As a little girl, I remember the house rule was as soon as you get home from school or church -change into your play clothes.  These clothes usually consisted of older stained and faded t-shirts, shorts or pants that may have a few patches and of course, hair back into a ponytail.  However I would never – well, my mom would never let me – wear these clothes in public, as they were for a specific, at home purpose.

Work or play clothes did the job of mentally allowing a person to complete the task at hand with gusto and energy, with little fear of getting dirty.  Today, these home clothes, at least for me, must be comfortable in feel and cute by design.  Here are a few of my personal faves from Target:

Take a look back and one sees a changing style of house dresses as social demands and social classes adjust.  While there may be more styles and examples out there, for my purpose, I focused on those consistent with the middle class.

1700-1900 shows some dresses that are simply toned down versions of day wear to others that are a complete different styles than those worn on the street.

Fast forward to post turn of the century and the idea of women having specific clothing for work around the house continues, yet reflects the ideas of early 1800’s, that the look should still be stylish.  However, if one focuses on 1920’s and onwards, a fun change is noticed.  While there continues to be separate clothing for these activities, the styles are more vibrant and feminine.  By 1950, many women have the option to choose the house robe versus a dress, yet its flare and look still are beautifully apparent.

Whether you are a one outfit a day person, or dress to fit the job, you are in great company!

 ~ Aimee