One of the disadvantages about living in the Edwardian era is that you never got to show off your chemise, corset or petticoat- even though those foundation garments are absolutely adorable! I abso…
Edwardian lady and her pet dog…French postcard
Ismene's monologue is a dramatic female monologue from the famous Greek tragedy Antigone by Sophocles.
Queen Victoria's granddaughter Princess Victoria Melita of Edinburgh when she was Grand Duchess of Hesse with her daughter having a cigarette
Brigham Morris Young Here’s a collection of historical “drag queens” dating back to the 1800s and then onwards. The reason I’m using “drag queen” in double quotes is because I’m not entirely sure if these people were transgender, cross-dressers, dressing up as women for theatrical purposes or just for the of fun it. The information is very limited for each image. Either way, they’re all gorgeous and seem quite comfortable with themselves in front of a lens during a time when society looked down on such self-expression. Frederick Park and Ernest Boulton AKA “Fanny and Stella.” Yale students Vaudeville performer Julian Eltinge Civil War era Victor C. Seguro German crossdresser, Paul Storsberg Scott Barrie Lili Elbe was a transgender woman and one of the first known and historically identifiable recipients of sex reassignment surgery. Sources: vintage crossdressing, Little Things, Matthew’s Island of Misfit Toys Previously on Dangerous Minds: Julian Eltinge: America’s first drag superstar
Analysis of the Egtved girl’s teeth, clothes, hair, and nails, show that the Bronze Age teenager was not born in Denmark.
Colette stars Keira Knightley as the famous French author of the Claudine novels, Chéri, and Gigi, among others. She was born Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (1873-1954), married author/publisher Henry G…
this post began when i came across images of Tasha Tudor, a children’s book illustrator whose nostalgic throwback lifestyle (she lived in a replica of a late 18th-century New England farmhouse)…
Poignant photos by Edward Linley Sambourne of Edwardian women, taken in London and Paris in 1906, captures the Edwardian street style of a forgotten age.
Detail of Judith, 1678, by Eglon Hendrick van der Neer (1634-1703)
One of the best-known Danish Bronze Age burials, the well preserved Egtved Girl was found in a barrow in 1921. Her woolen clothing, hair, and nails were perfectly preserved, but all her bones were missing. Scientists studying the ancient teenager’s remains in 2015 made the surprising discovery that the Egtved Girl traveled great distances before her death, and wasn’t from Denmark at all.
Long before photographers like Bill Cunningham and The Sartorialist were documenting street style, photographer Edward Linley Sambourne captured the Edwardian fashion of the city's affluent Kensington neighborhood.
Long before photographers like Bill Cunningham and The Sartorialist were documenting street style, photographer Edward Linley Sambourne captured the Edwardian fashion of the city's affluent Kensington neighborhood.
Photographer Chris Moore has seen some spectacles in his time. Here, he tells us the most outrageous moments he captured.
I have good reason to be grateful to Edward Linley Sambourne. My original post about his street photography (Street Style 1906) has been the most popular single item on this blog and has brought in…
Long before photographers like Bill Cunningham and The Sartorialist were documenting street style, photographer Edward Linley Sambourne captured the Edwardian fashion of the city's affluent Kensington neighborhood.
. The story of Paul Poiret is one of a working class son, who used his natural charisma to gain entry into some of the most exclusive ateliers in Paris and eventually became one of the twentieth ce…
In the high and late Middle Ages, attractive styles became more available to a new middle class. Clothing styles changed more quickly due to new technology, Eastern influences, and a better economy.
We seem to assume that if our ancestors knew half of the things our generation was getting up to today, they would be rolling over in their graves. But what if those same elders had plenty of secrets of their own? Greek, Pagan and Hindu mythology all have a long history of cross dressing that can…
Au coin de feu, Detail. by Auguste Toulmouche (1878) Oil on canvas
The Emmy winner details Joanna’s shocking exit and how her power plays compare to those of Margaret Thatcher and Eleanor Roosevelt.
