Remember Paper Clothes?

Wow! I have not thought of those paper dresses in years! I sure do remember them - I had a paper dress in the bright orange and yellows popular in the 60's. It was fairly durable but not being washable didn't last long!

You are right though, I'm sure with today's technology there must be more than a few good uses for similar items now. I love your story Cea! I can just see that big fire in their backyard! What a waste of camping gear!

Thanks for bringing back some old memories, Bonnie

My mum still gets teased by my aunt about the time she took paper knickers to guide camp so she didn't have to take them home with her and she could save valuable packing space. They went for a walk and had to wade through a river. Paper knickers went bye-bye...

Charlie.

I worked in manufacturing for a while, and sometimes we had to wear Tyvek (that's the stuff those mailers are made of) overalls over our clothes. They zipped up the front and covered us from neck to ankle to wrist. We treated them as sort of disposable - we'd write our names on the sleeve and use them until they were ripped or the elastic blew out.

liz young

Re: Remember Paper Clothes?

The envelop of which you speak is Tyvek, not paper. Basically, polyester.

Cea

My DMIL has one of the dresses saved in her hope chest. Can't remember if she said she wore one or not (think she went to a party in one), but she gets it out every 10 years or so to "impress" grandkids, who can't believe anyone would wear such a thing. I do remember when they came out, but never got one myself, thinking of how paper coasters absorb water and shred . . .

And yes, it is Tyvek you're thinking about, which the builders use. I've seen overalls made from it in the painting section of Lowe's home improvement store, and thought that would be a good idea if it wasn't too hot inside the house. Tyvek is a vapor barrier, so I'm thinking it would be a little warm. SueB

wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@storefull-3117.bay.webtv.net...

Just a fun thought to toss out here on this. DH & I like to watch Antiques Roadshow on PBS.

They had a paper dress that was made as a promotional thing for, I want to say, Campbell's Soup. IIRC, the entire dress was made from soup can labels. (It was labels for whatever product it was, I do remember that much. But I think it was all red and white labels.) It was what I call a "Donna Reed" or "Dorris Day" kind of dress. Fitted bodice, sleeveless, and a flared, poofy kind of skirt. The dress was something that you had to send away for. This one was in pristine condition. They showed it on a dress form. The value the appraiser put on it was somewhere in the thousands of $$.

I thought that was pretty interesting. Although every time I see someone drag in a collection of cereal box prizes or something I cringe. Mom made me throw mine away. :( Ah well.....

Sharon

I remember the hype, but never actually saw or wore a paper dress. I did, however, spend over 20 years in the manufacturing side of the medical diagnostic industry, a good chunk either working or supervising "clean rooms", where a sterile environment is imperative. I can tell you that Tyvec, especially when worn from the top of your head to the tip of your toes, is HOT. Doesn't breath, doesn't wick moisture away - either way, so the wearer is also protected, to a degree. And they "rustle".

Now, our pop-up camper is made of tyvec, instead of canvas. It isn't much better - holds in a lot of moisture.

If the clothes were being made of tyvec, I can see why the weren't a big success.

Sharon

suequilt wrote: ...

They make cheapie souvenir event jackets out of Tyvek. I've seen them at cycling events. Not cheap to buy, however ($30??). They are windproof and hold printed colors & logos well.

--Karen M.

We went to a conference one time and my husband didn't pack his bathing trunks but the motel furnished him with paper ones! I had forgotten all about that until I read your post.

Carey

I had two paper dresses and they came in paper envelopes. It was rather "mod" to pull your item of clothing out of a paper envelope and put it on, with just a tie at the neck in back. Paper clothing was very popular in California in the late 60's and early 70's (this was

1968 for me), especially Southern California, because it doesn't rain much there. Now, if you lived let's say where I do now, in Pennsylvania, or maybe Florida, I don't think it would have been as popular. I wore a dress to school one day, and it started to drizzle. I was a little nervous about the rain, but nothing happened. I'll never forget the feel; like a paper examination gown, but only with different colors. One dress had pink "flower power" flowers on it, the other dress was blue and green stripes.

Now as to these items being for camping trips, well, maybe. The paper in the dresses was a little more than regular paper, but not quite as durable as Tyvek, which is the envelope; yes, the dress did tear, eventually. It actually came apart at the top edge where bias tape bound the edges. The same material in Tyvek is used, I believe, in Haz Mat clothing. I don't think it would tear as easily as what was in my dresses.

I remember a hiking trip I went on and was caught in a deluge. I sure wished then I had alternate clothing, but I don't think paper would have cut it. I could see myself, standing there, rain pouring on me, and something similar to wet toilet paper, like when you used to TP houses when you were younger, would be dripping off me only to expose my private parts; not a pretty thought.

But yes, it was a fond memory; thanks for getting me started on it. I'd almost forgotten.

But they melt like crazy near heat. You can get some amazing textures if you hold an iron over it and let it curl up and shrivel.

Sandy

Yep, I remember paper clothes! I bought some paper underwear (panties) when I was in Holland in the early 1970s. Thought it was just too cool. I also got a paper nightgown, but it was pretty itchy and didn't survive the pressure of being slept in.

I also have very fond memories of a pair of paper pants (they were probably Tyvek) with a Peter Max design all over them. They were a promotional item from 7-Up, which was at that time running Peter Max ads. They were flared hip-huggers.

--Welmoed

Cea can't believe you are "hyping" paper clothes. You haven't been to a doctor's office lately where they handed you the paper "Dior"? Flimsy, scratchy, crackely, stiff and unforgiving. I told my doc if he didn't change to fabric I was changing docs (just kidding of course) and he did. Dot in Tennessee

Re: Remember Paper Clothes?

And you got the commission of making same, yes?

--Karen M. who derives entertainment studying medical visit gowns and drapes

Sure was and ain't it a beauty? They call that a "bountiful bum". Dot in Tennessee (corn fed)

Re: Remember Paper Clothes? snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.net (Karen=A0M.) Dot wrote: Cea can't believe you are "hyping" paper clothes. You haven't been to a doctor's office lately where they handed you the paper "Dior"? Flimsy, scratchy, crackely, stiff and unforgiving. I told my doc if he didn't change to fabric I was changing docs (just kidding of course) and he did.