by Kelsey Larsen | Nov 26, 2017 | Uncategorized
One of the oldest hoop skirts on record is the spanish verdugado, the root of the English Farthingale. The original farthingale was stiffened with hoops made Spanish verdugo reeds, and was first introduced in the late 1400’s. One of the first examples of the...
by Kelsey Larsen | Nov 20, 2017 | Uncategorized
Western bridal fashion is steeped in years of tradition. Everything from the gown to the ring has a history, and this is especially true of the veil. The wearing of a bridal veil is an old one, dating all the way back to the days of the Ancient Romans. Roman brides...
by Kelsey Larsen | Nov 19, 2017 | Uncategorized
I have been fascinated with Ancient Egypt since I was about six years old. My great aunt had a coffee table book full of pictures of artifacts housed within the British Museum. From the moment she showed me the Egyptian collection — the bold colours, the tomb...
by Kelsey Larsen | Nov 13, 2017 | Uncategorized
One of the most common items found in historical costuming is the chemise. A chemise is a long slip-like garment that was worn as an undergarment by both men and women until the 19th century. Evolving from the Roman tunica, the chemise — or ‘smock’ in early...
by Kelsey Larsen | Nov 13, 2017 | Uncategorized
Now that summer has finally arrived, that means one thing: Wedding Season. White dresses, giant cakes, and the omigod-what-do-I-wear wardrobing crises that come along with being a guest. But white dresses were not always the norm. In fact, in many cultures, white was...
by Kelsey Larsen | Nov 13, 2017 | Uncategorized
The history of footwear spans almost the length of human history. As long as humans have been around we have sought ways to protect ourselves from exposure and injury. Once we had established ways of doing this reliably, doing so attractively became a new priority....
by Kelsey Larsen | Nov 11, 2017 | Uncategorized
Today is Remembrance Day — Veteran’s Day for my American readers — a day that marks the end of the first World War, dedicated to the memory of all of our servicemen and -women who lost their lives in the line of duty. The first World War lasted from July...
by Kelsey Larsen | Nov 8, 2017 | Uncategorized
They say that Fortune favors the bold, and this seems to hold true in fashion as well as in life. Some of the most prolific style icons of history were as bold in their actions as they were in their manner of dress. Agnes Sorel began as the child of minor nobility,...
by Kelsey Larsen | Nov 8, 2017 | Uncategorized
If I told you that once upon a time it was fashionable for men to wear corsets, what would you say? I don’t know about you but my first mental image is that of Frankenfurter from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. In the 1880’s the fashion subculture known as the Dandy...
by Kelsey Larsen | Nov 8, 2017 | Uncategorized
One thing that I find continually fascinating is the historical linkage between a person’s preferred mode of dress and their political affiliations. This was especially true in the Tudor era, particularly in the court of Henry VIII. In fact you could often tell just...
