I never knew bed jackets were called combing jackets. Is that all bed jackets, do you know, or just some? Do you know why they’re called that? Maybe it’s just simply because ladies wore them while combing their hair just before going to bed?
In the old Ladies Home Journals they call them combing jackets. Maybe women also wore them them over their nightgowns in the morning while they combed the tangles out of their long hair. Since most people didn’t have central heating back then, the rooms probably were pretty cold.
I was surprised that combing/bed jackets seemed to be considered a really nice Christmas gift a hundred years ago. I associate bed jackets with very elderly women who wore them when I was a child–but I suppose those same elderly women had also wore them earlier in the century when they were young.
I have searched the Internet for bed jackets (or patterns) and haven’t found anything I really thought were feminine, modest and attractive. Imagine being in the hospital with a visitor on the way and all you have to wear above the blanket level is that awful blue striped backless gown with snap on shoulders they give you. It would be real nice to have an option. These are both modest and attractive. It’s too bad that our society has changed so much that modesty is no longer taken into consideration (and if you say anything the hospital staff treats you like you have three heads). Our great great great grandmothers would be appalled.
The only reason I know what a bed jacket is, is that I ran across a portion of a knit craft book that had a pic of a lady wearing really cute one on the cover. I never could find the rest of the pattern. I am in my late 50’s and I’ve never seen one in a catalog or magazine advertisement, other than that one. I may see if I can reproduce one of these. If made out of the right fabric, they could be considered fashionable, even today.
I never knew bed jackets were called combing jackets. Is that all bed jackets, do you know, or just some? Do you know why they’re called that? Maybe it’s just simply because ladies wore them while combing their hair just before going to bed?
In the old Ladies Home Journals they call them combing jackets. Maybe women also wore them them over their nightgowns in the morning while they combed the tangles out of their long hair. Since most people didn’t have central heating back then, the rooms probably were pretty cold.
I was surprised that combing/bed jackets seemed to be considered a really nice Christmas gift a hundred years ago. I associate bed jackets with very elderly women who wore them when I was a child–but I suppose those same elderly women had also wore them earlier in the century when they were young.
I have one that was made for me when I was in my teens or younger. I thought I’d seen some worn by young women in old films, too, but I’m not sure.
Have a very Merry Christmas, Sheryl. 🙂
Yes, I think that I can remember young women wearing them in old films, too.
I just burst out laughing, because it’s 2:45 AM, I had late night coffee with company and I’m currently wearing a Pink knit Poncho…….They’re great!
How fun! It’s amazing that you were wearing one when you read the post. Late night coffee with friends sounds like a lovely way to end a nice day.
I have searched the Internet for bed jackets (or patterns) and haven’t found anything I really thought were feminine, modest and attractive. Imagine being in the hospital with a visitor on the way and all you have to wear above the blanket level is that awful blue striped backless gown with snap on shoulders they give you. It would be real nice to have an option. These are both modest and attractive. It’s too bad that our society has changed so much that modesty is no longer taken into consideration (and if you say anything the hospital staff treats you like you have three heads). Our great great great grandmothers would be appalled.
The only reason I know what a bed jacket is, is that I ran across a portion of a knit craft book that had a pic of a lady wearing really cute one on the cover. I never could find the rest of the pattern. I am in my late 50’s and I’ve never seen one in a catalog or magazine advertisement, other than that one. I may see if I can reproduce one of these. If made out of the right fabric, they could be considered fashionable, even today.
I agree – old-time bed jackets were both pretty and practical. It sounds like fun to try to reproduce one.