mother and needed size Large (I was at best a medium, but I wanted more fabric). It has lovely shoulder pads, cuffed sleeves and a built in belt. It was the perfect cover for my pajamas and I wore the set often at night or during the day when my family was away and left me home alone. 45 years later, it is time to say goodbye to the stained, but still soft fabric. Amazingly, there are no rips or snags. I really love my garments. This always took a big chunk of my savings because at that time most garments were US made - and I can attest - Made to Last.
I'm sure my Mother discovered my satins. She was the kind who snooped. But she never said anything. She was a skilled seamstress and I would have enjoyed a Mother-Daughter relationship with her. But she wasn't that type of lady. I need to get this into the donation bag, but I am lingering with the memories.
These were my first satin purchases, what about yours?
In 45 minutes of deliberation, and with the helpful assistance of a middle-aged sales associate (who knew within 3 minutes that the purchase was for me), I selected a pair of purple satin jacquard pajamas. The top was a tunic with a boat neck and kimono sleeves. It was a pair of wide trousers with a wide leg, almost but not quite as wide as palazzo pants. The fabric was soft and flowing, the top was a bit oversized for me at that time - which I am grateful for as I was able to get a decade worth of use out of it. I loved the swish and delightful caress that the wide leg pants gave to my shaved legs (I was a competitive swimmer, so shaving was normal for me). I still remember on the bus ride home, sneaking my hand into the bag to feel the soft fabric.This was 1979 and I paid about $50 for this.
The sales lady rang me up with a smile and assured me that I could return the pajamas if "she" didn't like them. I kept them hidden during the day between my bed mattress and box spring. I would hand-wash them in the bathroom and dry them in the corner of my closet.
That same Spring, I was determined to buy another piece of satin to start building my wardrobe. As we were nearing Mother's Day, I took my part-time job savings and ventured back to Macys lingerie department. I was looking for the same sales lady, but she was not there. What I did find and instantly fell in love with was this Ivory Laura Adams full-length satin robe. See photos. I swooned at the 1930s starlet bias look. I said this was for my mother and needed size Large (I was at best a medium, but I wanted more fabric). It has lovely shoulder pads, cuffed sleeves and a built in belt. It was the perfect cover for my pajamas and I wore the set often at night or during the day when my family was away and left me home alone. 45 years later, it is time to say goodbye to the stained, but still soft fabric. Amazingly, there are no rips or snags. I really love my garments. This always took a big chunk of my savings because at that time most garments were US made - and I can attest - Made to Last.
I'm sure my Mother discovered my satins. She was the kind who snooped. But she never said anything. She was a skilled seamstress and I would have enjoyed a Mother-Daughter relationship with her. But she wasn't that type of lady. I need to get this into the donation bag, but I am lingering with the memories.
These were my first satin purchases, what about yours?
