Women’s Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
by Carol Wood, First published for the January/February 2010 issue of Finery Sewing has waxed and waned in the hearts and homes of American women over the past century. The home sewing machine was available from the 1850’s and considered an integral piece of furniture to a well-appointed home. Despite these machines making home garment production even easier, the interest in learning to sew and home garment production dwindled. As […]
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 […]
The Effect of World War I on American Fashion
by Kendra Van Cleave, First published for the March/April 2005 issue of Finery By 1913, the characteristic Edwardian female silhouette, with its tightly corseted body and long skirts, had given way to a straight, high-waisted look that was thought to be more “natural” than previous styles. As the decade progressed, women’s fashions grew less restrictive, and flared skirts, loose jackets, and […]
Modern Times: Changing Society 1900-1930
by Sally Norton, First published for the July/August 2003 issue of Finery The life process is essentially social from the start. Throughout our lives we affect, and are affected by, many people. During the first quarter of the 20th century, society in the United States went through a gradual, but astounding evolution. The forces affecting these changes were varied: education, […]
