Re: [h-cost] Prices in 1957
On Aug 21, 2007, at 5:58 AM, Catherine Kinsey wrote: Would anyone know of a resource for finding the prices of things in 1957? I'm not looking for a current value but what something would have cost in 1957. Specifically a cocktail length wedding dress?? My mother still has the silk chiffon cocktail dress she wore when she married my father in 1956. It was a second marriage, so the dress wasn't a standard wedding dress. Hilariously, and completely in character, it turned out she forgot to cut the price tag off before the wedding, and it's still there. It was from an expensive department store in Los Angeles, she thinks it was called Robinson's. The price was $125. Margo ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
RE: [h-cost] Prices in 1957
I just got a birthday card with the prices of stuff in 1954, so check the local card stores. Our library has a city archive, they might have stuff. Also old magazines and newspapers. Might not have wedding dress prices, but will surely have regular dress prices. Oh, and try Sears catalogues. Or call their headquarters, they'd probably have old catalogues or prices. A last thought would be any seamstresses in your area who were in business back then. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Catherine Kinsey Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 5:59 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [h-cost] Prices in 1957 Would anyone know of a resource for finding the prices of things in 1957? I'm not looking for a current value but what something would have cost in 1957. Specifically a cocktail length wedding dress?? My in-laws are having their 50th annv. in 2 weeks and the kids want to prepare a card where the punchline is "50 years together, priceless". They are trying to find the cost of typical wedding items from this year for the rest of the bit. For some reason they thought I would know about the dress :). Thanks, Catherine ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Prices in 1957
On Tue, 21 Aug 2007, Catherine Kinsey wrote: > Would anyone know of a resource for finding the prices of things in > 1957? I'm not looking for a current value but what something would > have cost in 1957. Specifically a cocktail length wedding dress?? The fastest way I can think of to get the answer is in the microfilm room of my local library, which has archives of newspapers going way back ... including ad sections. I'd go for the Sunday New York Times or a similar paper with large Sunday ad supplements. You might have to go through a few months (I can't remember what season is the big one for wedding dress sales), but eventually you'll find an ad for a bridal show or sale that will have pictures with prices. A similar resource is old magazines. Modern Bride or Bride's Magazine might not go back that far, but Vogue and Ladies' Home Journal may occasionally feature wedding dresses. Try the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature for your target year to find magazine features on wedding gowns, then see if you can get the magazine on microfilm or fiche. You'll need a good-sized library for this. --Robin ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Prices in 1957
I believe that old Sears catalogs are available various places and other large stores might also have records of their offerings from back 'in the day'. They would be a good source for middle-class average costs. Karen Seamstrix ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Prices in 1957
I don't think China was making Western fashions for export in the 1950s. On Aug 21, 2007, at 7:49 AM, Linda Rice wrote: Naturally price could vary quite a bit, just as today. (Off the rack from China vs. designer or custom made) Here's one site that might be useful. Note the wedding dress price is for "sample" dresses, so may not be very accurate. http://www.gti.net/mocolib1/prices/1958.html ::Linda:: -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Catherine Kinsey Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 8:59 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [h-cost] Prices in 1957 Would anyone know of a resource for finding the prices of things in 1957? I'm not looking for a current value but what something would have cost in 1957. Specifically a cocktail length wedding dress?? My in-laws are having their 50th annv. in 2 weeks and the kids want to prepare a card where the punchline is "50 years together, priceless". They are trying to find the cost of typical wedding items from this year for the rest of the bit. For some reason they thought I would know about the dress :). ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
RE: [h-cost] Prices in 1957
Here's another, of a nice dress. Says that $350.00 was a lot of money for a wedding dress at the time. Today, that's dirt cheap. http://www.thevintagevault.citymax.com/catalog/item/256734/45142.htm Now, I'm off to go work on my own costumes today! Yay! ::L:: ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
RE: [h-cost] Prices in 1957
Naturally price could vary quite a bit, just as today. (Off the rack from China vs. designer or custom made) Here's one site that might be useful. Note the wedding dress price is for "sample" dresses, so may not be very accurate. http://www.gti.net/mocolib1/prices/1958.html ::Linda:: -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Catherine Kinsey Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 8:59 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [h-cost] Prices in 1957 Would anyone know of a resource for finding the prices of things in 1957? I'm not looking for a current value but what something would have cost in 1957. Specifically a cocktail length wedding dress?? My in-laws are having their 50th annv. in 2 weeks and the kids want to prepare a card where the punchline is "50 years together, priceless". They are trying to find the cost of typical wedding items from this year for the rest of the bit. For some reason they thought I would know about the dress :). ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Prices in 1957
In a message dated 8/21/2007 9:00:47 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Would anyone know of a resource for finding the prices of things in 1957? A reprinted Sears catalogue of the period maybe. Or, most libraries have old copies of magazines from the 50's. Check the ads. ** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
