Dresses of England

This paper doll book celebrates six eras in the history of England using paper dolls to show how children dressed; it also includes a short story of children during each time period and a verse about the children of that era.  The clothes for each doll have flocking printed on paper and is not actually real fabric.  It was published by Muse Arts Limited in 1951 and was a souvenir from the Festival of Britain....a national exhibition in Britain in the summer of 1951 organised by the government to give Britons a feeling of recovery in the aftermath of war and to promote the British contribution to science, technology, industrial design, architecture and the arts.

The children in the stories of each period in time were named Elizabeth and John.  Only the dolls and the first set of clothes have been cut out.

My long flowing dress of soft Autumn shade...Is fashioned from cloth that my parents have made,
For in most of our homes when evening sets in...The families gather to weave and to spin.
My tall cone-like hat with its veil of soft net...Is the latest in styles that fashion has set,
And though, here, in broadcloth my brother is dressed, He too will wear damask and velvet for best.



In our Tudor times, as here you can see...Our clothing was trimmed most elaborately,

With breeches and sleeves slashed to show other shades..And stiffly starched ruffles, bright buttons and braids

When May Day came round with what joy did we don...Bright kerchiefs and bells and join in the throng
Of gay Morris Dancers who danced on the green...To tabor and pipe in the merriest scene.

In Puritan England we children were dressed, Like our parents, in clothes of the very plainest;
Bright colours and trimmings were frowned on indeed, And no plays and no dancing were sternly decreed.

My jacket was belted and buckled my shoes, But my sister had little from fashion to choose,
Her prim little bonnet and collar of white..Were all she could add to make her dress bright.

This little lady in fine satin gown..Takes a sedan-chair when she goes to town,
And chooses from velvets, soft wools and brocade..For all the smart dresses that she will have made.

Equally smart is this nice little fellow, In gay damask jacket and waistcoat of yellow--
A real courtier he, dressed with elegant grace, From his white powdered wig to his kerchief of lace.

I am a little Victorian maid...In gaiters and mittens and smart dress of plaid;
My yellow straw bonnet so pretty to see...Was trimmed with green ribbon especially for me.

Johnnie wears checks and long trousers too, And a tasselled cap that is terribly new.
Dressed thus did we go to Hyde Park to see...The Great Exhibition of our century.

The schoolgirl and boy who belong to this page..Wear proudly the clothing of our modern age:
Both smartness and freedom for work and for play...Distinguish the fashions we wear in our day.

Some wonderful fabrics have added their name..To the wool of old England that won her such fame,
And artists, designers and makers as well...Set a standard indeed very hard to excel.