Photograph, ca. 1867-1868

This is another photograph from the second half of the 1860s.  It was taken by "W. Clayton, Artist & Photographer" at the Albert Portrait Rooms in Nottingham.   From what I can gather he was one of a family of photographers working in Nottingham in the 19th century.

I put this photograph at around 1867 or 1868 because the sitter's dress, while still obviously supported by some kind of cage, is cone-shaped rather than bell-shaped as it would have been during the hey-day of the crinoline.  The shape of the sleeves and the yoke are also very characteristic of the later half of the 1860s.  While the sitter is obviously not well-to-do, she appears to be able to keep up with the main trends of fashion.

Butterick Fashion Magazine, 1939

This digest sized magazine listed the latest fashions available for the home dressmaker in Butterick patterns.   The dress pictured on the cover is described inside as having touches of lingerie embroidery around the neck, and at the hem the latest fashion fad - a hint of petticoat!  Since I've never seen the second fashion mentioned elsewhere I have to conclude it never really caught on.

Photograph, ca. 1880

This elegant lady - clearly dressed in velvet - had her picture taken by an anonymous photographer at the East Kent Photographic Company in Canterbury (England).  The narrow lines of her costume are typical of the late 1870s and early 1880s, as is the train she is holding up.  The hat she is wearing, however, was fashionable in the early 1880s, which would put this picture in the latter decade.

Another reason for tentatively dating this photograph to 1880 is the number "221180" written on the back, which could quite possible represent the date it was taken!

Simplicity Fashion News, October 1967

This trendy mod outfit could not be much more of the 60s if it was set to a soundtrack by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.  Typical of the periodical is the horizontally striped top and the chain link belt.  The photograph is cropped a little below the model's waist, but it would not be too wild a guess to say she is wearing a miniskirt too!

Postcard, ca. 1911

This postcard was found in the same shop as the photograph in my previous post.  It mocks the "hobble skirt", surely one of the silliest fashions ever inflicted on women.

I get the date from the message on the back of the postcard which reads:

Milawa, March 1st, 1911

Dear Hep the Box was sent yesterday I hope you got it safe you will have to be careful the pears & apples have the codlin in the pears will soon ripen if laid up a few days the apples are only fit for cooking.  with fondest love from Mother & McGregor.

Photograph, ca. 1866

I've been missing in action the last week because I've been in Melbourne - where I discovered a shop in East Kew that sold lots of wonderful collectibles, including this Victorian carte de visite sized photograph.  From the information printed on the back it was taken by C. Hawkins at the Brighton School of Photography, and I put the date at around 1866.  The sitter's skirt, while still full, has lost the bell-shaped crinoline which supported the fashionable shape earlier in the decade.  Her waist is cinched by a belt made in the same material as her dress with an ornamental buckle.

A little research on the net indicates that the photographer moved to the address on the card (38 Preston Street) in 1865.  The chair and the table in the picture are props, and appear in other portraits taken at the Brighton School of Photography around the same time.

"Fashion Illustration, 1930 to 1970"

Fashion Illustration: 1930 to 1970 is not unlike this blog: lots of illustrations with brief commentary.

The pictures all come from the British edition of Harper's Bazaar, and are taken from advertisements appearing in the magazine as well as pictures commissioned by the editors.  While this book could be read as a history of women's fashions in the mid 20th century, it is in fact better interpreted as a guide to graphic design in the same period.  The styles of the pictures range from Art Deco in the early thirties, to Op- and Pop-art influenced drawings in the sixties.  Many other schools of art influence the graphics appearing  in the magazine in the years in between.  There is even a touch of Soviet Realism in some of the pictures published in the war years!

The cover illustration is taken from a picture of a swimsuit which first appeared in Harper's Bazaar in March 1959.

(London: Batsford, 2010.  ISBN 9781906388812)

Butterick Pattern Book, Spring 1957

This issue of Butterick Pattern Book contains many pictures of Butterick patterns made up in 1950s modern abstract prints.  The outfit worn on the cover was made in "Tanjore" printed silk faille, produced by American Silk Mills.

Lana Lobell catalogue, 1968

My 50th post!

Post-war fashion had a love affair with synthetic fibres.  This glamorous party dress was made of nylon and "Acetate Satin".

Weldon's Ladies' Journal, May 1911

The next in my series of Weldon's Ladies' Journal.  This time we have "Artistic Fashions for the Early Summer" from May 1911.