About Janice Formichella

Hi! I'm Janice, a content creator and lover of history currently residing in Denver, Colorado. I have been interested in in the history of how women lived in the past and of women's stories since before I can remember. I am especially interested in stories of women from the 19th century frontier. It's amazing to me that I get to write blog posts about my favorite topic!

Four fashion icons and the history of lipstick

By | September 5th, 2023|Categories: 1920s fashion, 1950s Fashions, 1950s fun, Fashion, Fashion history, Victorian culture, Women's History|Tags: , |

I love to wear lipstick and do so almost every day. Occasionally I notice that in casual settings I am the only woman doing so, but there is something about it that makes me feel like “me.” Coloring one’s lips has a history that goes back thousands of years, with it signifying different meanings entirely [...]

August history news roundup

By | August 30th, 2023|Categories: History News|

It was a slow month for history news, but a good one. If you are looking for some good Labor Day reading, Recollections has you covered. Some highlights:  -Five statue designs of Harriet Tubman -Pineapple as a status symbol -The “modern Victorian” design trend Happy reading!  August history news JSTOR: The Fungi-Mad Ladies of Long [...]

The Golden Age of Paper Dolls

By | August 24th, 2023|Categories: 1950s fun, History of the home|

It would be hard to imagine children playing with paper dolls today, but there was an era when they were collected and well-loved. There was a window of time when paper dolls were all the rage, right before they would be replaced by the Queen Bee of all dolls to this day, Ms. Barbie herself. [...]

Edwardian women in black and white

By | August 19th, 2023|Categories: Edwardian Era, Fashion history, Women's History|

I am a fan of Edward Linley Sambourne and I didn’t even know it!  During my time as a women’s history researcher and blogger, I have used Sambourne’s photography multiple times, never realizing the source. I think because photography was emerging as such a popular medium during the Edwardian era I assumed that the plethora [...]

What's a woman's wallet, really?

By | August 15th, 2023|Categories: 1950s Fashions, Accessories, Edwardian Era, Fashion history|Tags: |

“Keys, phone, wallet…” like many of you this is my leaving-the-house mantra. I also almost never leave the house without my sunglasses, but I typically have those already on my body before I repeat the mantra. Like sunglasses; phones and wallets are things women have carried with them for less than a hundred years. When [...]

Ribbon corsets

By | August 10th, 2023|Categories: Edwardian Era, Fashion history, Underpinnings|Tags: , |

In my recent post about Victorian summer dresses, I came across photos of ventilated corsets; corsets made of ribbon or strips of fabric connecting the boning and ties. At first, I thought that they may have been a new summer-friendly invention of the late Victorian era but I came to learn that ribbon corsets were [...]

All about August

By | August 5th, 2023|Categories: Victorian Era|

Happy August! This time of year just flies by so fast. It’s probably because of all of the extra activity and leaving the house so much. I always like to make sure that I take advantage as the winter sure finds me keeping the company of my apartment so much more.  August is the time [...]

The women of the 2024 quarters

By | August 3rd, 2023|Categories: History News, Women's History|

A couple of weeks ago the U.S. Mint announced that in 2024 it will be releasing five new quarters featuring five new American women. I don’t know about you, but I am excited to start a collection of women’s history coins. To add to the excitement I thought it would be fun to take a [...]

July History News Roundup

By | July 30th, 2023|Categories: History News|

History news and new research doesn’t stop for summer! July was full of really neat stories that I am excited to share with you!  Some highlights:  Five new quarters announced for 2024 – featuring five different American women. Forgotten Victorian slang The surprising history of pink lemonade Enjoy this month’s conversation starters!  Smithsonian Magazine: See the Face [...]