While browsing the vintage pattern wiki recently, I stumbled upon Simplicity 2907 and nearly fell over laughing:
Look at Stripes back there! Holding a glass of water and...is that a pill case?! Is she about to pop a mother's little helper? (I'm talking a real one, as opposed to a floating mini-helper.) It's hard to tell in the scan -- here's a closer look:
Ack! Still impossible to be sure! At this point I was squinting at the screen (and becoming strangely fascinated with her scorpion-style bangs), so I fired off an email to Sandra at Selvedge Shop, who has the pattern in stock. Sadly, she informed me that Stripes is holding a DISH.
Sigh. Still, as Sandra suggested, that dish could have a pill on it. Stripes could be bringing an aspirin to hubby. Or this whole scene could be a coffee klatch with a kick. Look at it. Dots there certainly isn't cleaning. Eyes closed, arms outstretched -- she's either singing or having a transcendental experience. Flowers in the background is hiding something in her pockets. No, housework is not on the agenda in this scene.
Even though Simplicity slapped a "housedress or duster" label on this pattern, I wonder if it was really meant to be that. Look at that design -- how cute is that? Not that there aren't cute housedresses, but this looks a tad like party wear with its big structured skirt. Now check out the suggested fabrics:
Silks? TAFFETA?!
Doesn't sound like a housedress to me! Flowers, Stripes and Dots, they agree. Drop on by if you're in the neighborhood -- there's a party going on.