In the latter part of 2017 Brighton Historical Society was thrilled to receive a Local History Grant from the Public Records Office Victoria. The project is to catalogue a substantial selection of the most important pieces of its costume collection onto Museums Victoria’s Victorian Collections data base. Laura Jocic and I are honoured and, Read More
There is something special about family heirlooms that has nothing to do with monetary value. Somehow in knowing that one of your forbearers wore and valued an item of jewellery it gives you a connection to the past that is quite special. Jewellery is an especially personal item and pearls have been a valued, Read More
I am ashamed to admit I bought this sweet little purse ages ago. No I really mean ages… I am pretty sure it was in the late 80’s early 90’s. It was in this state at the time and I bought it intending to refurbish its vintage goodness. Ah well, time has ticked on, 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