Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Sweater Sets

 I went to high school in the 1970's.  We had a fascination with the 50's.
I especially loved everything about the 50's,

I blame the Beach Boys and Sha-Na-Na.
I blame Leave it to Beaver.
I blame actresses in cashmere sweater sets in capri's and keds.

I bought my own cashmere sweaters in 1975.

My first was a dark blue from Ireland.

When Grease came out in 1978, I felt at home.



DSC_9492


You can only imagine my delight when Katie asked yesterday morning,
"Can I wear your cashmere sweater?"

"Yes.  But be careful with it.  I've had it for a long time."

There have been many other cashmere sweaters that were eaten by moths.
It's very sad to say.

But this one, the first one, lasted.

I love when the girls wear it.

That blue sweater is warm and soft and has a sweet history.
It makes me happy to pass it on.


Encourage one another,
Donna






38 comments:

  1. Mary from wheaton8:02 AM

    Amazing,isn't it, how an item of clothing can take us back to a time and place long ago?

    The only scary thing about cashmere is that once you've worn it, it's so hard to go back to anything else!

    Hope you're staying warm, Donna! It's so cold here in Wheaton today. Only 10 degrees! BRRR.

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  2. I love this post. The Beach Boys, Leave it to Beaver.... and cashmere twin sets! Katie looks precious. I am loving the mood that the Lensbaby evokes.

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  3. I love this post so much. I was born in 1976. I think I watched Leave it to Beaver reruns. I loved that show. I wanted my Mom to wear dresses like Mrs. Cleaver wore. I had one cashmere sweater in my life. It was green with a turtleneck. I wish I still had it. : )

    I am glad you are enjoying your Christmas present.

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  4. for us it was wool bermudas and knee socks...John Meyer was the brand we all wanted. Paired with Weejun loafers (not sure about the spelling).

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  5. How fun to have that to pass on/share with Katie. Two of my girls are around Katie's age and are very into sweaters and sweater sets. I can't afford to buy them cashmere ones. They'll have to save their money for those.

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    1. Hi Gayle,
      I actually never had the under piece to the set. That was too expensive for me. My blue sweater cost about $100. 38 years....It was a good buy :o)
      I wore my cardigan with a white, peter pan collar shirt.
      "Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee."

      Delete
  6. sis' cindy :)10:07 AM

    Sweet! I do love a cashmere sweater myself! Wearing a gray mock neck with pearl earrings today! ;)

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:08 AM

      Ummmm?? still figuring how to post here... that was suppose to say sis' cindy ??

      Which profile do I post on??

      Delete
    2. I'm not sure Cindy. Just post under Anon and sign your name at the bottom.
      Love sis' cindy

      I am wearing my black turtleneck today.

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    3. Cindy, It looks like the typing thing did not like your apostrophe
      Try it without that little mark.

      Delete
    4. It looks like Cindy is swearing ;-) he he

      This might be a silly question, but do you have a Google profile set up, Cindy?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous3:47 PM

      Susan... I do not have Google profile set up! Should I?? Dan it!!
      (Dan it is the way Donna swears! ;)

      sis' cindy :)

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    6. Hi Cindy - if you set up a google profile then whenever you are on Donna's blog, it'll be all set up for you to reply as Cindy (Google) and all you do is Publish.

      I'm not a blogger, but I love reading your sister's blog (obviously) and a few others in the States -- helps me feel connected to America ;-)

      Dan it -- I like it. I'm keeping it.

      Delete
  7. I love that you've kept the sweater so long and that Katie wants to wear it.

    And I've found ebay a wonderful source for cashmere sweaters--and Marshall's too, if you want re-live your youth and get a cashmere sweater that fits today. I have several that are so soft and comfy.

    HMBalison

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  8. Let me try my comment again (I have not had my afternoon coffee; apparently it affects my typing and whether I make sense or not).

    I have never had a Cashmere Sweater because I'm afraid that once I learn how amazing they are, I won't be able to go back to just ordinary stuff.

    The classics never go out of style -- Katie has good taste.

    time for coffee ~

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  9. Anonymous11:21 AM

    How neat that you can pass your sweater on to your daughters. I am a cardigan hoarder, but have no cashmere. The Beach Boys was the first cassette I ever received. When I was a senior in high school (1996) I was obsessed with Jackie-O. I just loved her fashion and still do. Capris, a simple striped sweater, and flats....love it.

    Sarah P. from Iowa

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  10. Me again - just posted a comment/answer on Yesterday's post :)

    ~your Swiss Miss

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  11. Anonymous11:40 AM

    We always had 50s dances in high school during the 70s. I loved American Grafitti, Grease, the Donna Reed show and Father Knows Best along with Leave it to Beaver! Love the image of you with your Peter Pan collar under your sweater. Such a clean cut, All American girl!

    Katie's hair is getting so long!

