All posts tagged: 1871

A rainy day photoshoot – the 1871 pink extravaganza

Madame Ornata, Sarah of Diana Villiers and I have been having such fun with photoshoots that we planned another one for last weekend. Unfortunately for us, the weather did not cooperate: the day dawned all grey and drizzly.  Sarah thought we should postpone, but both Madame O and I had Mother’s Day commitments, so we voted to press on. I really wanted a proper photoshoot with my 1871 Pink Extravaganza ensemble (it’s pretty much the oldest thing still in my closet, and it’s never been properly photographed!), and the rain meant I got a chance to use my pretty umbrella. Madame O wore my 1882 ‘By the Seashore’ ensemble and Mrs C got dolled up as a female Dr Who and joined us. We had a fantastic time, and Sarah got some amazing shots, but it really wasn’t the best circumstances for a shoot: my photos are all rather mediocre because of the glaring light, and the hem of my dress got soaked from the damp.  Next time maybe we should listen to the proper …

Pretty picnic photographs

So, I was planning to show you picnic photographs from the 1860s and 70s.  But it turns out there aren’t many picnic photographs from these decades.  There are lots from the very advent of photography, and then lots again starting in the 1890s, but 1860-1890 is a no-picnic-photograph zone. So you are going to have to settle for two images of lovely ladies in picnic suitable ensembles. A nice simple dress and hat, perfect for a pastoral picnic.  I like that the dress is worn without hoops.   Her not-quite-a-bonnet not-quite-a-bergere hat is adorable.  And the slightly worn shoe peeping out at the hem is a great touch. The Comtesse de Castiglione did a series of photographs of herself in the different stages of the day.  For midday she is dressed for a picnic, with parasol, wrap, floral bonnet, plates and bottles of refreshments.  She looks much more staged and less natural than the lady above.  The bottles are cool though.  And the scalloped hem is a nice touch. ETA: need more picnic ideas for …

Picnic ensembles for 1871

Now that we have seen how artists interpreted outdoor clothes in the early 1870s, lets take a look at some real outfits that might have been worn to picnics in 1871. For the ladies, dresses would most likely be of plain, unpatterned fabric, trimmed with fringe, braid, and bias strips in either matching or contrasting tones.  The silhouette and would demonstrate the change from the back heavy, oval hoops of the 1860s to the bustled 1870s silhouette.  Fabrics would be of wool, silk, or cotton depending on the weather, and how fashionable and up-to-date the wearer was. Four silk dresses: If the weather was relatively cool, very fashionable ladies might wear highly trimmed silk dresses, such as this one: The design and trim of this dress are very similar to the one shown in Monet’s painting on Monday. In warmer weather, light cotton dresses similar to the ones shown in Monet’s Women in the Garden would be ideal. These dresses are quite easily soiled and torn, but also easily put together.  They seem to have …