Think Pink ... for Pam

Greta Garb-Oh!

When Dolls for a Cause decided to do "Pink for Pam," a group member with cancer, Momma immediately thought of flamingos.

(Well, it was either that or the Pink Panther.)

Pink.

As you might know, I was less than enthused about the color choice. At least I was until Momma discovered that the color pink used to be considered a boy color - not for girls!

In 19th century England, boys were considered to be small men. Because English soldiers wore red uniforms, boys wore pink. In fact, the clothing for children in the 19th century was almost always white, since, before the invention of chemical dyes, clothing of any color would quickly fade when washed in boiling water.

Queen Victoria was painted in 1850 with her seventh child and third son, Prince Arthur, who wore white and pink. Pink was seen as a masculine color, while girls often wore white and blue - blue for the Virgin Mary.

As for flamingos, do you know why they are pink? Adult flamingos range from light pink to bright red due to the shrimp in their diets!

Using my favorite "1870s Bustle Dress" by Thimbles and Acorns, Momma paired the flamingos with a pink tonal fabric, piping, and buttons. She finished the back with two pink "ribbons" made of the same pink tonal fabric. 

Dacia from Mini Me Dolly Divas donated a "Tough Dolls Wear Pink" T-shirt, and Momma made a pink breast cancer ribbon fabric lobstertail bustle to complete the ensemble.

The first known use of a pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness was in the fall of 1991, when the Susan G. Komen Foundation handed out pink ribbons to participants in its New York City race for breast cancer survivors.

It became the official symbol of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 1992. 

The one-week Facebook auction starts Sunday, August 31 and ends Sunday, Sept. 7. Good luck to the winners!

(I am astonished to discover that I like this pink flamingo outfit so much I might ask Momma to bid on it for me!)