This time I'm featuring the baby section from my Eaton's winter catalogue from 1961 - these are such fun posts to do - I've done two others from this catalogue - here and here - the baby section is just too cute. I'm going to show you most of the pages, some are just a bit ordinary - like sheets and cloth diapers! You could buy a dozen gauze diapers for $2.99, the pins cost 23 cents and the plastic pants were 2 for 49 cents!
Everybody had "walking shoes" back then, even when my children were born, that type of shoe was still popular. I haven't bought children's wear for a lot of years, I know these shoes were expensive when Carla started wearing them in 1983, the most expensive pair of good quality leather shoes was $3.97. There's some funny names on some of the footwear - I've never heard of "blucher boots" before??
Moving on to the nursery needs page - I guess a change table used to be called a "bathinette" - the solid plastic bath was removable, equipped with drain hose so it could be used in the kitchen, bathroom or nursery, one of these beauties cost $29.95, that seems high, I imagine most people just had the plastic tub that fit in the kitchen sink. I see the plastic baby hangers, I had those and there's still some around.
A layette was probably the way to get all your baby needs with one stop shopping - vests, gowns, safety pins, diapers, blankets, towels and facecloths, quilted pads, sheet, plastic pants.
Are these two piece pajama sets with snaps still in style? I used those for my kids - I hope they still have them when I might need to buy baby clothes again, someday I will, I hope!!!
Oh, the babies look happy, decked out in all their finery!!
Let the wind blow - they're ready for snow!!
Look at the Gro-Up Crib Bed - from crib to junior bed -features the ever so handy "Sit-In" side for easy entrance and exit. Teething rails in white, non toxic plastic!!!
There's a Pyrex baby bottle on this page - 3 for $1.17
I can't believe the baby seats - I guess it was better than nothing but a far cry from what is used today - everything on this page has changed so much - play pens, seats and especially the car seat!
And to finish it off - the baby carriages and strollers - look at that baby stuffed into that stroller on the bottom - he doesn't look very comfortable!!! Look at the car beds - striped or plaid were available - I can't even imagine using one of those but I guess people did!! The strollers are very nice - did you have one for your children? I had to have one, I felt so proud walking around with my new baby in that blue carriage, but, really, it was never used that much, my kids were born in August and September, by the time winter was over, they were in a stroller - actually, my stroller looked something like the ones on the bottom and that was 1983 - but now, they have really changed.
As always, click on a pic for a better look.
Last week I participated in the Wonderful at Home link party for the first time, my post $1 Spent Here, $1 Spent There was featured - thanks, Kristen! Check out the party this week and maybe you have something yourself to share at the party.
My post from earlier in the week on household items from the Eaton's catalogue was quite popular, just like any of my other catalogue posts I've done, just in case you want to catch up, here it is. Today I'm going to share some ladies' fashions with you - I'll say it again, this is the best catalogue I've found yet - there is just so much retro goodness in it and every model is just so happy and smiling, they don't often seem to look like that now....
These pictures were at the very front of the catalogue - to set the winter theme, I guess.
It says this picture was shot on the ski slopes at Sunshine Village, Banff. The most expensive item on this page is the $25 red jacket - pure wool, of course. I like those red boots - made of glove leather, shearling inside and foam crepe rubber soles.
This one was photographed "on the curling rink at Rossmere Golf and Country Club, Winnipeg" - no one is wearing clothes like this anymore while curling. Aren't they a fashionable trio?
"Slim or bouffant, bare armed or demurely covered up - this is your After-five Sophistication" - look at the waists on these gals!!
I just love every dress - don't you??
These were available in Juniors sizes - gloves were also available as well as the jewellery. The dresses are just so cheap - that little plaid number was only $8.96.
The purple mohair type slim skirt took my eye because Mom had a green one like that and Carla has it now! Once again, look at the waists on those girls!! The jeans don't look so different from today's fashions.
My Barbie had a coat very similiar to the one on the top left - it was home made and the same colour with a fur collar too. But, it wasn't mink like these!!!
Furs were also available to order - Persian Lamb, Canadian Mink, China Mink or Japanese Coney(dyed and blended rabbit) - my grandmother had a fur coat, I think that's the only person I ever knew with one.
I'm including this pic because even though I was a little girl in 1961 I remember having those brown boots with the silver buckle - they sure weren't pretty but everybody had them!
Purses and matching footwear - notice that every pair is sanitized!
Just like some of my other catalogues, there are a lot of hat pages, this one has seven pages - love the hats!
I remember seeing slips like this in Mom's drawer - and look at that crinoline!
You'd be pretty toasty in that red robe on the left - it was made of all wool Scottish flannel - and it could only be dry cleaned!! It's the most expensive one - $18.99
Join the Pajama Party! Even the pajamas look fashionable!
This would have been my favourite page in the whole book, I loved brides. I used to cut all the brides out of the newspaper and kept them in a shoe box. My friends and I would go to any wedding, stand outside and collect the confetti that was thrown. One time I threw all my collected confetti on Dad's car and it rained, he was not happy with me!!!
Maternity wear was loose and comfortable - not form fitting like it is now! Call me old fashioned, I guess - I like this look!
Practical uniforms - of course, the nurses' uniforms were only available in white!
It was really hard to narrow it down, there are just so many great pages - stay tuned - mens' and childrens' fashions are coming and also some more household pages.
