What's It Wednesdays - What to Wear, What to Wear?
For a brief time in the 1960s paper dresses were all the rage.
It started in March 1966, when the Scott Paper Company produced a paper dress referred to as the “paper caper” as part of a promotional campaign. For $1.25, the mail-order dress could be purchased in either a red-bandana print or a black-white Op-art design.
The dresses became an instant success with about 500,000 orders.
Scott’s paper dress was made from an enhanced cellulose called “Duraweave,” patented in 1958. It was more durable than paper towel paper with a layer of rayon between two cellulose fiber layers. It was said to be some-what fire retardant and water resistant. Seeing the success of the Scott Company’s promotion, other companies began making paper dresses.
Of course, paper fabric was not new. In 1956, Kimberly-Stevens Co. had invented a fabric of cellulose and nylon called “Kaycel.” Kaycel was being used in factories and hospitals for disposable gowns. However, at the time, Kimberly-Stevens didn’t imagine that America would be interested in wearing fashion of the same fabric as manufacturing and hospital clothing.
Yet, paper fashion existed out of necessity before the 1960s. WWI brought shortages of many materials, including wool. The January 1917, New York Sun announced that Germany was making bags, aprons and clothing garments, as well as, pilot and submarine crew uniforms, out of paper. The cloth was woven from paper “thread” made from very thin strips of paper. The paper used was reported as “resistant to dampness.” At the time, German-made paper suits sold for $.46 to $1.95, much less than wool suits. When WWI ended in 1918, there was still a shortage of wool even in the U.S. Seeing the advance that had been made in paper fashion, in the fall of 1920, the U.S. Commerce Department featured an exhibit of Austrian-made paper suits, tablecloths, and wall decorations, among other items. Soon, American-made men’s suits were available in a variety of styles and colors for the cost of $.60 (or about $8 today).
In the late 1960s, thanks to Scott Paper Company, paper fashion was “rediscovered.”
Designers like Oleg Cassini, and artists like Andy Warhol had their own paper dress designs. American haute couture designer, Elisa Daggs introduced her 1966 paper dress creation for the American woman. British graphic designer Harry Gordon came out with a special line of 5 paper dresses with images. Known as “Poster” dresses, they included Mystic Eye Dress, Giant Rocket Dress, Rose Dress, Pussy Cat Dress, and the Hand Dress.
Manufactured in 1988, by Poster Dresses Ltd of London, the dresses were described as “suiting your current mod mood.” Called “Poster Dresses” because if the owner grew tired of wearing a dress, the seams could be opened, and the image hung on the wall as a poster.
Fashion fads have a way of burning out.
Paper dress fashion lasted for four years 1965-1968. Contrary to many of the manufacturing ads, paper clothes were not that comfortable even though they were “hip.” Yes, they were fun and trendy, and could be shorten with scissors. But you didn’t want to be caught wearing one when it rained!
They were also disposable and, as an ad posted, “made not to last.”
The 1970s brought a new awareness of the environment. It brought interest in recycling and the conservation of natural resources, such as trees. Throw away items, especially paper clothing, were no longer in vogue.
Thanks for reading. If you have a question or comment, please leave a comment or email me.
I can't get Grace Slick's line "paper dresses catch on fire" from the Jefferson Airplane song out of my head!
This got me thinking about paper hats! Any in our collection?