Summertime always seems to be the time to travel, and several of us at Recollections have had some less-than-fun experiences with trying to pack Civil War or Victorian outfits, and arrive with them still in wearable condition. We invite you to share your own experiences with us. What has worked well for you, and what [...]
Oh! Those Roaring 20’s! The older generation must have been convinced that the world was rushing down the road to perdition, as their daughters took full advantage of newfound freedoms. This was the age of jazz, women’s liberation, and a sudden loosening – indeed smashing - of the rules of society that were iron-clad only [...]
It is so easy to fall in love with a beautiful romantic outfit. We memorize the lovely description, order our new ensemble, but tend to ignore the trailing text that says something like, “Our model is also wearing a hat, gloves, and boots.” Then when we put on our new clothing for the first time, [...]
How often have you poured over the lovely clothing on the Recollections site and while admiring a particular romantic item had the thought, “Where would I ever wear it?” intrude and spoil your enjoyment? We have all done that, but some – who just adore wearing these beautiful clothes – have overcome this question by [...]
We don’t have much material written about pregnancy in Victorian times, as the topic was strictly off-limits. It was illegal to publish information about birth control. In the literature of the day, authors were masters at “producing” a child without any mention of the pregnancy which must certainly have preceded the event. Still, women in [...]
With 2012 marking the 100th anniversary of the voyage of the Titanic, several cruise lines have scheduled memorial voyages to commemorate this event. Other venues are also planning special activities as well. For example, the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island will be having a “Titanic at the Grand” event, May 4th -6th. Events will include [...]
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, which went down on April 14th, 1912. No other maritime disaster has captured the public’s attention like this one. The story of her sinking continues to be the subject of stage, cinema and literature. While this may well be the greatest maritime [...]
“And visions of sugarplums danced in their heads..” Have you ever wondered what a sugarplum was? In Victorian times these candied fruits were a traditional Christmas treat. We found a recipe on the “Earthbound Farm” website , and thought you might like to try it. Please keep in mind that these need to “mellow” for about [...]
One of the more delightful rituals Victorians practiced was the art of making social calls. In a time when the telephone was not in common use, social calls were a way to keep in touch, especially if one was interested in climbing the social ladder. An integral part of visiting was the use of the [...]