Bittersweet
In 1879 the American federal government began forcing many Native American children to attend boarding school. Upon arrival, their hair was cut, their familiar clothing was taken away, and they were forbidden to… Continue reading
Category Archive: Historic Clothing
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April Fools
Here are a couple of pictures from my historic photo collection, that seem appropriate for April Fools’ Day. I love old photos where the people’s personalities shine through.
Properly Attired Servants, 1907-style
Now that we have sprung forward, I’m sure spring cleaning is on your mind. Which inevitably brings up questions, “How many servants should I have?” “How shall I occupy myself while they are working?” and… Continue reading
Happy Feet
I’d always assumed these stockings were hand knit, just because they were made of cotton and had fancy stitches. But since reading the 1914 book Textiles by William H. Dooley, I think they may… Continue reading
Textile Tangents
I love looking at the people and clothing trends in historic photos. Somehow I have built up quite a collection – family members know I’m interested and pass on all those ancestor photos,… Continue reading
Dresses to Dream of
I used to pass by all the old photos in antique stores, but then I saw the book Dressed for the Photographer: Ordinary Americans and Fashion, 1840 – 1900 by Joan L. Severa. … Continue reading
Late 1800s dress
This is a wool dress I bought at an antique shop in Richmond, Texas. I hope it was originally from up North, because I think this would be too hot and sticky to wear… Continue reading
Not So Run-of-the-Mill
The best part about collecting textiles is getting to really look at them. Books just can’t show enough details, and in museums, the few textiles that are on display are usually set too… Continue reading