by Donna Klein Redfern - from John to Charles Three years before John Redfern's death in 1895, his sons took over the the company and changed the name to Redfern Ltd. This seamless transition allowed the fashion house to move forward, mostly through the creative thinking of his son, Charles Poynter Redfern (1853 [...]
by Donna Klein Doucet - a Name in Fashion for Three Generations Jacques Doucet may not be a household name anymore, but he was once one of the most prosperous and well-respected fashion designers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Doucet name had been associated with lingerie and fine linen in Paris [...]
by Donna Klein John Redfern, the Man Born in 1820, John Redfern, was the son of a tailor. His father opened a specialty clothing shop in Cowes, Isle-of-Wight, England, in 1811. John followed in his father's footsteps, opening up a draper's shop in Cowes in 1855. He was in the right place [...]
by Donna Klein At the beginning of World War I, women were still wearing hobble skirts, which allowed for very little freedom of movement. But, as women took to the workforce to fill the void of the men who were off fighting the war, it became evident that the style of the day was [...]
By Donna Klein The Online Etymology Dictionary tells us the word 'corset' comes from the Old French word for 'bodice, 'tunic'. The modern name of corset as a stiff, supporting, and constricting undergarment dates to c. 1795. The first undergarment that is truly considered to be a corset dates to the first half of the [...]
By Donna Klein Coco Chanel - setting trends A contemporary of Paul Poiret, Coco Chanel is also credited with freeing women from corsets, and the unnatural silhouette of the Victorian era. She was way ahead of the curve when it came to setting fashion trends in the 1910s and 1920s. Chanel came from [...]
Get Your Downton Abbey Costume Before The Final Episode Well, we’ve been with these characters for six years. We’ve laughed with them, we’ve cried when they’ve been suddenly killed and removed from the show, we’ve experienced their woes triumphs. And now, after six seasons, our beloved Downton Abbey is coming to a close. While you [...]
by Donna Klein Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of My Fair Lady It's an exciting time for the Rogers City (Michigan) Community Theatre (RCCT). I've been involved with RCCT for more nine years as an actor, director, and techie. The Lerner and Loewe musical, My Fair Lady came up every year as the group [...]
By Donna Klein Paul Poiret was controversial for his time and never quite found his place in the fashion industry. Yet he is remembered as one of the most influential designers of the 20th century and credited for revolutionizing fashion. Let's take a look at his life and notable designs. Seeds of a Fashion Revolution [...]