Our newest Gal in her first production, Ellie is a nursing student. She was so thrilled (and a bit dangerous) with her authentic tools, including a 1910 syringe pump. We had very little time to get this ensemble together; thank goodness in 1910 things were made on a machine.
The depiction is of a woman who graduates from a major nursing institution in Pennsylvania, who is single and lives the professional life until she is called to serve in the Nursing Corps in France at the beginning of World War I.
The story is a somber one, of growing unrest in America and abroad, and the eventual conflict that led women and men into “Fields of Flanders”.
We learned in the research and development, that uniforming was based originally on nuns habits – complete with coifs and veils that were worn in the field of duty even through World War II so that nurses would stand out in the chaos of war. The starched apron, the high cap; all of this is absolutely accurate, but there are ZERO patterns or instructions, and only photographs and records of real nurses to follow. This ensemble is completely created by Suzi from studying photos, with only 3 measurements (using Da Vinci’s human proportions to fit the rest) alongside knowledge of fashion of the day.
Uniforming for domestic servants and nurses in 1910 was based on fashion of the day, but made to be entirely functional. It always added the apron and cap, and the unique thing throughout the years is the nurse’s chatelaine – her bag or hooks of tools worn on her belt. She also has an upside down watch fob, and a fit customized just for that specific year.
We just love the silhouette of this ensemble, made by the late Edwardian “S” corset, and a simple slip – no longer a petticoat. After this, the world went to brassieres and girdles, and so this is where Silhouettes depictions stop – at 1914 with a world at war.
Ellie is a professional singer, and we look forward to her future renditions of touching war songs, “Tenting Tonight” and “Keep the Fires Burning”. She’s a joy and a talent to have on board.
