Back when people used to dress up for everything

[NotUrsula]

This is a very sad photo that anyone who has ever been a figure skater is very familiar with, but it beautifully illustrates the kind of attire that was once the norm for flying.

The reason that this smiling photo of very happy people is sad is because this is a photo of the 1961 United States Figure Skating team on their way to the World Championships. All of them (along with several coaches and family members, and the plane's crew) died just 8 hours later when this plane went down in a Belgian vegetable field. The oldest of the athletes was 29, but most of them were teenagers. The photo was taken at what is now JFK Airport.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Always try to dress what I consider appropriate for my surroundings. At least since I passed the rebellious teenage years.
I don't understand how some people leave their homes but am past caring about if they aren't members of my family.

 

[DisLiss]

Oh yes. As a child I had a drawer of "play clothes" that I wore only at home. My other clothes were "school clothes" or "church outfits" and if we were going out, then depending on where we were going I'd be told to wear a school outfit or a church outfit/dress. Basically the only outings where I would wear play clothes would be a playground or maybe going to the corner store for a popsicle. Even going to a friend's birthday party meant dressing up when I was really young.

 

[leebee]

I grew up in the early 60s (born in 1956) and I definitely remember "dressing up." You dressed up to go out to dinner, to church, to grandparents homes for visiting or Sunday dinner, birthday parties, etc. We had three kinds of clothes: Dress clothes, school clothes, and play clothes. Dress and school clothes were always dresses, and when you got home from someplace you changed from your dress/school clothes to play clothes. Heck, I remember wearing ankle socks with frills on the cuffs, we had dress coats and regular coats and jackets, wore hats, had muffs to keep our hands warm in winter (if we were wearing our dress clothes), wore petticoats under our dresses, and wore white gloves out to dinner and to church. My dad wore a suit and tie to work, and always wore a fedora when he left the house. He also wore pants or shorts and a polo shirt for "casual" wear; I don't think he owned a tee shirt. My mom wore house dresses during the day and changed to nicer ones for supper each night. I don't remember her wearing pants until I was in high school in the 70s- and even then, they were stretch pull-on or stirrup pants, never jeans. I can't imagine anyone dressing like this now, but that's how it was.

 

[Communicore1991]

I'm a child of the 90s so I don't remember a time of dressing up for normal day to day events. But I was recently looking at old EPCOT publicity photos and one showed a couple dressed up (woman in a dress, man in a suit and tie) having dinner at the Coral Reef along the aquarium. I may get a lot of looks but I'd like to do that, it gives the restauraunt an even more upscale feeling.

 

[amcnj]

Air travel was a big deal when I was young. Before deregulation that industry was a lot different. We didn’t fly anywhere. I know I was not on a commercial flight until I was in my mid 20’s, and that was for work.

We had school clothes, and afterwards you changed into play clothes. And of course church clothes, though I more distinctly recall special shoes for church. There must have been some overlap, as we did not have extensive wardrobes to select from!

 

[MrsInsG]

Oh yes. As a child I had a drawer of "play clothes" that I wore only at home. My other clothes were "school clothes" or "church outfits" and if we were going out, then depending on where we were going I'd be told to wear a school outfit or a church outfit/dress. Basically the only outings where I would wear play clothes would be a playground or maybe going to the corner store for a popsicle. Even going to a friend's birthday party meant dressing up when I was really young.

I had that, as well. My parents were divorced and while Dad diligently paid child support, he did not make a lot of money. Mom was a nurse and worked as much as she could, but money was tight. Regardless, Mom saved to be able to afford the various clothes for my brother and I, to include a dress coat for each of us. Fast forward to my own kids, and would not let them leave the house in stained clothes. I had a friend who would allow her kids to go out in whatever and she would tease me about my kids always having their hair brushed and dressing nicely; I just could not let go of what was so ingrained in me. My girls are now teens with one almost in her 20's and they will not go out looking messy (I don't mean make-up, I mean clothing and basic grooming wise.) All signs point to them being moms who will do the same with their kids; we shall see! I will say that my mom pitched in with my own kids and bought them dress coats and shoes and various clothes for different occasions. I think it really is generational.

I'm a child of the 90s so I don't remember a time of dressing up for normal day to day events. But I was recently looking at old EPCOT publicity photos and one showed a couple dressed up (woman in a dress, man in a suit and tie) having dinner at the Coral Reef along the aquarium. I may get a lot of looks but I'd like to do that, it gives the restauraunt an even more upscale feeling.

I would love it if more people did this! My DH and I dress up when we go to nice restaurants- even at WDW. If we are in-park dining it becomes a little harder if we've been in the park all day.