There was quite a bit of Crimplene in our house when I was growing up.

My mum, and nanna who lived with us, were both pretty keen on it.

What can I say, we had no automatic washing machine or central heating. Drip-dry, non-iron clothing must’ve seemed heaven-sent.

Embedded in my memory, never to be erased, is a pair of red Crimplene bell-bottom flares, trimmed with white top stitching and a matching white button to the side of each knee.

And my best party frock, in pale blue smocked Crimplene, with white plastic flower buttons.

Here I am wearing said frock, at my birthday party:

Ah, how I loved that dress! I must’ve been seven or maybe eight at the time.

When I was not a lot older, I grew to despise Crimplene. As indeed did most of the rest of the population.

The whole perspiration-trapping, hair-raising, static cling-and-chafe of it.

As Wikipedia succinctly puts it: “Crimplene began to fall out of fashion. Other, lighter-weight polyester fabrics like Trevira replaced Crimplene for their ease of movement and ventilation”.

I became strictly a natural fibres kinda girl.

But pattern addiction is a powerful thing. Capable of outweighing even matters of ventilation.

I have a new-found Crimplene crush:

I got this lovely frock in the bargain basement at my favourite local vintage emporium Baklash – for a fiver.

It didn’t quite look like this when I bought it. I am mid-process of adapting it from size “Tent” to something I can actually wear. It’s just tacked at the moment (which is why the sleeves look a little odd), but hopefully you can see the potential.

And not just for sweaty armpits and electric shocks.

It has a lovely twin-keyhole neckline, flared skirt and long back zip.

It has made me re-evaluate the whole man-made fibres thing. I think they’re overdue for a revival.

It may be hard to equate Crimplene with glamour nowadays, but once upon a time…

There must be lots of unloved-but-lovely synthetic patterned fabrics out there just waiting to be rehabilitated. After all, they are virtually indestructable.

With my new-found enthusiasm for dressmaking, I’m already wondering if I could make a similar frock myself.

Perhaps for summer… if I stock up on deodorant.

Or then again, maybe it would be better in cotton. 😉