Sewing Contest Winner, 1959

Life magazine, July 27, 1959, p. 10 Mrs. Fred Dalone Jr. was the grand prize winner of a sewing contest for members of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1959. The challenge was to create an outfit suitable for a women’s club meeting. The only requirement was to use a Vogue pattern, generally considered the most sophisticated of American pattern companies. Her outfit was chosen from a pool of over 200,000 entries. I think her creation is quite dull compared to others featured in the magazine. Perhaps it was exquisitely made. Or perhaps a beige ensemble was considered more appropriate for women’s club meeting than a turquoise suit. The article raised a lot of questions for me. All the women are identified by their husband’s first and last name, their own names never mentioned. When did this practice die out? They all wear hats and gloves, apparently part of the women’s club dress code. The small print indicates that some of the hats were also handmade. Most fit closely to the…