Some days it is hard to blog. ALS touched my extended family a little over a year ago and it sucks. Some days it sucks lots and lots. ‘nough said.
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Monthly Archives: July 2015
Edwardian Casual
Here is a photo that is likely Edwardian. And as it isn’t mounted and the background is not a studio, I’m wondering if this is not an amateur photographers work.
The woman on the left is in an apron that makes me think she is puttering around the house. And yet she looks so stylish. She has great Gibson Girl hair and her shirtwaist is perfect! The other woman seems younger to me-perhaps it is the shorter hem line.
In my mind I have created a story. The older sister has headed off to the big city and has become very stylish while there. She comes home to visit and while home, she dons her old apron to help her sister around the house. Dad pulls out his new camera and asks his girls to head outside so he can capture the visit.
Anyone else see this?
I am in love…
It is a 1878 Tea Gown in the FIDM collection and was featured in their latest blog post.
Lovely….
Gentlemen’s wear 1880’s
I worked yesterday (Saturday) so no elaborate posts today. Just a photograph of one gentleman’s ensemble owned by the Costume Museum of Canada. 
Takes the gold star
The gold star winner of the last display from the Costume Museum of Canada (in my opinion) was this gold 1880’s dress.
I just loved the military look on the bodice.
It has a wonderful little bustle in the back.
The detailing shows up in the cuff of the sleeve.
The above photo shows off the dark stripes in the gold. 
Here is a better look at the back of the bodice.
But I’m still lovin’ that trim on the front.
A piece of it separated from the bodice.
This allowed me to see the front and the back so I can try to repeat the process.
The bows on the skirt are the only thing I can’t get excited about. I know it needed something but I’m not sure that was the correct choice.
Beat up but worth it
This cabinet card was not always treated with love. I don’t know what happened to it. Did it get stuck in a frame or album? Who knows. Luckily, the subject of the photo is intact.
The hair is 1880’s and the skirt seems to be natural form so I would place this in the early 1880’s.
I bought this card, in spite of the damage, because I really liked the detail on her bodice.
There are pin tucks on the upper sleeve and braiding or soutache on the body and cuffs of it. Very nice. Well fitted too.
Nice idea in theory…
For years, I wore a corset everyday. I had back pain and the corset helped wonderfully (not to mention made me look 30 pounds lighter). But in the past year, two things happened to change that. 1) The back pain improved. I don’t know why but it got better. I wouldn’t say I’m cured but it is better. 2) Menopause. I am in the early stages of that glorious time of life and I randomly get really, really hot. The corset became just another THICK layer holding all that heat in. (I am not a fan of me in a bathing suit but there have been times I questioned why they wont let me wear one at work.)
I saw this the other day and thought this would be the answer to the heat problem.
The theory would be you’d still get the support of the boning without all the heat retaining fabric. I envisioned trying to make one of these. Doable. Then I envisioned trying to wear one. This is what came to mind….only much, much worse.
One thin little chemise is not going to keep me from looking like a giant Playdough Fun Factory.
