Regency Accessories: What you need beyond the dress
by Virginia Solomon, First published for the May/June 2013 issue of Finery The fashionable Regency lady would not feel her dress is complete without the appropriate accoutrements that will make your ensemble part of the Bon Ton. There are many accessories you could add to your ensemble for different occasions; here is an overview of the most vital of Regency […]
Japonisme or Not?
by Sandy Vrooman, First published for the March/April 2013 issue of Finery When trying to trace the influences of one culture to another, where does one start? In the case of Oriental influences on western fashion, we could go back to Marco Polo’s travels and the introduction of silk to European royalty; the flat Chinese fans used at Versailles, and […]
Imbibing Fashionable Waters
by Deborah Parker Wong, First published for the March/April 2013 issue of Finery From sacred springs to the Roman baths, the healing power of water are found referenced throughout history. During the 18th and 19th centuries, “taking the waters” became a popular past time for the leisure class. Whether done at the advice of a doctor or simply as a […]
The 1870s Year by Year
by Judith Hollenberger Dunlap, First published for the January/February 2013 issue of Finery The decade of 1870-1879 included drastic changes of silhouette in women’s clothing. The large elliptical hoop of the late 1860s was pushed back into a bustle, which was quickly dropped for a form fitting ‘natural’ shape. Natural in name only, as it was achieved by lengthening the […]
When a Muslin Dress Just Isn’t Enough
by Jean Martin, First published for the January/February 2013 issue of Finery For most Regency events and balls, most of us costumers can get away with not wearing period-correct outerwear since we will most likely be indoors, or outdoors during the summer. However, if you want to wear a Regency costume this winter, or at an outdoor event such as […]
Bits About Busks
by Cynthia Barnes, First published for the November/December 2012 issue of Finery The busk of the 1580s and 1590s is not simply a piece of wood, but comprises the stay, covering case and the points which secure it. We thought it would be fun to recreate one as it might have looked in Queen Elizabeth I’s time. No original late […]
The Mauve Decade
by Judith Hollenberger Dunlap. Originally published for the November/December 2012 issue of Finery. Mauve was the first color of aniline dye discovered by William Henry Perkins as he searched for an artificial way to make quinine. The aniline dyes he developed in the latter half of the 19th century opened up fashion to an array of new colors, but mauve […]
Cavaliers and Rakes: Fashions of the Courts of Charles I and Charles II
by Gailynne Bouret, First published for the JulyAugust/ 2012 issue of Finery Two periods in the Seventeenth century marked a departure from the old into the new: that of Charles I (1600-1649), the era of the Cavalier; and that of his son, Charles II (1630-1685), the Restoration. The fashions of these two eras reflect the personalities of each monarch. One […]
1930s: As Was the Fashion of the Time
by Suzette Davidson, First published for the May/June 2012 issue of Finery During the 1930s, tailored suits and day dresses made a strong impression as they became more accessible for day wear via “off-the-rack” clothing manufacturing. The industry was changing with the development of new synthetic materials and dyes. In addition, the zipper, or slide fastener, was first being used […]
Keeping Your Cool: Mid-Victorian Sheer Dresses
by Elizabeth Urbach, First published for the May/June 2012 issue of Finery Mid-Victorian daytime fashion was not all about heavy, opaque fabrics; warm weather allowed for light dresses of semi-transparent fabric like barege and muslin, trimmed with embroidery, ribbons and lace for a cool, floating visual effect. These gowns, called sheer dresses or “clear muslin dresses” were especially popular at […]
