There are, I’ve recently learned, historians who specialize in fashion. I didn’t know this specialty existed, but it must be fun. I’ve decided to be, for a little while, an amateur fashion historian in so far as my paternal grandmother’s wardrobe is concerned.

I’ve started with one of my Grandma’s coats. It jumped out at me, with its checked pattern, the giant cuffs on the sleeves and pockets on both sides and the button detail. I noticed it first when she was carrying her first baby in 1954, see? A new mom with a wonderfully forgiving coat.

Here’s the back of it:

But, combing through the pictures, I found it elsewhere. I noticed it in 1953, draped over her arm as she’s leaving for her honeymoon as a newlywed.

And here, walking with someone, the style is almost paired, but not quite. The other woman has a button at her throat.

The Sears catalogue had a similar style coat for sale in 1952, albeit with buttons, and they called it a duster. They describe it as made with sanforized cotton, which today might be better recognized as “pre-shrunk”. A duster was first used as a way of protecting an outfit from dust while driving. Grandma seemed to like checked patterns because they resurface in dresses she wore too.

(Via)

How much of it was her taste and how much of it was the influence of style trends, I’m not sure. By the number of times it appears in pictures I’m guessing it was practical and well-loved!