Red gingham dress, made by Harrods Ltd, Spain, 1959-1960

Dress of a fine red and white gingham check cotton. The dress, worn by a girl of about 6 years old, is sleeveless and has a square neckline. The front panel of the dress has different fruit motifs applied - cherries, a pear, strawberries and a banana on the bodice of the dress. These are repeated around the bottom of the flared skirt. The dress has a fitted waist with a full skirt reaching to around knee height. There is a gingham sash that is attached at the front and forms a bow at the back of the dress. The dress fastens at the back with four plastic buttons and a metal hook clasp at the waist.

Gift of Caroline McIntyre

This dress was worn by the donor, Caroline McIntyre (b.20/02/1954) around 1959-60 when she was 6 years old.
The dress is a part of a larger gift ranges in size and age group from the donor’s and her brother’s baby clothes throughout her childhood up to the age of about 14. This is a rare opportunity to follow the changing size, fashions and clothing choices (either her own or those chosen for her) of one individual throughout their childhood of the mid 1950s-1960s including those clothes worn for every day as well as those saved for best.

This garment is part of a larger gift of childrens clothes worn by a girl called Caroline (and some by her brother) spanning the mid 1950s-1960s. The range of clothing shows both the developments in fine quality brands, designs and fashions bought for her and available to many girls in the post war period and, through the increasing size and sophistication of the garments, charts Caroline own developments from a toddler through towards her teenage years.

B.299-2011