The Legislative Ball Dress

Does this pattern say Legislative Ball to you? Maybe back in 1974......

When I pulled the pattern pieces out to check for completeness, I found some treasures. The former owner of this pattern, Carol Metzger, planned to make it and wear it to the Legislative Ball, Friday, June 28, 1974 at Currigan Hall (which was demolished in 2002) in Denver, Colorado. There was a note which told her to use this pattern, Simplicity 6390, View 3 (the long dress), made in a blue and white handkerchief cotton/poly blend print available from So-Fro Fabrics in Cinderella City. Lining was optional, but the dress was to be trimmed in red ric-rac, 1 inch or larger, available at Joslins, also in Cinderella City. The note warned her to arrive at 8 pm for the 9 pm start. I think she was part of a group of volunteers who were dressing alike in red, white and blue for the political soiree!

Mrs. Metzger bought the rick rack ($1.34 including tax) at Joslins (a Denver-based department store which eventually became Dillards) and tucked the receipt into her pattern envelope. She also went to So-Fro Fabrics and bought a $1 notion, 4 1/8 yard of fabric for $6.56, and 4 1/8 yard of a notion for $6.15. The first notion was probably a zipper, but what was this second notion? I think it was the optional lining fabric. She tucked her credit card receipt into the pattern envelope as well. Unlike today, when credit card numbers are blocked out when our receipt is printed, her hand-written receipt has her credit card number and her phone number.

I wonder if she had fun. I wonder if she and her husband danced the night away. I wonder if someone took pictures of her and others in their dresses. I wonder if she ever wore it again. I wonder what happened to it. I wonder who would answer if I called the phone number on her receipt.