All posts tagged: extent garments

Rate the dress: a girls party frock, about 1865

Published by The Dreamstress

Last week I presented a painting of a wealthy young Englishwoman of the 1750s, and the vast majority of you rated it very highly, and it achieved a 7.3 out of 10.  You know what though?  I’m disappointed in you!  So many readers criticised it, and then gave it a 9 out of 10 anyway!  What does that mean?  Shouldn’t a 9 be almost absolutely perfect ‘must-have-now’ with just the tiniest tweaks needed?  I think you are all just brainwashed to think that anything 18th century is fabulous, and don’t stop and think “but is this a good example of 18th century?”! So this week is about pushing our usual inclinations.  You, dear readers, have been rather disapproving of historical children’s clothes in the past.  But I’m feeling brave, and am wondering if I can’t tempt you out of ingrained likes and dislikes. So I’m presenting a striking girl’s dress of about 1865 in muted red and white. I imagine this would have been worn by a girl of about 9 or 10. So, do …

A historical costumer’s Haft-Sin

Published by The Dreamstress

Haft-Sin is a traditional  Naw-Rúz table setting in Persia (Iran), more linked to the Persian roots of  Naw-Rúz, than to the way Baha’is celebrate it, but still a lovely, picturesque idea.  A Haft-Sin is an arrangement of 7 items that begin with S, each symbolising a wish for the new year.  Here is my Haft-Sin for you: Sabzeh –  wheat, barley or  lentil sprouts growing in a dish symbolize  rebirth Samanu – a sweet pudding made from  wheat germ symbolizes affluence Senjed – the dried fruit of the  oleaster tree, look like cherries and symbolizes love SÄ«r –  garlic, symbolizes medicine and good health. Poor Dulcinea (below) was criticised for being so robust and healthy that she more resembled a ‘garlic eating peasant’ than the lady of Don Quixote’s fantasies. SÄ«b –  apples for beauty and health Somaq –  sumac berries – symbolizing sunrise (through their colour) and new beginnings Serkeh – vinegar symbolizes age and patience.

Talk about un-natural shoe shapes…

Published by The Dreamstress

If you thought that last week’s red boots were un-natural in shape, check out these shoes from the Powerhouse Museum in Australia: Look at those insteps!  Now, I’m high unusually high in the instep and the arch, but that is ridiculous! I do love the detailing on these shoes: the scrolls around the toe, the buttons, and most of all the tiny blue leather fleur-de-lys, or Chinese inspired patterns. They were made as exhibition pieces to show off the shoe-makers skill, so perhaps actually fitting a real person wasn’t an important skill for a cobbler!