It is November! And that means Thanksgiving and also Vernet! November is the last month to finish up the projects for the fashion plate collection, so I am busy tying up loose ends (figuratively and literally!) and am getting pretty excited about everyone's big reveal next month. I will not hide the fact that when I was invited to join in this project I chose what was perhaps the least visually exciting plate. I don't like a lot of fancy details, in general, and gravitate toward severely plain. (Just take a look at my modern wardrobe if you don't believe me. Almost everything is solid black, brown, gray and blue.) But the more I delved into my project the more I realized that there are still some pretty quirky details. I recently finished up my chemisette. I spent a while trying to figure out the hem of the chemisette ruffles. Then a while trying to figure out how to make the ruffles. Plus the chemisette. I've never made one before, because they are too fussy looking for my taste. The "B" 1800-1825 chemisette in Janet Arnold's PoF 1 was pretty helpful in finally clueing me in on how to put this together. I ended up draping a little partial bodice with a 1" stand collar. The ruffles were made and attached separately. There are two ruffles and the edges are vandyked. This seems to have been a popular shape for the edges of ruffles and trimming in the 18-teens. I hemmed them with a small hem. The points on the ruffles were staggered. Then the ruffles were gathered and whipped to a narrow tape as per instructions in PoF 1. This was a very long and tedious process. Finally the ruffles were done and ready to be attached! Here you can see that the ruffle is wider in the center than at the sides. One ruffle was stitched to the top of the neckband, and the other at the bottom of the neckband. Tapes were sewn to the neck to tie closed and run through the hem to tie at the waist. All done. I feel a little ridiculous in it, but it does add to the proper look. The fabric is a fantastic cotton organdy that holds its shape wonderfully, even without starch. I sort of love this fabric! So that's the chemisette. Sarah
Despite their state of decay, the knickers bear more than a passing resemblance to the string bikini briefs popular today, while the bra has the fitted cups and delicate straps of its modern-day counterparts.
Stockholm, Paris, Moscow, Tokyo, Istanbul, London. You’ll find street style blogs for almost every major city. Amateur and professional photographers hang around outside fashion shows or just prowl…
Alva Mac Gowan explores Ireland's traditional woven belt, the Crios. These colourful bands were normally worn with a waistcoat or bástchóta, and home-spun tweed trousers.
The internet has never been a great place for researching fashion history. While I am trying to change that with my own articles, VintageDancer.com is not intended to be a reference library (although I do want to start THAT website someday). What I can do is help guide students and vintage fashion lovers to conduct
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Crafting + Activism = Craftivism, the coolest feminist movement you've never heard of
French postcard ny Editions Cinémagazine, no. 428. Photo: Vilma Banky in The Winning of Barbara Worth (Henry King, 1926), also with Ronald Colman and a young Gary Cooper, who debuted in this film. Hungarian-born silent film star Vilma Bánky (1898-1991) filmed in Budapest, France, Austria, and Germany, before Sam Goldwyn took her to Hollywood. There she starred opposite great silent stars like Rudolph Valentino and Ronald Colman. She became Goldwyn's biggest money maker till sound finished her career. For more postcards, a bio and clips check out our blog European Film Star Postcards or follow us at Tumblr.
Fashion by Balenciaga, 1952.
If, like me, you’ve long admired the 1890s bicycling or sporting sweaters but did not know how to knit, this sewing tutorial and pattern is for you, no knitting required! I wore this sweater …
Here's an awesome collection of Victorian era photographs that blow those excuses away. The photographs date from 1860 to 1901
20 Stunning Vintage Photos Show What Victorian Female Fashion Looked Like - That's why Victorian Era has always been considered the most wonderful fashion.
Many antique linen collectors argue that modern-day linens simply can’t match the fine craftsmanship and quality of antique ones. “The quality of fabric and the needlework produced for vintage and antique textiles is exquisite and unsurpassed by household linens found today,” says Christine Hamm of the Etsy store VintageLinens. “They are elegant and durable and,…Read More
