Fashion History Blog

.. in Exodus in a reference to “Scarlet Linen”, and red fabrics were found in King Tut’s tomb in Egypt. Historians believe both were dyed from the Madder plant. (Photo: King Tut’s red sash on display in museum in Cairo)

.. in Acts referring to “Lydia seller of purple”.  Sources of purple in Biblical times in addition to Murex were “Trumpet Shells” or “Purple Fish”.  These were shellfish, whose shells would be cracked to dig out a vein that held purple mucus that could be spread on silk. It took …

… methods other than the use of the Murex Mollusk were explored to find purple.  There was found a recipe from the 3rd Century for a “Stockholm Papyrus” that made a purplish color.  The problem was in the Byzantium Empire, anyone but the royals were forbidden to wear purple under …

… coming in ancient times from murex, a molllusk which yielded “purpurea”.  Purple was in high demand by emperors like Rome’s.  No one else could afford it: 1 lb of cloth dyed with murex in the time of the ancient Romans was worth $20,000 today. (image: Etruscan fresco showing high …

Because that is another of the things that marked the change from early Victorian to Mid Victorian.  We’ll focus on natural dyes – those made by nature and not in the chemistry lab like synthetic ones.  This will take a bit, so we’ll find some dogs and cats to break …

.. and the sewing machine as we discuss the factors that made the Early Victorian Era change into the Mid Victorian Era.  There are many other design houses worthy of note, but extensive discussion of these are already on the website, so we will move ahead to the 4th and …

.. through the sons’ tenure well into the 1920’s.  The great fashion house finally came to an end in 1952 when Charles Worth’s grandson, Jean-Charles, retired from the family business and closed the doors. (Photo:  This iconic Titanic Tea Dress by Jean-Philippe Worth stands as one of the landmarks of …

… and continued the innovations his father Charles had begun in the late 1850’s.

This 1911 gown was designed per the instructions of the King of England.

Buffalo Gals performing in Cody, Wyoming March 25, 2019 7 -8:30. Free to the public by invitation of the Pahaska Corral of Westerners.