All posts filed under: 20th Century

Terminology: What is chinchilla

I’m not much for fur, but chinchilla has always fascinated me. I think it is the name. It’s just so darn cute! It sounds like a name Disney would invent for an animal. I’m never really thought about what a chinchilla actually was until recently. When I did begin to wonder, I had to look it up. The chinchilla is a rodent from South America. It looks like this: OH.MY.GOODNESS Squeee! Cute overload. It’s a fat little mouse with extra big ears and a squirrel tail! Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I think they were invented by Disney! Really, could you get any cuter if you tried? I think we need to see more cuteness: Awwwwwwwwwww! Of course, in fashion they aren’t concerned with how gosh darn cute the fat little mice with big ears and fluffy squirrel tails are. They are concerned with how soft and dense the fur is, because they kill and skin those gosh darn cute fat little big-eared, fluffy-tailed mice for it. Natural chinchilla fur is pale grey with a dark streak running along …

Hats for the woman of 50, 1911

Published by The Dreamstress

This article from the Girl’s Own Paper, Dec 1911, just cracks me up. How could it not! I’m sure the “Looking good at any age” and “Dressing for your age” articles in modern fashion magazines will be equally hilarious, if not more so, in a century Clearly the hat fashion for ‘mature’ women in 1911 was a large, square turban-toque style. I wonder exactly what made these suitable for a woman of 50 (and presumable onward, based on the mention of ‘elderly’ in one caption). Was it just about the shape being considered properly staid, conservative and modest? Or was the shape thought to be more flattering? Certainly these hats all match the look that Queen Mary was famous for in the latter half of her life. And who was a better guide to respectable taste than the Queen? What do you think? As a lady of 50 would you wear those hats? Does the whole presentation of the article amuse you just a little? And which is your favourite? (Bags on the toque in …

Poppies for young women

Published by The Dreamstress

Today is ANZAC day, the anniversary of the first major NZ and AU action during WWI. Everywhere across New Zealand, Australia, and some of the rest of the Pacific, people will have little poppies pinned to their lapels in memory of those who served, and those who dies. Remember what happened, so that we never again let ourselves be led into a situation where such a tragic loss of life becomes inevitable.