victorianera

I had this Regency Ballgown made for a large Napoleonic event in Maryland years ago, which was supposed to be a cotton day dress made in my measurements, but was sent this dress by a UK costumer as a mistake. I honestly don't know where I can advertise the sale of it, it's my eBay auction listing, and I will have one or two more Regency War of 1812 Reenactment pieces for sale (most are gone already) under that eBay username in the near future.
I hope this is ok, if not, please forgive the posting,

Have this absolutely amazing dress up for auction, completely forgot to mention it on LJ till today.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280708324821&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT
Above link takes you to eBay auction listing.

Listing ends in about 4 hours. OOAK Regency Ballgown or Bridal Gown. Size is fairly open, L-XXL.
Normally a custom made dress of this period with this much detail and fabric would run $300-$400, but the seamstress goofed the measurements and sold it to me with several small barely visible snags and one or two dot sized marks that need to be soap & watered-off... I've never worn the dress because the mistake in measurements, so it's brand new, and would be perfect for period events involving weekends outdoors, camping, or travel, as it's not a dress you have to worry about ruining. It's a pretty sturdy design, incredibly easy to wash, and as long as the beads are treated kindly, should have a very long life in it! The high gloss and the movement of the dress conceal most flaws, however, if you need something absolutely flawless, please don't bid. With a Spencer Jacket and sash, most flaws vanish.

OOAK custom made REGENCY BALLGOWN, REGENCY EVENING DRESS, OR PERIOD/COSTUME BRIDAL GOWN.

(Dress colour is a deep glossy white, not yellow in any way - some photos have off lighting).
The dress would also be perfect as a bridal gown. Please please please check the measurements and read about the tiny flaws before bidding. This is not a perfect, flawless gown, as stated above, it would be in the hundreds, if so! Flaws are all mostly invisible except for lower front as seen in photos.
*MORE PHOTOS AND INFO AFTER CUT*
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Snags:two in front of fabric(one near empire seam, one lower portion), one on arm, one in back on left side, and a couple almost invisible little places where a dot sized pull exists. One bead in back is still on threading but needs to be reattached to collar.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280708324821&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT
Above link takes you to eBay.

Found some wonderful Picture and want to share with you











Hope uou like it.

Although I am not a big wedding person, this book was delightful.  The focus is not exclusively Victorian, but the influence of their marriage customs is felt throughout, and the images are marvellous.



(may be purchased here : http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/search_items.asp )

Royal Weddings – Emily Brand

 

“A monarchy whose authority lies in its antiquity cannot be disentangled from the traditions that it inherits. The rituals and symbols springing from allegories of love, political gesture or simple personal preference have become traditions that have passed down the generations.”

          

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ETA: It is Strawbridge & Clothier, not Straubridge. Because a life lived in Pennsylvania Dutch Country will make you see an "au" vowel combination in everything.

I came across this catalog some months ago at a yard sale, mixed in with a mess of crochet patterns and calligraphy books and assorted other things that I snatched up as if I had been turned loose at a chocolate buffet. I can't figure out exactly what year the catalog dates from - unfortunately, the cover was missing but the entire 80-something pages appear to be intact.

There was some wear on several pages, some stains, tears, folds, etc. that I am in the process of repairing manually and through the magic of photoshop. I'd like to put it all together into a .pdf when I'm finished, but I think that might take me the rest of the weekend, and that's if I really don't spend time on much else over the next few days.

The catalog starts off with women's clothing, then children's, men's clothing, accessories, and plus another twenty pages or so near the end for furniture and other household accessories (everything from Japanese mattings to wire potato mashers... I kid you not).

The prices are insane to read, by today's standards. I think it really drives home all of those stories that our parents and grandparents would tell us about the price of a cup of coffee and a loaf of bread and how much they spent on their first car (like... $1.50 for a corset. $1.50. It... boggles the mind. (I know, I know. Inflation. Cost of living. Etc. But still.)

