There have been so many clever, insightful things said about dress… Here are just a few… “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.” ~ Mark Twain, quoted in More Maxims of Mark, Johnson, 1927 “It is an interesting question how far men would retain their relative rank if, Read More
It’s Terminology Tuesday again and this week in the spotlight is… the Annette Kellerman swimsuit… You might have heard of her? Hopefully you have. I definitely had but was still amazed to learn of the extent of the influence she had on the lives we now live. Annette Kellerman (originally Kellermann), (1887 – 1975) was, Read More
It’s Terminology Tuesday again and this week in the spotlight is… the Sauna Suit Don’t you just love the innovations we meagre human being’s come up with? Anything to lose a kilo or two with the minimum of effort. Such a lazy bunch. “sauna suit: an exercise suit made of soft flexible vinyl in, Read More
It’s Terminology Tuesday again and this week in the spotlight is… Amazon… In fashion terms; Amazon adj. attached to the names of certain items of women’s fashionable apparel as a descriptor. The Amazons were a legendary (potentially mythical) race of warlike women from the time and region of the ancient Greeks. Scholars have many, Read More
It’s Terminology Tuesday again and this week in the spotlight is… Aesthetic Dress Pardon? I hear you say…. Is not all dress aesthetic? Dependant upon the eye of the beholder? So we have found a truly curious fashion term. “aesthetic: adj. 1. of aesthetics 2. sensitive to art and beauty;artistic aesthetics: n.pl the study or, Read More
Something quick and cute this week. It caught my eye when putting together my last post on jodhpurs…. It’s Rationals A popular name for full, pleated, serge* bloomers or knickerbockers worn by women for bicycling in the 1890’s. The name rationals comes from the political movement of the time that advocated a more rational, Read More
It’s Terminology Tuesday again and this week in the spotlight is… Jodhpurs! Pronounced “jod’poors”. Riding pants, with a drop front or zipper closing, that flare at the thighs and have narrow, straight cut legs below the knee with cuffs at the ankles. Prior to the invention of stretch fabrics this design allowed for ease, Read More
It’s Terminology Tuesday again and this week in the spotlight is… Gaiters, Spats and Spatterdashes! Check out these! Aren’t they just gorgeous! It’s a crying shame that Les Frivolites appears to have stopped making them. Perhaps someone knows more? I so badly want some. Might need to get handy with my leather stock. photo, Read More
Do you know your Derby’s from your Oxfords? Or you Boater from your Breton? Or in fact your plaid from your tartan? There is so much fashion terminology that we hear bandied about and it can get quite befuddling. In the interest of…………….. well… interest, and clarity in moments of discourse regarding costume, I hereby, Read More