All posts tagged: 1750s

The finished pen en l’aire (finally!)

As promised, Madame Ornata’s lovely, gorgeous, sublime pet en l’aire. With lovely, gorgeous, sublime pictures by Sarah (aka Diana Villiers) ’cause the ones I took on this photoshoot weren’t nearly as good! Don’t you love the colours? And the hat? The hat sure is something isn’t it? That veiling goes past her waist! And look at the beautiful detailing on her stomacher! She made the silk roses herself (mad handsewer) and the ruffle is real metal silk. Clearly, Madame O’s stays are doing a good job 😉 Every proper 18th century photoshoot should involve a session on the swing! The rubber matting isn’t exactly historical, but her joy sure makes up for it! Standing on the pier at Bath perhaps? The Georgians did like the seaside! More seaside fun Some very improper behavior for an 18th century lady! For more fabulous photos from the pet en l’aire shoot, check out the rest of Sarah’s livejournal. Especially these ones.

Earthquake fashions of the 18th century

Published by The Dreamstress

Responding to Emily’s suggestion, today’s post is about Earthquake fashion. Like everything else, fashion and textiles are affected by natural disasters. Trade routes are interrupted, industries are destroyed, or moved. Fashions change and developed in response to earthquakes. This post is also meant to celebrate the resilience and fortitude of countless unnamed people across the centuries who have picked up, sought to “bury the dead and heal the living”, and rebuilt their lives and their cities, through an exploration of how the things closest to them, their clothes and textiles, changed in response to the changes in their life. For an interesting look at earthquake fashion let’s look at the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake. In terms of human life, this was the most devastating earthquake ever recorded, and it probably had the most profound effect on society. The massive chaos of the earthquake, and the resulting tsunami and fires, sparked the transition from the baroque to the rococo styles in Spain and Portugal, and prompted the philosophical writings that led to the Enlightenment. Hundreds of …

Rate the Dress: 1750s Robe a l’Anglaise

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week you looked at a very unsimple puffed and frilled lavender and mauve creation from the 1820s. Some of you loved it and gave it a perfect 10, but most of you thought it was a bit fussy and unflattering, so it rated a 6 out of 10. This week, dear readers, I direct your fashion critique towards the 18th century, and specifically to a simple ca. 1750 robe a l’Anglaise. Unusually for the period, this fabric is not pastel, but instead a rich brick red brocade silk, sprinkled with apricot and pink roses. Unfortunately, the petticoat that was worn with the dress is no longer extent, so you will have to rate it on the merits of what is left. What do you think? Is the unusual colour a success or an unfortunate aberration? Rate the Dress on a scale of 1 to 10