Culottes

[Mommy2Kids]

There has been a lot of discussion about culottes on the blog b/c of today's post.

What are your memories of these horrible garments?

My mother sewed ours, since in the 70s and 80s they couldn't be bought in stores. She found the ugliest camel brown fabric with navy checks. I'm sure it was on clearance somewhere. The school provided the pattern numbers we had to choose from. They were so full they flew up all over the place when we ran.

My parents did allow us to wear pants and snow pants at winter camp. There were a couple churches that sent their kids who had to wear snow pant culottes.

[Niki]

Fortunately, my parents weren't full-on fundy, so I got out of them. I did, however, have to wear them one summer when I was a parasol painter on the Branson Belle, owned by Silver Dollar City. They were heavy wool, navy blue, and clashed with the black shoes and socks we had to wear. To complete the outfit, there was a blue-and-white sailor blouse with red tie.

Summer.
Southwest Missouri.
95 degree heat and 95% humidity.
Never, ever again!

My heart goes out to all whose upbringing required wearing them. Truly.

[Niki]

I was nineteen then, and I did, I might mention, manage to make the experience less painful by taking advantage of the straw hats we were allowed to wear with them, and since I was dyeing my hair red (brilliant red) at the time, and it was long, I let myself channel Anne Shirley and live vicariously through my imagination. What can I say? There's a reason I teach English and writing...

[pastor's wife]

(04-19-2011 06:29 PM)Niki Wrote:  I let myself channel Anne Shirley and live vicariously through my imagination. What can I say? There's a reason I teach English and writing...

I knew I liked you!

On a Bob Jones dating outing, we rode horseback, but weren't allowed to wear pants because the administration didn't want us walking around in pants for the entire dating outing. Well, I did want to ride, but I didn't want to wear culottes which I thought were ugly beyond bearing, so I wore a long, full jean skirt. Had the ride been a long trail ride I would've had blisters, but for the simple ride we did, I managed to survive unscathed! And I felt much more feminine and cute than I would have in culottes.

[supernova8610]

Culottes are a crime against fashion. So glad I was never forced to wear them. (Then again, I didn't grow up fundy..)

[leaving]

So I need some therapy. You have to understand that I'm just coming out of fundyism...about two or three months now although my heart left before that.

So, I have a confession. I went to the store today. And I bought maternity PANTS. Yes, pants. I haven't worn pants in years. They are so much more comfortable than trying to squeeze myself into a non-maternity skirt because I cannot find any maternity skirts. It's better than trying to put on see-through skirts with no slips. And I actually feel more modest because...well, squatting to pick up stuff while pregnant? I don't need to say any more, do I? But I'm still too embarrassed to post about the great deal I got on them on Facebook. I can't write "just got an awesome deal on name brand maternity pants...$4.99 each, when people don't think I even wear them. I have about seven pairs of culottes, however. And three pairs of pants. I guess I'm still ok. Haha. Most of the culottes have to go. Some I'm keeping for around the house because they are comfortable to me and because they were very expensive.

[supernova8610]

(04-19-2011 08:33 PM)leaving Wrote:  So I need some therapy. You have to understand that I'm just coming out of fundyism...about two or three months now although my heart left before that.

I hope you don't think I was attacking you; that wasn't my intention.

[supernova8610]

(04-19-2011 08:33 PM)leaving Wrote:  Most of the culottes have to go. Some I'm keeping for around the house because they are comfortable to me and because they were very expensive.

You could hold a ceremonial burning of the pairs you'd rather not keep. jk

[leaving]

(04-19-2011 08:47 PM)supernova8610 Wrote:  

(04-19-2011 08:33 PM)leaving Wrote:  So I need some therapy. You have to understand that I'm just coming out of fundyism...about two or three months now although my heart left before that.

I hope you don't think I was attacking you; that wasn't my intention.

Nah. If you want to attack me you'd need to do better than that. Haha.

[leaving]

I really wish I could find some cute knee length or just a little longer denim and khaki shorts, but alas, I'll probably have to wait till I'm not pregnant for those.