If anyone can clue me in to the exact year, I'd be thrilled. I'm going to try and do some research this afternoon and see if I can figure out when it came from, but even if I can't, it's still an amazing thing to search through.

( Moar better, bigger pics )

This weather is making me want to get away :



You find your armchair travel here :  http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/victorian/the-victorians-and-edwardians-on-the-move-john-hannavy-shisli620-detail.htm

The Victorians and Edwardians on the Move – John Hannavy

 

“When the railways were introduced, scare stories suggested that traveling to fast in trains would cause breathing difficulties – a speed of 30 mph was even suggested as the maximum the human frame could withstand!”

 

         

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The 'Grand Closet Sale' of the last of the 'Goth' stuff from my closet has now been put up on to the VG website. Many bargains to be had from 50p! A link on the homepage of the website takes you to the sales. http://www.victorian-gothic.co.uk/ Postage is llisted for the UK, but please message me via contact @victorian-gothic.co.uk if you live outside of the UK for postage. A new era for me with many changes, all for the good I hope!

Also a Victorian prayer desk and a mourning brooch and some VG things in the usual SALE section of the website. A link on the homepage or through LADIES-SALE, GENTLEMEN-SALE

The Victorian Gothic prayer desk is also listed on ebay at http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320638546616&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Thank you for your time.

Happy New Year

I have been trying to renew my fondness for Christmas by learning more about its history.  This book - and one about the history of fake Christmas trees - have been the two most interesting and entertaining.



(found here - http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/games-and-entertainments/discovering-christmas-customs-and-folklore-srpsdi032-detail.htm )

Discovering Christmas Folklore and Traditions – Margaret Baker

 “The Church realized that it could never suppress immemorial pagan customs…even after two thousand years seams in the patchwork still show.”

         Wonderfully illustrated with 19^th Century woodcuts and 20^th Century photographs, and divided into chapters with names like “The Christmas Feast,” and “Games and Amusements,” Baker’s tiny volume is a perfect starter for anyone wanting to bring a touch of history to their celebration.

         Unlike most Shire titles, Discovering Christmas has a more international, or at least European, flavor, rather than strictly British. But since many British and US holiday customs come from the continent – particularly Germany during the Victorian period – this is not so surprising.

         As with so many parts of Victorian life, Christmas could be as morbid as it was splendid.

        

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I think every time I've posted in here, it was about boots....

http://www.endless.com/dp/B003VR7S3G/176-9841954-8192155?ie=UTF8&creative=395033&linkCode=asn&tag=endlesscj-20&suppressRedirect=1&creativeASIN=B003VR7S3G

Sorry for only posting the link, I couldn't steal the picture.

One of the things that made the Victorian era what is was were the exhibitions that stirred the imagination of the public.  There is an excellent new book on them :



Can be purchased here :  http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/art/great-exhibitions-from-the-crystal-palace-to-the-dome-trevor-may-srpsli495-detail.htm

GREAT EXHIBITIONS – Trevor May

 

“On 1 May, over half a million people crowded into Hyde Park, London, as Queen Victoria drove by in a carriage to the recently erected Crystal Palace…The Great Exhibition, said Benjamin Disraeli, leader of the Protectionist Wing of the Conservative Party, was ‘a godsend to the Government…diverting public attention from their blunders.’”

            

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(can be purchased here : http://crimsonbooksinc.storesecured.com/items/book-publishers/shire/victorian/list.htm )

THE VICTORIAN PUBLIC SCHOOL – Trevor May

 

            “Some people…find it confusing that the most exclusive private schools should be described as public.”

             While many of the great public schools date back centuries (King’s School Canterbury is older than England itself), their existence as we recognize it date to the Clarendon School Commission of 1864, prior to which they were charitable institutions. Primarily started to give a free education to boys in their communities, in some cases they gained such a reputation, usually due to certain masters, wealthy families we allowed to pay to send their sons to these schools.

            

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