Vistor's Comments7

Dave Barber writes:

"May I say how lovely to see PROPER bouffant ball dance dresses photos. The dresses then were FAR MORE FEMININE to what they wear now. My favourite, was the Latin American dance dress with its full knee length skirt, either plain, or tiered in stiff shiny taffeta and satin, or overlay of tulle, chiffon with the can can petticoats sewn in, of paper nylon and net. when the lady danced the jive or the cha cha cha; as she spun round, her skirt rustled and flared out, revealing her petticoats and tight high-leg panties. BBC television in the UK started the Come Dancing ballroom programmes about 1952, live on the air from various UK ballrooms - it's now all over the world. It went off the air about 1987.

"I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR from any ex-lady Latin ballroom dancers from 1950s - early 1960s, about their lovely Latin dresses, fabrics, colours, how the skirts and petticoats rustled as they danced. I would also LOVE TO HEAR from anyone, who also have in their possession, REAL 1950s teenage girls paper nylon pettis, with the combined pretty vest top, or girls who have worn them in the 1950s in their teens, and loved to make them rustle and swish. (Pictures appreciated)" [email protected]

ED: Let's hope that if Dave is lucky, the lady will share the pictures with ALL of us here at The Pond!

Joe writes, regarding Dave Barber's comments above:

"I agree, the Latin dresses today are a pale comparison to those of the seventies and late sixties.

"In the mid-seventies I dated a girl. Soon after we met, she told me that she went to ballroom dancing classes each week, and invited me to try it out. I did, and for about nine months I accompanied her. I was not very good at all, but I did improve. Adele seemed to be a natural, and she wore a couple of dance dresses that she had made herself. They were both that 1970's Latin style, calf length satin skirt, that would swirl out horizontally when she spun around, revealing the frilly pink nylon net petticoats beneath! (She also had amazing legs.) I particularly remember that there was a row of chairs against a wall, where we could sit to rest. There weren't too many chairs (fortunately), so most guys would sit with their partner on their lap. Adele, and a few other girls, had a great 'tradition' of lifting the back of her dress and 'fanning' it out over the man before she sat. This was as you can imagine, a delightful experience. Her 'cancan petticoat' (as she called it) was gathered stiff nylon net, with rows of satin ,and a wide lacey hem, and very pretty to look at!

"Incidentally, I feel that the net petticoats that are made today, and sold for square dancing, really lack the beauty and detail of the original 50's creations. Can't anyone find those original 50's designs and recreate?"

We agree - 50s pettis were works of art compared to what exists today. As a result, we have a collection of about 250,
most all of which were obtained on eBay...
Early on, we even tried making and selling reproductions, but the cost was more than people were willing to pay.

Wendy T. sends this vidclip with some pretty dresses

Cailin sends this vidclip featuring a Japanese cutie (speaking adorable English), wearing a pink petticoat! Also quite funny!

Beth points to this exciting little Quinceañera celebration:

Age fifteen: Her first high heels...and what a gown! She sure knows how to handle that hoopskirt!

FREEZE THIS AT 51 SECONDS

Denise writes:

"Passing along a great web site if you are interested in rock and roll history and trivia. This one is a gold mine, and the more you dig, the more you find. There are even some photos
with girls in what we love them to wear, but under their dresses - no petti shots. The 'Bandstand' section has a few of that type. Mainly, it's great in-depth rock and roll history."

Mikel writes:

"In National Geographic Magazine (July 2006 issue, the cover of which reads 'Under Rome'), there is an article titled 'Shall We Dance?' and a picture (page 107)
with a note 'Skirts bloom at a square dance in Albany, Oregon.' A very pleasant one; nothing really new to a Poufbunny, but moving: it shows the right number
of layers, not too many. I leave it to your appreciation. I'm sorry I don't have a scanner yet."

Rikki:

"There must be something more powerful than caffeine in these kids in this video;
I bet it's the pouf-in-the-pettis that gave them their zip!!!"

SoTe writes:

"I was given this URL for Japanese round dancers. They really know how to dress in our favorite attire:"

A link of interest, from Ian

Video: Cute Austrians in nice outfits, dance with bottles on their heads. True talent. (From Rikki)

Some inside video glimpses from Crinolyn (pre-wedding): The Stress Of of the Dress

(2007) Bo Persson:

"I was watching a programme today Tuesday called This Morning; they were showing fall fashion. To show something posh, they brought in two numbers from Christian LaCroix - he has done a collection for La Redoute (UK). The last number was a red coat, and . I got wild when I first saw it - it looked like a skirt blouse. The male presenter made fun out of the lower part of the coat (knee-length). 'How can it stand out like that?" The 'fashion expert' answer was that she had put some tulle underneath to make it look nicer. Last week, another fashion talk in another programme: Wide skirts with petticoats. 'Petticoats makes you keep warm and nice during the cold winter.' I believe we have a winner here?"

ED: Seen it all before, haven't we? Never gets to the common woman's level. Guess we are cynical.

Rikki sends this nice square dance twirling vidclip