Haume Couture Fashioned by Betty Sacker

Barbara Burman's ed. The Culture of Sewing: GenderConsumption and Home Dressmaking addressed the largerissues of gender consumption and home dressmakingin England. As the first study of its kind itinspired me to extend the field to examine the livesof American home dressmakers. I developed a four-partmodel: oral histories observation An ArcheologicalDig in the Closet artifacts and garments. Idocumented the anecdotes stories and folkloreembedded in the oral histories of my familyintertwined with the family of my high school homeeconomics teacher and her students. Betty Sacker'ssewing life began in the 1920s and spanned the periodwhen haute couture designs made their way intomiddle-class homes via commercial patterns andfabrics aimed at fashion-conscious American womencreating what I have entitled Haume CoutureFashioned By Betty Sacker. Passionately written by awoman who sewed since age nine Betty embodied theglamour and mystique of haume couture. The workrevealed the rich tapestry of the life of homedressmaker Betty Sacker her family and students. Ihave found that everyone has a story aboutsewing--this is the every home dressmaker's story!