Remember the house coat (as my grandmother’s referred to them)? or house dress? My mother wore one, my grandmothers wore them, and now, I’m ready to bring them back. Maybe they’re really just for ladies of a certain age? I know I didn’t fully appreciate the idea of a house coat until now, but it certainly would make packing for a trip where I’ll be spending most of the time at home, with family, easier.
I thought about this after seeing my dad’s neighbor next door outside last evening – wearing a house dress. All day outside working in the yard she wears shorts & a t-shirt, but at certain time of the day, off come the clothes, and on comes the house dress. So, I decided I would do a post, and seek out a house dress of my own, and then, while reading my step-mom’s Architectural Digest ran across an article which featured a beautiful house in Texas and the resident wearing a beautiful “house” outfit in the image above.
As you can tell, the woman in AD was wearing hers over a pair of black pants, and chic toe-ring sandals. How perfect.
I prefer this over the silk, nightie type house coats/short sleeve robes that buttoned up the front that my grandmothers used to wear. I remember my mother wearing something more “heavy”, less lingerie-y and more dress-y, but this was the 70’s, the time of bohemian styles, substantial patterns and long dresses. They always had some sort of sleeves, either long, wide sleeves, or short, kimono-style sleeves and my mother wore hers with sandals (usually Bass), looking so chic for hosting dinner parties, etc.
Ultimately, of course you can just wear a dress at home, which is what I do (usually it’s my Lanston boyfriend maxi dress), and a caftan is a great thing to thrift for, or find at a vintage shop (also Etsy has a zillion), but I did find some online that I love – the Riller & Fount one specifically – that I might consider investing in for future summer trips to Florida. And of course, the Emerson Fry caftan is the ULTIMATE – but I don’t think I’d be able to bring myself so much – although it always goes on sale towards the end of the summer…
My Qualifications for the perfect house dress:
Sleeves – 3/4 sleeve or “short” sleeve at least. When I’m inside, I’m cold. Period. I must have something covering my shoulders.
Long – so I can put my feet up or fold them underneath me and not worry about flashing anyone
Not completely sheer – so I don’t HAVE to wear much underneath…but can if I want to.
Nothing around the waist – I want a flowy, long, simple, easy-to-throw on dress. No frills
What do you think? Ready to bring back the House Dress? or do you enjoy them already?
Here are more I found that I love:
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off-topic but in case anyone is interested in the Robert Clergerie Vicoleg shoes, they are on sale at Amazon for 276 (normally 400). Available in blue and black in most sizes and just 3 sizes left in natural.
I love the idea of a housedress. I had a black linen maxidress and a knit Empire waist dress that basically functioned as housedresses, but they finally were discarded. I don’t think maxidresses look really flattering on me, but they are super-comfortable to wear at home. I’m delving into sewing–just got a sewing machine for my birthday–so a housedress will be my first project. Part of me can’t justify spending a ton of money on something I will just wear around the house or would be so easy to make, and a loose flowy dress is a pretty basic sewing project to start with…
oh! how do you like yours?
i love them so much, but can’t picture wearing them, honestly…
um. best idea ever!!!
my mom has a sewing machine, maybe that’s a good project for us while we’re there over july 4th week.
i don’t think i could spend much on something to wear at home, either, but that’s sort of what i end up doing sometimes…like with my lanston dress – i don’t think it’s all that great on me, but it’s damn comfortable. i just wish it didn’t have a tie waist for wearing at home.
Yes, love the idea! All my summer loungewear (since I don’t wear pjs) are old dresses – things that are too ratty to wear in public (at some point I guess I should stop subjecting my husband to them?) I’m not willing to spend a ton of money on something I’m just lounging in at home. I do have a silk thrifted caftan (it’s too billowy to be a maxi dress but it is sleeveless so I’m not sure how to categorize it) that I will wear in front of other people (only at home) and I’m always looking out for more ideas. Sometimes I have visions of old school glamour (Diana Vreeland at home http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2012/9/20/1348140735655/Diana-Vreeland-surrounded-008.jpg) but usually my personal style would be more bohemian like India Hicks http://www.caribbeanbelle.com/interviews/images/india-hicks_1.jpg
Interesting to think about how we see ourselves in our imaginations….
