U3A Writing: Easter Sunday 1950
Thelma Brabin recalls a time when Easter Sunday was the day when folk went to church wearing new clothes.
Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I gazed at my new coat which was hanging on my bedroom door. I had been waiting for two weeks to wear it. Today was Easter Sunday and that meant New Clothes Day.
I had chosen a bright emerald green, cut from a fine cavalry twill. The design was the new princess line, so called because the lovely young Princess Margaret often wore it.
It had a peplum that ran round the back and finished each side of my waist, and gored panels. On the chair at the side of my bed sat new shoes, a pair of ankle strap wedges, a small boxy shaped handbag and a pair of soft kid gloves, all very fashionable in the latest shade of London Tan.
I couldn’t wait to wear them. At nearly sixteen years old this was my first grownup outfit. Mother bought everything except the gloves and handbag. We had to save up for these, a few pence a week. Everything had to be matched up in those far off days, so when we purchased a new coat, a new bag, shoes and gloves were necessary.
I quickly got ready for nine o’clock Communion. We didn’t have breakfast then before the sacrament, so it didn’t take me long.
After washing I brushed out my clip curls, applied my Max Factor pancake make-up, dressed, turned this way and that preening myself in the mirror. I knew I looked my best as I set off to pick up my friend.
The church looked lovely after the starkness of Lent. The plain linen cover had been taken off the altar, and the large shiny brass vases were filled to overflowing with Easter lilies and daffodils.
After church I helped out with preparations for our Sunday dinner, and then at two o’clock my friends came round. We walked down to our local park and there we paraded in all our finery down the broad walk. The boys were all sat in groups on the grass, while families occupied the benches.
As four of us walked arm in arm, there were plenty of wolf whistles and cat calls, the favourite being, “Hi-ya, Blondie, what are you doing tonight?” and “Follow those coats.” One of the boys took my eye. He had fair hair and was sporting a pale grey pinstripe suit with square-toed shoes, but that’s another story.
We stuck our noses in the air and walked by, secretly feeling very pleased with ourselves. We knew our new outfits had been a huge success. That was Easter 1950’s style.
