A Bicycle Built for Fashion
by Sahrye Cohen, First published for the March/April 2010 issue of Finery The late Victorian era saw an increase in the middle class and the rise of a lifestyle in which, for the first time, many people had a certain amount of leisure time. A number of recreational activities became popular among the upper and middle classes including bathing, lawn-tennis, […]
Rococo Beauty Tips
by Kendra Van Cleave, First published for the November/December 2009 issue of Finery Coiffures of the 18th century defined the style of the era. Women’s hair was always curled, waved, or frizzed before styling. When higher hairstyles came into fashion, they were accomplished by raising hair over pads made of wool, tow, hemp, or cut hair. Throughout the century, hair was […]
Faeries Bright and Dark
by Bridget Bradley-Scaife and Jennifer Jespersen, First published for the July/August 2009 issue of Finery When observing faeries on the whole, there are two distinctions that have become most well-known: those of the Seelie Court and those of the Unseelie Court. This division is based in Scottish mythology, and it is used to determine the good faeries from the bad. […]
Let Them Wear Muslin!
by Feather Tippets-Rosica. Originally published in the May / June, 2009 issue of Finery The transition from the elaborate gowns of the eighteenth century, worn over rigidly boned stays and hooped petticoats, to the soft muslin gowns associated with the heroines of Jane Austen’s novels was not a sudden event sparked by the French Revolution. Marie Antoinette started it well […]
By the Beautiful Sea
by Catherine Scholar. Originally published in the May / June, 2009 issue of Finery. What’s nicer than spending a sunny summer day at the seashore? For centuries, such a thing was never even considered. Going to the beach for fun was unheard of until eighteenth century doctors began prescribing sea-bathing for health problems. Even then, swimming itself was unknown; most […]
Steampunk Costuming
by Sahrye Cohen. Originally published in the March / April, 2009 issue of Finery. Cogs, clocks, shiny brass and ingenious inventions – your imagination is the limit in steampunk costuming! Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used. Often this setting is Victorian or Edwardian Europe and America, […]
Fabulous! The Art of Being an Historical Fashion Icon
by Lindsey Eastman. Originally published for the March / April 2009 issue of Finery. How do you stand out in a sea of French Hood and giant turn back sleeves? Or differentiate yourself from every other woman in a sacque-back gown and lace? How do you make a bustle gown the toast of the room? These are the questions that […]
Henrican (Tudor) Underthings
by Kimiko Small. Originally published in the January / February 2009 issue of Finery. When I see people reproduce Henry VIII era (1509-47) ladies costumes, they usually use what they already have for undergarments, which are most often from the later Elizabethan era (1558-1603). While there are similarities, it works best to wear Henrician undergarments under that era’s gowns. Smock: […]
Underneath the Romance: 1830s Skirt Supports
by Catherine Scholar, First published for the September/October 2008 issue of Finery The fashionable silhouette of the 1830s included a bell or dome shaped skirt, which was supported by multiple starched white cotton petticoats. This simple garment is difficult to research, as there isn’t much helpful information available, and few extant garments. In The History of Underclothes, authors Willet and […]
Hairstyles and Hats of the Edwardian Era, 1900-1915
by Kendra Van Cleave, First published for the July/August 2008 issue of Finery Hairstyles and headwear are inextricably linked in almost every era; hairstyles affect the shape and placement of the hat and vice versa. The “pompadour” popular in the 1890s belied its name. Rather than a large amount of volume, hair was dressed loosely but still simply and close […]
