St Michael

awaywiffairies

awaywiffairies

Registered Guest
Hiya,

I want to add these St Michael labels to the label resource but wanted to confirm the dates. The first two, I think I've got the dates right (if you could confirm that it wld be great), but it's the last one I'm unsure about. As soon as I've got clarification on dates I can add to label resource for St Michael.

Cheers

Sarah

Basic Orlon cardi - Mid to late 60s (leaning to late 60s?)?
stmichaelcardi.jpg
stmichaellabel1vfg.jpg


early to mid 70s lurex weave sweater? (hasn't got a 'modern' care label)
stmichaelfullvfg.jpg
stmichael1-1.jpg


Unsure about this one, it has 3 quarter sleeves..I think maybe mid 60s, even early 60s? (no modern care label)
stmichaelmultivfg1.jpg
stmichaelmultilabevfgl.jpg


As I say, I'm only posting cos I want to be exact re dating before I submit these to the label resource, so don't wanna get that wrong.

Thanking you!

Sarah
 
If anyone can help with these labels, really it's only the last one I need clarification on(i'm happy with the 1st two, but thought I'd show u the labels to compare with the last one). I'm not asking for myself, it's so I can put them forward to label resource to help others, otherwise I wouldn't have troubled you all.

Thanks

Sarah
 
Hi Sarah, just picked up on your thread. That last label looks the oldest doesn't it? I've never seen one quite like that and I'd lean towards the mid-sixties. The other two labels look later but I'm no expert on St.Michael.

It's interesting how they show Made in Great Britain and Made in Britain. Perhaps that's key to dating the labels? I'd be tempted to send your photos to M&S and see if they can clarify when those were brought in. I honestly find their labels really confusing and it would be fantastic to have something solid in our label resource here at the VFG. Unless anyone else can clarify these dates for you of course :)

Good work! You have a real knack for finding these little gems! :) I really love the blue and pink shirt. How do the measurements compare to a modern sizing? Label shows a size 16 but it does looks smaller. :)
 
Hi Louise,

Yeah, I noticed those little differences ie Great Britain, Britain and also the the lurex one is the only one showing cm's and size in red, so definitely the newest one out of them all. The cardi is Orlon so I know that's the Du Pont brand name for acrylic so ok with that date, but the last one yes, seems the oldest and is my favourite. Didn't think to compare the sizing though so I will go and check the size out..good thinking!

Could get in touch with Marks & Spencers, that would be definitive if they replied.

Thanks for your help as always!

Sarah
 
Getting in touch with M&S is an inspired idea! It's surely the kind of company that will have an archive, perhaps we could try and get a label history out of them - that would be life changing, for me at least!

Oh look, the corporate side of their web site tells me that they have an exhibition called Marks in Time - Our M&S Heritage at the Centenary Gallery, University of Leeds:

http://marksintime.marksandspencer.com/Main/

What if a VFGer got in touch to say that we'd like to compile the definitive label history to mark their 125th anniversary?

Back on topic, the blouse is very pretty and I'd say early 60s.

sarah-jane
 
That's fantastic Sarah-Jane. What a great link! I don't mind contacting M&S unless Sarah would prefer to. I think Sarah's got more St Michaels labels than I have (I do have a few) but get in touch with me Sarah and we'll get our heads together on this one. It will be a really cool project to do together if you like??? :)
 
Amazing website Sarah-Jane! I lurrrvve that 50s floral dress :drooling22:

Louise, that's the grand sum of my labels! though I know GoldenAge started the St Michael label resource and there's her thread on Image Label forum and I know someone mentioned on that thread they had loads of the labels. We'll get our heads together and hopefull draw all the info in.

Yeah, early 60s seems right for my blouse.

Sarah
 
Just as an example, this is what I think is my oldest garment from St.Michael. It's got a rear enclosed metal zip so I'm thinking early 60's??

I've only got four St.Michaels garments and they're all from lingerie. I've taken front and back shots of each label already. As mentioned, this is just one example.

Perhaps I could post another thread asking everyone to post their St.Michaels labels along with a photo of the garment? I can then compile a folder and send it off to M&S with a request for help for our own label resource. Thoughts please :)

stmic10.jpg

stmic8.jpg

stmic7.jpg
 
Sarah, I think the earliest St Michael label you have is the first one, with Great Britain - I agree with '60s but with conservative styles like these, it can be tricky to pin down.

The second one (lurex top) looks '70s to me, and whilst the cotton top looks similar to early '60s styles, I think it's more recent because the label includes care instructions - also, it looks more modern than '60s. It does have inches rather than cms though, so I'm thinking '70s as well.

Try turning the sleeves up - when you get large hem allowances like that, it sometimes means that there is an upturned cuff.

Nicole
 
Louise, nice piece of lingerie there! Well, with all the members I think we can gather quite a sum! I might get in contact with Marks just to check if they have a label resource that we can access easily....save us all a bit of work!

Nicole, ah yes, folded up the sleeve and that totally changes the look and thus the dating of the blouse from 60s to 70s! Louise's slip also has care info on the label and no cm's so does that mean Louise's slip is also more likely to be from around the 70s date too?

Sarah
 
Good point about Louise's label - it looks older though, despite the care info, as does the style so I think that's '60s.

There's no exact art to this though, and Marks and Sparks are a conservative brand catering to a wide range of ages, I would expect that they produce ranges of styles less cutting edge than others, and that can make dating garments a bit tricky at times.

Nicole
 
Thanks Nicole for the info :sunshine:

Louise, you're suggestion re starting a thread and asking for pics of labels and clothes is a better idea plus it's nice to compare clothes/lingerie from different St Michael eras that members have (basically I love to be nosey!).... :sunshine:

Sarah
 
I'll post a thread later on this week. Found another St Michael frock that I'd forgotten about so will take photo of that label too.

Just getting my work together for The Fashion Birdcage so it's all go this week. Leave it with me and I'll post about collecting St.Michael labels - probably this Friday. :)
 
Oh yes The Birdcage :D :USETHUMBUP:

If there's ANYTHING you want me to do to help re St Michael then just shout Louise! Phew it's hot today, hope you're getting some of this weather up North! :beach:

Sarah
 
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