5 Comments
User's avatar
Becci Backman's avatar

This story is great, Marilyn. I'm of the age that these paper dresses would have seemed quite wonderful, but I never heard of them or saw one. Wonder how I could have missed them?! Thanks so much for filling in this gab in my knowledge.

Expand full comment
Marilyn Helmers's avatar

Thanks Becci. I agree. I knew they existed when I was that age but only because of newspaper ads. I never knew anyone who actually wore one!

Expand full comment
Elaine Clements's avatar

I can't get Grace Slick's line "paper dresses catch on fire" from the Jefferson Airplane song out of my head!

Expand full comment
James Batchelder's avatar

This got me thinking about paper hats! Any in our collection?

Expand full comment
Rich Padova's avatar

Hello, Marilyn -- interesting article today (as they always are!). I actually have two paper dresses in my presidential campaign collection -- one for George Romney and one for Richard Nixon (they both sought the 1968 Republican presidential nomination, which of course Nixon received).

And here's one from my campaign collection that you probably never heard of -- a very unique and homemade burlap sack dress for the 1920 Republican ticket of Harding and Coolidge! I think it was probably made by some farm girl in the Midwest who liked "Handsome Harding!"

Expand full comment