August in the Archives
I live in Texas, and even though I usually spend a lot of time outdoors, in August, the heat gets to even me. So I set aside this month to stay indoors and… Continue reading
Category Archive: Historic Clothing
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Greek Costume Stamps
In 2007, I got to go to Athens (the real one in Greece — we have one in Texas too but it’s not quite as famous) on very short notice. Usually when I… Continue reading
Creativity Triumphs – Theatre de la Mode
In the closing days of WWII in France, couturiers in Paris created an exhibit which would both “show the continuing vitality of the fashion industries” and raise money for war relief. After the… Continue reading
97 Years Ago Today
The original caption is “Women Rivet Heaters and Passers On, Ship Construction Work. Navy Yard, Pugent Sound, Washington.” Taken May 29, 1919. Most of them are wearing proper boots with heels, but a… Continue reading
Design Advice from the Dress Doctors
I cannot adequately express how much I love this book — The Lost Art of Dress: The Women Who Once Made America Stylish. Author Linda Przybyszewski tells the story of the early 20th… Continue reading
We May Be in Better Shape Than We Thought
If you bemoan your fitness level, you might be interested in the results of this fitness test from 1889: In order to ascertain the influence of tight clothing upon the action of the… Continue reading
Harvest Costumes from the 1930s and 40s
In this season of harvest, I bring you some creative costumes from the bountiful Rio Grande Valley of Texas. They were made in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, for the annual Birthday Party… Continue reading
“These Kids Today!” in 1862
Here is a look at precocious children from the past, courtesy of Punch magazine of London. As a former teacher, I can relate to this one, titled Missus-ism. I don’t know what “odd… Continue reading
The Trials of Courtship in 1862
Well, since we all are enjoying these cartoons from the past, I will share some more. These are from Punch magazine, published in London from 1841 to 1992. These are from the 1862… Continue reading
Men’s Fashion Foibles from 1862
Looking at my estate sale purchase, a bound issue of Punch from 1862, we see that gentlemen were not spared from the editors’ gibes …