Re: TV programmes set in the 1950/60's
Posted: June 10th, 2016, 11:36 am
In the UK there were various periods that were good. Throughout the fifties and early sixties there were plenty of the 'Pacamac' varieties translucent plastic macs, sold by Woolworths and many ladies outfitters. Every woman of any class would have one, usually worn with the ubiquitous headscarf!
From the mid sixties, the pvc macs inspired by Mary Quant, often in bright prime colours came on the market, quite often black and white. Every girl had one; my wife had a cotton backed mac in paisley pattern.
The early seventies saw those crinkle pvc, not my favourite at all. From a magazine I have it appears that the newer translucent plastic mac with drawstring hood arrived at first in 1976. I was out of Europe from 1975 to 1978, but on my return I found a wonderful selection of new style plastic macs, especially in Oxford Street in London. Almost every tourist shop had them for sale along the whole length. Also popular was the 'jelly jacket' usually with drawstring waist and elasticated cuffs. The popularity continued into the early eighties, and I remember in 1981 going into a shop in Gloucester that had a whole rack of delicious macs in a variety of bold colours. Such macs were still available either from such shops as Peacocks or even better C&A of blessed memory.
By the end of the eighties, plastic macs were hard to find, although some of the big London stores still had clear capes, which occasionally turn up on Ebay. The early nineties saw the arrival of full length PU coats, very light and soft, most commonly in black with padded shoulders. These were fashion raincoats, not cheap but also usually lined. They seemed to have died out by the end of the decade.
Apart from occasional attempts by fashion designers to revice pvc or plastic, there was a dearth until the new 'Festival' glass clear macs appeared, maybe three years ago. Wonderful revival, but sadly as others have noted, not readily seen in the high street. Also, most of them are jacket length; do women today not care about having soaked legs ?
Well, that is my history from memory. I maybe wrong but it is a personal recollection.
From the mid sixties, the pvc macs inspired by Mary Quant, often in bright prime colours came on the market, quite often black and white. Every girl had one; my wife had a cotton backed mac in paisley pattern.
The early seventies saw those crinkle pvc, not my favourite at all. From a magazine I have it appears that the newer translucent plastic mac with drawstring hood arrived at first in 1976. I was out of Europe from 1975 to 1978, but on my return I found a wonderful selection of new style plastic macs, especially in Oxford Street in London. Almost every tourist shop had them for sale along the whole length. Also popular was the 'jelly jacket' usually with drawstring waist and elasticated cuffs. The popularity continued into the early eighties, and I remember in 1981 going into a shop in Gloucester that had a whole rack of delicious macs in a variety of bold colours. Such macs were still available either from such shops as Peacocks or even better C&A of blessed memory.
By the end of the eighties, plastic macs were hard to find, although some of the big London stores still had clear capes, which occasionally turn up on Ebay. The early nineties saw the arrival of full length PU coats, very light and soft, most commonly in black with padded shoulders. These were fashion raincoats, not cheap but also usually lined. They seemed to have died out by the end of the decade.
Apart from occasional attempts by fashion designers to revice pvc or plastic, there was a dearth until the new 'Festival' glass clear macs appeared, maybe three years ago. Wonderful revival, but sadly as others have noted, not readily seen in the high street. Also, most of them are jacket length; do women today not care about having soaked legs ?
Well, that is my history from memory. I maybe wrong but it is a personal recollection.