1970s womens jacket and skirt

Description:	Matching light blue denim jacket and skirt. Jacket is single-breasted, hip length, fitted with darts on the front and back, has long set-in sleeves, a notch collar with orange topstitching, two bellows pockets (also called safari pockets) that feature arcuate shaped flaps that mimic the iconic stitching pattern on the back pockets of jeans, and each have a functioning metal button. The front center of the jacket has two metal buttons. All the buttons on the jacket and skirt are metal, four-hole, and Koret City Blues is engraved around the circumference. Center back of the jacket has a double flat felled seam that runs from the collar to the hem line. Both sleeves have a felled seam. Skirt is A-line, calf length with two front hip patch pockets, and metal buttons on a placket functionaing as the center front closure. This coordinated set of light denim separates by Koret, currently housed in the Department of Applied Business Studies, represents a line of womens denim and chambray clothing from the 1970s and 1980s called City Blues. The City Blues line was inspired by western designs line included a range of versatile separates like jeans, pants, jackets, vests, and skirts. The Koret brand began as Koret of California, Inc. in 1938-1939 by Joseph and Stephanie Koret in San Francisco. These moderately priced separates were not only versatile by virtue of their construction but many could be worn to work and out on the town. Koret was an innovative and revolutionary brand. During the early decades of the twentieth century, Koret became known for their coordinating sweaters and skirts. In 1946, Stephanie Koret designed the Koret Trikskirt, which had both button and drawstring closures that could be easily adjusted, worn on the side or in the front, and the drawstring could be tied into a discrete but delicate bow. In the 1940s, Koret released a versatile design for shorts called the Trik-Combo--here the combination closures were to be worn on the side only. Other trademark clothes by Koret of California, Inc. in the 1940s included the Swurlskirt, Pleetskirt, Girdlslax, Jumpadress, and Jog-a-Long Jacket. By 1961, Koret developed the Koratron permanent press process resulting in fabrics that held their shape and resisted creasing. Koret licensed this product globally and was the jumpstart to a new permanent press market. Koratron advertisements emphasized how this invention would keep clothes permanently pressed and dispositions permanently sunny. Koret of California, Inc. was sold to Levi Strauss & Company in 1979. This ensemble in the Mary Beeman Historic Costumes collection is an example of Koret making low-maintenance clothing that appealed to working women because the versatile separates were convertible, fashionable, and feminine. Single-breasted jacket A-line skirt Blue (light); Orange Solid Calf length Natural waistline Notch collar Set-in sleeve; Straight sleeve Long-sleeved Buttons (four-hole) Center front closure [jacket]; Center front closure [skirt] Denim; Twill Hip bellows pockets with flaps [jacket]; Hip patch pockets [skirt] Darts; Topstitching; Double flat felled seam These Koret City Blues separates belonged to Nancy Sue Hughes (1926-2025) and and is currently housed in the Department of Applied Business Studies. Nancy attended Ball State Universitys Teachers Collage as an undergraduate. From Ball State she also earned a masters degree in music, physical education, and dance. Nancy taught folk dance, square dance, and dance for children at Ball State in the Womens Physical Education Department for twenty-eight years. In her undergraduate days at Ball State, she met her future husband, Robert (Bob) E. Linson. Dr. Linson served Ball State in a few different administrative roles: director of Alumni Relations, executive director of the Alumni Association and assistant vice president for Alumni and Development Programs, vice president of University Relations. This archival material has been provided for educational purposes. Ball State University Libraries recognizes that some historic items may include offensive content. Our statement regarding objectionable content is available at: https://dmr.bsu.edu/digital/about
Origin:	circa 1970s
Source:	http://dmr.bsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/BmnHis/id/4415
Collection:	Beeman, Mary Historic Costumes
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Subjects:	Costume--History Clothing and dress--History Fashion--History Clothing & dress Costumes Jackets Skirts

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