Courtyard Docket Polyester on Parade

Courthouse Docket: Polyester on Parade
Saturday, May 30 | 1 p.m.
Free for museum members; indluded with Museum admission
Sponsored by Cypress Heritage Lawn Foundation

The Museum Auxiliary is bringing the past back to life with Polyester on Parade, the latest installment of the Courthouse Docket series. This fashion show highlights decades of style through pieces drawn from the beloved Millie Collection, spanning the 1950s all the way to the 1980s.

When polyester hit American store shelves in 1951, it wasn't just a new fabric. It was a revolution. Advertisers claimed it could be worn 68 days straight without ironing and still look fresh. For women who spent hours every week wrestling with wrinkled cotton and linen, that promise meant something real: more time, more freedom, more fun.

The Millie Collection owes its existence to museum volunteer Millie Hagstrom, who began gathering vintage clothing in the early 1980s for use in fashion shows and historical reenactments. Now cared for by the Museum Auxiliary, the collection spans the 1840s through the early 2000s and is a treasure trove of wearable history.

During Polyester on Parade, volunteers will take to the floor modeling some of the collection's standout polyester pieces, tracing the arc of fashion from the full, feminine skirts of the 1950s to the bold hot pants of the 1970s. The show isn't just about the clothes, though. Commentary will bring each outfit to life with stories about the local places and occasions where women would have actually worn them, grounding the history in this community's own story.

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Host or Publisher San Mateo County Historical Association