Gallery

High Days and Holidays: Bought from Woolworth for 6p, these colourful candles would have made any cake fit for a birthday celebration!

High Days and Holidays: Postcards and badge from Skegness

Skegness has been a favourite holiday destination for families from Leicestershire for many years. It's famous bracing sea breezes and wide beach were a huge attraction to land-locked county residents.
In 1965, the Leicestershire Workers’ July Fortnight was introduced. Factory holidays were changed from the first two weeks of August to the first two weeks of July. This meant that factories such as The Brush in Loughborough would effectively close down for the fortnight, with many workers boarding East Coast ‘specials’ holiday trains to popular destinations such as Skegness.

High Days and Holidays: Wedding cake decorations and confetti, 1950s

These decorations were of the type that might have decorated a wedding cake in the 1950s.The shiny silver plastic ladies shoes hold wax flowers and cream fabric leaves and a gold plastic ring has a ceramic white dove perched on it.

High Days and Holidays: Paper Christmas decoration

Christmas decoration concertina style paper chain in bright colours, made by Harley-Quin. Decorations like these would be brought out every year to trim the house for the festive season.

Keeping Up Appearances : Styling on the Go

The first hairdryer was invented in 1890 but the first handheld models did not become available until the 1920s. Metal ones like this were heavy and carried a risk of electrocution.

Keeping Up Appearances : Sun-Tan Talc by Boots

People have chosen to change the colour of their complexions for many reasons. In the 1920s, suntans became a desirable fashion trend and the fake tanning industry has boomed since then. This sun-tan talcum powder was possibly used for theatrical productions.

Keeping Up Appearances : Girl's World, Palitoy 1970s

Launched in the 1970s, Girl's World gave youngsters the chance to learn and practise make up and hairstyling skills on a life sized plastic doll's head. She came with lipsticks, eyeshadows, eyebrow pencils, blushers, false eyelashes, pink plastic hair rollers, hair grips, combs and a hair brush along with a book of instructions for different hair styles and fashion looks and an order form for a replacement make up set.

Keeping Up Appearances : Eyelure False Eyelashes, 1960s

False eyelashes became popular from the early days of cinema, but the 1960s was probably their heyday. Putting your eyelashes on was part of the ritual of getting ready to go out, as it is for many of us today!

Keeping Up Appearances : Philishave Electric Shaver

Electric shavers simplified the routine of shaving, as they were designed to be used without water, soap or foam. The convenience made them popular from the mid-20th century onwards. Introduced in 1939, the Philishave was the first electric shaver to use rotating cutters.