This coming Saturday, September 29th, the Buffalo Gals are presenting “A Fashion RePast” – historical fashion show about food, family, and fashion. 10-11:30 with slides & music before and after. Free (donations for The Gals) at door & open to the public.  Cody Longterm Care Center, same building as West …

.. even more, and the undergarments had to accommodate the enlargement. (Photos: 1845 modified horsehair petticoat with more tiers to get even wider with its resultant skirt shape in theis 1845 cotton tiered day dress)

of the 1840’s became wider and more dome shaped than those of the 1830’s.  By 1842, they needed more support to get the width than you could get piling on many petticoats. Petticoats began to be stiffened with horsehair woven into fabrics like linens. (Photos: the widening dome of this …

… or dogs in this case.  This sketch depicting 1846 shows the rural fashion well with a locally made shawl (for England), and a pet. They really liked their pets in the early Victorian era!

… across Europe and the US, shawls were worn for every occasion important or daily, like this 1851 wedding shawl.

.. copied, and duplicated on a large scale by the end of the 1860’s.  They eventually became so cheap due to mass production and locally made versions that everyone could have one, leading to their loss of popularity. Some countries like Scotland changed the way it was made or designed, …

… and of different values.  Color combinations, images, what other designs were integrated or around the main design varied.  Originating in India and imported to England, it didn’t take long for England and then others to replicate the designs and weaves and mass produce them.  Scotland was known for paisley …

Huge! Paisley shawls were given as bridal gifts, at the death of a loved one, for babies born, and every imaginable gift-giving occasion between until the turn of the 19th into the 20th century when it became associated with little old ladies knitting by the fire and considered dowdy. (Garment: …

.. just got bigger and BIGGER along with the diameter of the skirts.  The cashmere shawl with its paisley prints, made popular by Queen Victoria of England, but originating in specific patterns and meanings out of India, was wildly popular. (Garment: 1850-60’s big shawls)

(not cat hair!) came back into fashion about 1840. Because the new version was larger it acted as an outer wrap and when folded in half and draped over the shoulders would reach almost to ground level in some cases. Note the paisley is more influence of the Indies as …