All posts filed under: 19th Century

Rate the Dress – Rose Atherton’s 1845 fantasty

Last week Wallis Simpson’s Yves Saint Laurent frock showed us that while the question of whether you can ever be too rich or too thin is still up for debate, having too many bows will drop your score in ‘Rate the Dress’. The dress just missed out on a 7 out of 10 – coming in at 6.94 out of 10. I wonder if knowing that Wallis wore the dress coloured it in your mind, so this week, we look at a frock that doesn’t belong to a particular person. Rose Atherton isn’t a woman – it’s a song about a woman. In 1845 the songsheet was illustrated by a most interesting sketch of artist A. Newsam’s idea of a ‘Rose Atherton’. Newman depicts his Rose in a simple dark skirt, and an off-the-shoulder military inspired bodice and an off-the-head straw hat. You can see a larger, mirror image, of the same drawing here. I find the mix of mid-Victorian fashion and fantasy fascinating. But attractive? That part is up to you to decide. Rate …

Let’s go on a picnic!

Published by The Dreamstress

I was asked what a middle class English family would have worn to a picnic in 1871. What fun! I love picnics, and 1871 is such a fun period for them – such ridiculously over the top day dresses for ladies. This week I’m going to be exploring the question through period prints, paintings, and real clothes. First, let’s start with some prints and paintings, so that we can get an idea of what a full scene would look like: These three prints show relaxed picnic scenes in 1871. The first two are set in England, and the last one, based on the musicians, is probably set in America, and appears to show a less respectable scene. The thing about prints is that they are often like today’s fashion spreads: glamourised, romanticised, and with ensembles based on the very latest fashions. The thing about real life is that it isn’t like fashion spreads. Most people wear clothes they have owned for a few years or more. Not everyone is pretty, or charming. So a picnic …

Bosom supports

Published by The Dreamstress

Have you seen these? They are bosom supports, from the Conner Prairie History collection. Are they amazing or what? They are stuffed with men’s facial hair. Interesting. Apparently they date to about 1880. I’d love to know if they were a one-off garment, or if this was a bit of a trend. I’d call them bust enhancers rather than bosom supports. I don’t see much in the way of support happening from these!