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 […]
Book Review: Icon’s of Men’s Style by Josh Sims
by George McQuary, First published for the September/October 2012 issue of Finery Since Beau Brummel, peacockery in men’s clothing has been shunned, innovation foresworn. The only changes in men’s clothing are in functional adaptations for industry, sports and military, which then slowly cross over into men’s fashion. Take aviator glasses. Created to solve a certain set of industrial problems (pilot […]
Book Reviews: Vintage Hairstyling and Retro Makeup by Lauren Rennells
by George McQuary, First published for the July/August 2012 issue of Finery Lauren Rennells’ book Vintage Hairstyling: Retro Styles with Step-by-Step Techniques, 2nd Edition can be used in two ways: First, as a look book. Take it to your favorite hair stylist, point at a picture, and say “Make my hair do this for tonight”. Or you can take the […]
Pattern Review: The One Hour Dress
by Carol Wood, First published for the May/June 2012 issue of Finery So, you want to get dolled up for the the Gatsby Picnic or Fiddles and Roses? Maybe you just want a pretty little somethin’ somethin’ to slip on for a special occasion? The clock is ticking, so you think, “Golly, there’s that pattern for the One Hour Dress […]
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 […]
Pre-Raphaelites to Aesthetes: Their Influence on Aesthetic Dress
by Judith Hollenberger Dunlap, First published for the March/April 2012 issue of Finery The Artistic Dress movement in the late 19th century was born of two earlier artistic reform movements. In 1848 the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was founded in Great Britain by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. This Brotherhood of painters, poets, and literary critics believed […]
Completing the 1912 Evening Look
by Kendra Van Cleave, First published for the March/April 2012 issue of Finery In the early 1910s, women’s hair began with thick, wavy hair that was “dressed” in loose, “Grecian” styles. Wavy hair was desired, specifically the kind of wave that comes from thoroughly brushing out curly hair. If your hair did not have a natural wave, it would generally […]
Last Dinner on the Titanic: Developing the Menu
by Sahrye Cohen, First published for the January/February 2012 issue of Finery The RMS Titanic is remembered not only for the tragic iceberg strike that resulted in 1,517 deaths, but also its incredible opulence. When we first started discussing an event commemorating the Titanic’s centennial, we knew we knew it was an opportunity to do something truly fantastic. One of […]
Dressing for Dinner on the Titanic: Early 1910s Evening Dress
by Kendra Van Cleave, First published for the January/February 2012 issue of Finery When the Titanic set sail in April 1912, her first-class passengers boarded with trunks full of expensive, beautiful clothes. Most had probably been custom made in Paris, London, or the United States in the previous year. March and early April were a transitional period during this era, […]
Strut Your Tut
Eastern Influences on 1920’s Fashion by Carol Wood, First published for the March/April 2011 issue of Finery The 1920s was characterized by exploration, experimentation and invention. This holds true for fashion in particular: No more restrictive corsets, experimentation in dress was socially acceptable, and more women earned money to afford the new fashions. Not only did hemlines run up and down […]
