Blue dress
These dresses were worn at Renbrook School, and certainly at birthday parties, and some even daily. Nora’s mother, Elinor R. Oakes, remembers that the toddler and baby dresses were daily wear, not special.
Some do not have labels. It is possible that those that look very handmade were from the Woman’s Exchange, a store in West Hartford Center that sold handmade items by local women, for the benefit of area charities. It opened in 1949.
Several have labels, including one for Jean Gale. Jean Gale had a trunk show on Fishers Island every summer and Mom took us to get back to school clothes. Mrs. Oakes also bought children’s clothing at G. Fox, Lord & Taylor, and New York City.
Nora found these at the Avon house where the Oakes lived, 1949-1991, forgotten in a storage room. Most of the childhood clothing went to a younger niece of Mrs. Oakes, so it is rare that these were left behind.
Some do not have labels. It is possible that those that look very handmade were from the Woman’s Exchange, a store in West Hartford Center that sold handmade items by local women, for the benefit of area charities. It opened in 1949.
Several have labels, including one for Jean Gale. Jean Gale had a trunk show on Fishers Island every summer and Mom took us to get back to school clothes. Mrs. Oakes also bought children’s clothing at G. Fox, Lord & Taylor, and New York City.
Nora found these at the Avon house where the Oakes lived, 1949-1991, forgotten in a storage room. Most of the childhood clothing went to a younger niece of Mrs. Oakes, so it is rare that these were left behind.
2018.001C