Home Economics Class in the 1950s - Hair & Beauty

Enjoy these pictures from the chapter on "Grooming" in a book on clothing for high school girls.

These girls enjoy brushing their hair at high school.

These high school girls are experimenting on each others' hair.

Notice the shapes on the blackboard. These assist in determining the best hair style for the shape of your face. (The aprons hanging on the wall are a nice touch! ;)

Applying hair cream provides luster and holds hair in place.

Scraps from the Past - 1970s Skirt is a School Sewing Lesson

This fine A-line flared skirt goes from mini to maxi length and has fun details. The pattern is McCall's 4589, with view B circled - the skirt our student must have sewed. The pattern envelope included fabric pieces and also pages from an eighth grade school home economics sewing lesson and exam. It's a sewing lesson from the mid-1970s - how fun! :)

The fabric the student selected is a durable cotton broadcloth floral print, perfect for spring & summer.

Here are the mimeographed instructions for the sewing lesson, addressed to the parents (because they must pay for the fabric, pattern and other sewing notions). Note that the teacher indicates a preference for Simplicity patterns, but has no objections to McCall's. The teacher requires washable cotton or cotton blend fabric. A full list of needed supplies, including tools, is provided.

 Here is the exam on sewing terms - she gets a perfect score!: