A Peggy Page jacket

Last weekend I went to the Classic Car Boot Sale (see previous post) and despite promising myself I'd wait to see if my weight loss plan paid off before buying any new clothes, I couldn't resist this jacket on Kinky Melon's stall. It's actually several sizes too small – there's no way it's closing but thanks to my small bones it's fine across the back. It's very light in weight, so I plan to use it as a smart alternative to a cardigan rather than as a functional jacket. I haven't worn this dress for a couple of years as I've been worried that my tummy was too prominent in it, but looking at the photo it's not my stomach that's my most obvious feature...


As for dating, it was labelled 60s, and Vix is the expert. The acid green colour and bold pattern seems far too exuberant for the 1950s to me, and Peggy Page's labels changed for a much more Mod design at some point in the 1960s, so... narrowed down to early to mid 60s? I did have a trawl round various online resources, the usual suspects – Google Books, Pinterest and so on – but couldn't find enough things with both labels on and firm dates to get a good idea of when this one was in use. All I can say for sure is that it was definitely in use in 1956, and this script-style way of writing Peggy Page continued till at least 1961 on adverts, though those adverts didn't have pictures of labels on.

Most of the Peggy Page I've seen sold has been dresses, so this jacket probably had a matching dress or skirt at some point. I do not have a perfect matching dress, though this one goes pretty well with it. This dress is ponte, and I'll keep my eye out for something with more of a sheen, like the jacket, though I also think it might look excellent over a tweed in matching colours. I am considering it with my trusty old purple tweed shift dress, though that much green and purple might be a little too Halloween/Batman's Joker.

Finally, remember the trio of old pamphlet covers I got at the Classic Car Boot Sale? My pal Emily (who's one of the people behind acclaimed London supperclub The Rangoon Sisters) liked the Burma one so much she hunted down her own on eBay. It's got her family's hometown on it. This may be the first and only instance of me influencing anyone's purchase!