It was lots of fun to have a new skirt almost every week or two. They usually needed ironing, but were so easy to iron it only took a few minutes for each skirt.

In the 50’s in my large metropolitan high school, the girls were required to take Sewing and Cooking, and the boys had to take Shop. If a boy wanted to be a chef or a girl a mechanic, too bad in those days. (Times have changed for the better in that regard!) Girls alternated semesters of the required classes, Sewing and Cooking. In the sewing semesters, we often made more dirndle skirts. So on school time we got to sew our clothes.

We usually wore a white blouse with the skirt, or a colored blouse that matched the color of the skirt. White blouses were often the “peasant type” blouse, with the rounded, elastic neckline, and some had puffed sleeves. Synthetic materials weren’t common then, so few of the skirts or blouses were made of material other than cotton.

I know the patterns for those skirts, and most other clothing item patterns, cost under a dollar in the 50’s. Often stores would have sales and we bought patterns for ten cents each. But for my dirndle skirts, I never used a pattern.

Once I’d sewn one and learned how easy it was to make, I was hooked. I’d frequently check out the “five and dime” stores we had in those days, for sales on material. My allowance would usually cover the price of the material for another skirt, since even in the 1950’s it didn’t cost much.

Old patterns for these skirts, from the 50’s, with everything intact and in good condition, cost five to ten dollars each today. I’ve even seen a few selling for twenty-five dollars.

Today, a nice dirndle skirt from the 50’s can easily sell for twenty to seventy dollars or more. I sure wish I had all those skirts from my high school years! But along with my other clothes from that era, they are long gone, except for memories.

Link the page to:

Think of Audrey Hepburn in “Roman Holiday”…

The circle skirt emphasized the feminine shape with a narrow waist that flared outward. It pretty much was a huge circle with a hole in the middle, which gave it lots of texture and flair.

Even patterns used the Audrey Hepburn look to illustrate their design:

You can still find patterns for circle skirts and dresses that are authentic to the era, or you can buy original vintage circle skirts and dresses. Personally, I really think this classic look still has a place in today’s fashion, simply because it’s whimsical, comfortable, and pretty!

Link the page to: