Check out my vintage overalls! I found them in an old storage trunk.
I often wore these Lee dungarees as a college student in the late 70's. Now, they are a snug fit. And it's hard for me to believe that my 30-year college reunion is approaching. Although I don't think I'll be able to head out to Missouri this spring to attend, thanks to Facebook, I've been happily reconnecting with old friends through the school's reunion page. That's how I found Andrea, a pal from my art school days at Washington University in St. Louis. She's the one who embroidered the bib of my denim overalls for me.
I remember when Andrea offered to embellish my Lee's, I had no idea she would return them to me with such a gorgeous array of flowers on the bib. All these years later, I still find her handiwork beautiful. And I'm happy to report that Andrea still loves to embroider and makes natural linen bags filled with dried lavender with sprigs of various varieties embroidered on the front. Plus, she continues to be a fine artist who does welding, ceramics and printmaking and is in the midst of writing her master's thesis.
My favorite memory of Andrea is from when we were in a freshman 3-D design class together. We were given an assignment that had to be linear and I remember struggling with creating a small sculpture built out of colorful telephone wire. But Andrea's project was truly ingenious. In the middle of the night before the project was due, she "borrowed" the football team's athletic field marking machine and proceeded to take a walk with it all over the campus. The next morning, as students headed to their classes, they wondered why there was a white chalk line meandering across walkways, stairs and the grassy quad. We finally got the answer in our design class. By drawing a continuous white line which snaked through the campus, Andrea had turned the entire university into her linear design project! Although the Wash. U. powers-that-be weren't terribly pleased with her creation, I thought (and still think) it was brilliant.
I'm so glad I hung onto these old overalls with Andrea's colorful embroidery "doodle" on the front. I'm also pleased that we reconnected. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by the myriad of online social networking options out there. I find it daunting to keep up with all that tweeting and greeting. I'm not always an avid Facebook devotee. However, I do like how it finds friends from days gone by.
So what do you think . . . Should these overalls head back into my old wooden storage trunk? Or should I transform them into something else, like a pillow or a bag. What do you think they could become? Any crafty ideas you have would be greatly appreciated.
Susan
Oh a bag would be so fun! I am SURE you could find a pattern online somewhere!!
Posted by: Jenny | January 23, 2010 at 08:16 AM
I am a st.louis native who found your blog a few days ago and enjoyed reading about wash u and your overalls from the 70's. What I am most impressed about is your ability to still wear them ~ even if they are snug...not many people can say they can still fit into jeans they wore in the 70's...I would therefore keep pulling them on and enjoying that fact! love your blog and your website and am gonna have to order some tea soon!
Posted by: deb | January 23, 2010 at 07:42 PM
Before you cut them, do you have a daughter or niece that might ever wear them? If not, I vote for a bag!
As an embroiderer, I think the overalls are beautiful. I don't think I've ever used overalls and beautiful in the same sentence before!
Anna
Posted by: Anna | January 23, 2010 at 11:01 PM
I think I would keep wearing them. I used to wear overalls all the time in the 70's. They were so comfortable! When I was a camp counselor, all of us embroidered our own denim shirts. Oh, I loved that shirt and I have no idea where it is!
xo
Claudia
Posted by: Claudia | January 24, 2010 at 07:46 AM
Unfortunately, wearing them is out of the question. It's a lot easier to pull off overalls if you are 19 then when you're 50. Not a good look for me at this point! Plus, I'm ten pounds heavier, so though I can still get into them, they are snug. When my 19 year old daughter saw the overalls in my studio last week, she was intrigued but not enough to even try them on. It was more like. "What are those?!" I guess overalls have fallen out of favor, but I sure loved wearing them in the late 70's.
Posted by: Susan | January 24, 2010 at 08:28 AM
This is a lovely post.....it brought back funky fun memories..thanks for the GREAT post....Dianne
Posted by: C. Dianne Zweig | January 24, 2010 at 10:48 AM
Your overalls are wonderful and the embroidery is so perfect. What makes them so special is that they were so beautifully made by a dear old friend. I also agree that the social networking sites are such a great way to re-connect with friends. I found some old childhood friends through the internet and we have had a great time catching up and staying in touch. New blogging friends are a gift too.
Love,
Susan
xxoo
Posted by: Susan Freeman | January 24, 2010 at 02:39 PM
I used to wear denim overalls all the time back then, too. How cool that you had your friend's embroidery and that you re-connected. I think I would keep them just as they are...ya never know, maybe your future grand-daughter would love 'em. :)
Posted by: tammyCA | January 24, 2010 at 05:59 PM
Wow, My 30th reunion is Feb 6th. How cool would it be to wear something from '79?!?...remember the Jessica McClintock lacy, frilly calico dresses? HA LOL....
I'd be lucky to get an arm in. Darn another reason to go shopping. I vote for a tote, it's perfect for that.
Posted by: Melody | January 24, 2010 at 06:20 PM
I think a small purse to keep your treasures in, or embroidery threads or jewels.
Posted by: Julie Q | January 27, 2010 at 08:53 PM