(we all have our issues with clothing. It’s fun to see we’re not alone in this! And I’ll try not to abbreviate and confuse people in the future 😉
Several years ago I visited my in laws in Florida for a long weekend and the only things I packed were a bathing suit, a hoody and my MIL’s cast off vintage Lilly Pulitzer hostess dress. At least I think that is what you would call it as it was long and caftanish, albeit sleeveless. Best trip ever through the airport as I am a chronic over packer. Anyway I loved (loved!) wearing that dress for 4 days straight. I felt so glamorous strolling the Publix aisles. And it was so comfortable for wearing at home. And equally fine for a dinner out. An added bonus was my MIL thought it so sweet that I loved wearing her old dress. I don’t think I’ve worn it since but this post jogged my memory and I’m going to bust it out this summer. Long live the house dress!
Maybe I am wrong here, but is this a way to further justify the kaftan you want??? I could see a patterned, colorful kaftan doing double duty for you, making you smile as you flit around the house.
haha! you are not entirely wrong 😉
if i had that caftan now, here in florida, i’d be wearing it all day, every day. so absolutely i need one!
haha! you made me laugh at your publix comment. there’s a publix across the street from my dad’s neighborhood and you would certainly NEVER see anything so glamorous in those aisles. i’m mortified there every time i turn a corner…
that’s wonderful that you have that dress! it sounds similar to what my mom had, maybe she still has one or two, although i doubt it. i’m going there over july 4th weekend, so we’ll see. i’d love to have a truly vintage house dress.
maybe i was the only one confused by your abbreviations 😉
love that picture of diana vreeland. but i could never see myself like that, more like the india hicks picture you posted, for sure. i think that’s why i’m drawn so much to bohemian style also, because it’s so carefree, which is what i aspire to BE in real life. or at least MORE carefree than i am normally. i could stand to be much less anxious about everything! including what i’m wearing.
Hit up the thrift stores in Florida! Maybe you’ll find that perfect vintage option. I love to hit thrift stores when I travel – regional style differences etc.
Just did a search on ebay, and I think I’m kind of in love with this vintage one…
http://www.ebay.com/itm/vtg-70s-white-sheer-LACE-stripe-boho-MEXICAN-festival-caftan-jacket-dress-M-L-/131195379448?pt=Vintage_Women_s_Clothing&hash=item1e8bda9ef8
Gilt sale tonight – Summer Boho style – has some cute caftans 😉
This conversation is so fun! I love the memories that you’ve shared, Grechen, as well as Cola’s vintage LP (????), Kelly’s dream life ( Now THAT could be a fun post!), and Jen’s reminder that I’m quite capable with a sewing machine.
Although I think the woman in the pic is adorably chic, I can’t help but associate house dress with my MIL, but sadly, it’s not a positive memory like Cola’s. She never, but NEVER dressed for the day, although her hair was always in rollers as if she had someplace to go later on. She wasn’t too fond of me, so perhaps that’s where the negative associations come in for me.
But I can totally get on board with “caftan”! The boho side of me says, “Groovy!” And I found one at a Senegalese street vendor in Chicago last summer for $20. It’s so flowy, batiky, hippy! And perfect for the beach life after I’ve showered and don’t want to wear anything constricting. (And I’m channeling
I’m totally on board with the housecoat and I have one in my closet of the vintage quilted peach satin variety. It has bracelet length sleeves, a peter pan collar and big buttons. I wear it in the winter sometimes in place of a robe. I think the loose cuts and pockets that they have beat a robe for comfort and functionality any day. If you find a good pattern, I’d be up for a sew-your-own housecoat/dress challenge this summer.
LOVE that one. ebay is a great resource for those…this could become a sickness!
i have done that here, but don’t really have time this time – or more like i’d rather just stick close to the lake and not DO ANYTHING 😉
i’m definitely going to try sewing my own – my mom is very good, so i’m sure i can enlist her help while i’m visiting…now my quest is to find the perfect pattern/fabric.
I was thinking about your other comment about your daughter’s wedding–what about some gorgeous beaded caftan-style dress? It’s long, beachy but “special”? Like this one–
http://www.calypsostbarth.com/clothing/dresses/view-all/hyla-shibori-silk-caftan
Oooo! That makes my heart go pitter-patter, Jen! I love it!!! I might have to totally rethink my plan of action… (And we have a Calypso in town! Yay????)
I LOVE the idea of house dresses. Something as comfortable as pajamas but more pulled together. I have been wondering about vintage kimonos to fill that same need- there are tons on eBay and Etsy.
I still think of them as schmattes. My bubbe had quite the collection and always wore them. I never once saw her in pants.