All posts tagged: 1860s

The Corset Model Class of 2011

I got photographs of all the models wearing their corsets on Saturday against a plain cement wall. Every time I have looked at the photos since then, I have cracked up. They remind me of the kind of pictures you take in Elementary School for a ‘me, myself, and I’ project. You have the kid who can’t stop grinning, the kid who closes their eyes in every picture, the kid who won’t smile because they think they look better without one (that would have been me), the kid who won’t stand still for even a moment, and the kid who probably should have been a model. We all look ridiculous, and absolutely gorgeous, all at the same time. It’s a total celebration of personality, and all the different facets of beauty that exist. Without further ado, I present Ms Oakes’ Corset Model Class of 2011. And finally, the erstwhile instructress: Ladies, you can teach me anytime!

Early Worth gowns

Published by The Dreamstress

I know everyone wants to hear about the talk and see pictures, but that won’t happen yet for three reasons 1) I’m exhausted, 2) I hardly took any, so have to wait to get them from other people and 3) I’ve been asked to do a last minute talk on Sat and it gives me an excuse to pull out a few dresses I haven’t shown in a long time, so I’m frantic with that. So, in lieu of a Pompeii to Paris post, here is a pretty eye candy post in response to a readers question about early Worth gowns. There aren’t a lot of extent Worth gowns from before 1870 around, but the ones that are are fascinating glimpses into his aesthetic development, as he became more adventurous with colours and trim. Here are the early Worth gowns I can find images of: From the Metropolitan Museum of Art: From the Chicago History Museum From the Museo de la Moda: From the FIDM Museum: From the Royal Ontario Museum: More dresses were on …

Rate the Dress: Whistler’s Symphony in White

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week you really got into the spirit of Rate the Dress, considering and critiquing Sophia Dorothea’s outfit and giving her a fairly good rating of 7 out of 10. This week we move forward a century and a quarter to Whistler’s 1862 Symphony in White. How do you feel about her simple white dress, with sheer striped sleeves, and a full skirt worn without a crinoline and long loose hair? Will you find it a refreshingly relaxed take on the high crinoline period, or does it feel a little ruffled and unkept? You can see a very large version of the image on Wikimedia Commons Rate the Dress on a scale of 1 to 10 SaveSave