…as they were influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite paintings of Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Edward Burne Jones who idealized medieval life in imaginary ethereal scenes. The women in these paintings appear to wear no corsetry and have freedom and “naturalness” that was admired by the Aesthetes. (Featured: painting by Pre-Raphaelite leader …
… in the mid-Victorian Era, although it got its start in reform and the early eras and in response to industrialization and mass production. They were a group of talented artists, poets, writers, and actors. The leader was painter William Morris. He and architect Voysey designed houses together being fastidious …
The Aesthetic (“counter fashion”) movement within and counter to the Victorian fashion era went beyond textiles and fashion. Aesthetes were also often vegetarians and campaigned for animal welfare rights. They objected to the use of feathers on hats and the use of whole dead birds as a hat ornament. Modern …
… because it allowed excessive embellishment of dresses because trims were so cheap with mass production and because trimming could easily be added at home or in the shop. (Photo: a family of Aesthetes in full Aesthetic fashion in about 1900)
.. the Reform Movement. Aesthetes saw fashion as ugly machine made products from the Industrial Revolution. Their dislike ranged from distaste for the ugliness of false structures and veneers to the crudeness of synthetic dyes to the over working of Victorian imagery. They ignored the benefits of cheap costs for …
… soft and comfortable corsets, approved by physicians. The concept of wearing something other than highly “trussed”, constricted style that had been in vogue since the invention of metal grommets in 1822, was indeed challenged by many throughout history, yet few women embraced the idea. The position of a woman …
…considered by historians to be Queen Victoria of England’s early reign, 1837-1860. In this time she was a teen, was crowned, was married, and had all of her children. In the industrial and technical world of this time frame, movements like the Rational Dress Reform Society and the Aesthetic Dress …
… as a bank robber. 1895 interpreter Kateri will be getting a makeover to become “Etta Place”, wife of notorious outlaw The Sundance Kid. Because so little is known about Etta, Kat will be doing a lot of improv, and she won’t EXACTLY play Etta, but a woman like her …
… our newest “Buffalo Gal” hired interpreter – Chris Davis. She will be wearing our 1885 farm wife ensemble in fashion shows, but we are developing her new character and ensemble for an 1898 Livery Owner (horse woman). Welcome aboard Chris!
… and there were many as Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901. In the beginning, most fashions lasted about a decade, but by the mid 1850’s, mass communication and mass production had improved so much that by 1901 the history of fashion was moving in almost a yearly cycle. …