    Mary Z

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    Replies
    1. It is getting long...needs a trim :o)
      Katie has not had her first volleyball tournament yet. She likes her practices. They worked on defense on Sunday and Katie has a sore tummy. Lots of diving onto her stomach.
      First tournament is Jan. 26th
      When is Molly's?

      Delete
  12. Anonymous12:03 PM

    I'm glad Katie's enjoying the practices. I can't even begin to imagine diving on my stomach for anything! Molly already had her first tournament January 5th and 6th. She's in the high school musical for the first time ever (Beauty and the Beast), and while she seems to be successfully juggling school work, volleyball and musical practices, it is really stressing me out! I'll be relieved once the musical is over at the beginning of February. :)

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:04 PM

      ^^That's from me - Mary Z. I need to figure out how to get a profile.

      Delete
  13. Heritage Clothing... something in the South that is treasured. I have children's clothing that is now over a 100 years old. I just photographed my granddaughter in my Christening gown. Your sweater sounds lovely. Your daughters are blessed!

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  14. Dear Donna,

    My dad loved cashmere v-necks. I have a tobacco colored one of his that is cozy and soft and reminds me of him. It got a few moth holes in it so I have felted it and am going to make something fun out of it.

    I've had the most horrible flu and was disappointed to not even have the energy to insert my usual opinions on the Globes red carpet. I had no idea opinions took so much energy (-: The dresses, however, were a lovely distraction for me. Thanks mucho.

    Love,
    DI

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    Replies
    1. Di, I know how you feel. I hope you are feeling fit as a fiddle very soon. I was so happy when I finally felt well enough to have coffee taste normal again. Which means Good!!

      I loved reading about your dad's sweaters.

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    2. Im sorry to hear you have been so sick Di.

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  15. Anonymous1:39 PM

    It really does not get cold enough here for cashmere sweaters, but I love them so much. I only have one now, but as a child my mother bought me a lovely pink one. I think it might be in the cedar chest, but I may have given it away. Katie looks so grown up in your blue sweater. Clothes with a history that have been worn by other family members are my favorite kind. LIke Di, I have a few things that I wear and hang onto long after they are really in their prime. Hope you Donna, your family and everyone here at QL avoids the flu or gets safely over it. Scary how some assisted living places are on lock-down with no dining room use, no housekeeping and having the elderly stay in their rooms...that must feel somewhat restrictive even if it is safer. Glad you are feeling better Di & Susan!
    love and prayers, jep

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  16. thanks jep - it took awhile. Only good thing about the flu - it makes you really appreciate your health when it returns :)

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  17. You are good to let your children wear your clothes. My mum had a hard time with it and even after she passed away I still felt guilty when I 'borrowed' her clothes! She said they smelled like 'school'... Still makes me laugh.

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  18. Any sweater that whispers "wool" in any manner stays far away from this girl. But I do love cardigans and have a variety of colors to wear with scarves :-)

    Blessings,
    Tammy ~@~

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  19. Oh Tammy. I am sorry you can not wear wool. It is the warmest textile in the world...and you are so little and where you live is soooooo cold.....

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  20. I love this so much! My oldest sometimes wants to wear my clothes and it makes me smile, because one day, I think, she will not care to wear what I wear (at least for a while). :) And it also makes me smile when she wears her dad's t-shirts (long-sleeved) to hang out in, because I clearly remember doing the same thing when I was young. They were so comfy! :)
    The sweater is lovely on her.

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  21. Anonymous10:41 PM

    I only owned one cashmere sweater in my life. It was a gift, I wore it once, and then moths attacked it and left holes! (Are moths attracted to cashmere?) I must save up my money and buy one after reading all these lovely comments. I just have such a hard time parting with $100 or more for a sweater. But it would be worth it, I know.

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  22. I wish I had someone who had advised me on the care of cashmere. Yes. Very prone to moths.
    But a bag of some sort would have kept them away. 100$ divided by 38 years. A bargain!

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  23. I just love that ! When our past becomes interesting for our children.
    And for the 50's, Donna, I feel the same. I just bought and read a book, called : The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, by Bill Bryson. Just loved it. Funny and deep.

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  24. That book sounds fantastic!! Thank you!

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  25. Sonjasunshine9:37 AM

    I am so glad you wrote about this. My mom had the softest, sweetest pale pink 3/4 sleeve sweater that was absolutely lovely. I remember asking to borrow it when I was a teenager. Mom told me over and over, "Now be CAREFUL with it. I've had that sweater since I was sixteen. It's very special to me, so please take good care of it." I wore it several times over the course of two or three years. Got lots of compliments. Then I guess I got tired of it and it went back into the cedar chest. Your post brought back some great memories. Now my girls are teenagers. I'll have to see if mom still knows where it is.

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  26. Oh! Please let me know if you find the sweater!! Take pictures!'

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  27. Sonjasunshine2:55 PM

    Mom knew just where it was - my youngest sister's closet! I put it on my 16-year old & took a few pictures. It was fun to see it again although, like me, it's beginning to show its age & wear.
    Don't know how to share the pix with you. :-(

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