American fashions
           

 

Taffeta and tulle
Many emigrants say that one of the first things they did when they arrived in America was to buy themselves new clothes. They looked conspicuous in the clothes from home – it made it easy for others to see that they were "newcomers". One man had this to tell us: "The first thing I had to do when I got over there was to throw my trousers away because they were so wide. I simply couldn’t wear them any more."

And even though buying new clothes was probably making a virtue of necessity, there were many who put on these new garments with great enthusiasm. Many people had grown up in an age when packages were sent over from America. These could contain second-hand or new clothes with a distinctive cut in colors other than those used at home. American clothes were different. For girls the dresses were often made in different colors, fabrics and cut. It was also common to have gloves, hats and purses that matched the outfit. For boys a factory-sewn suit or a colorful shirt in a synthetic fabric was part of the new American look.


Girls from Kvinesdal and Lista in their best party dresses



A selection of Amerian dresses from the 1950s, brought home to Kvinesdal

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