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 [...]
The mountain air is crisp in the early October morning and we can see our own breath as we make our way into the historic train station in Durango, Colorado. Today we (about 200 Victorian-clad time travelers) will board a special run of the Durango and Silverton railroad as one of the events during the [...]
For most of us, the book, and then the movie “Gone With the Wind” has fixed forever in our minds an image of the South that is far removed from the grim reality of the terrible consequences of those years from 1861 to 1865. According to Wikipedia, the Civil War remains the deadliest war in [...]
As part of the upcoming Durango Heritage Celebration this October, we have just received formal invitations to attend a Grand Victorian Ball. The theme of the ball will be "150 Years: Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War." Although all forms of Victorian and Edwardian dress will be permitted, I suspect [...]
Bustiers and corsets are common historical undergarments that pair well with Victorian and Edwardian dresses. While the terms are sometimes used synonymously, in reality, they are two completely different undergarments used for different reasons. Dressing for a historic event? Check out our complete guide: Preparing for an Edwardian-themed event. Corsets The bustier and the corset [...]
When you hear that Nancy Perzo and Karen Patton are known as “The Tea Ladies”, and that they preside over tea events at a lovely historic mansion, it might be easy to assume that they are living a life of ease and indulgence; but you would be sadly mistaken. With all of the varied programs [...]
When my husband and I moved to the relatively small town of Prescott Arizona several years ago, I never dreamed that I would soon be spending all my time (and a great deal of money) in an effort to look as though I lived in the late 1800’s. For my husband, the transition was fairly [...]
Many of us tend to think “Victorian” whenever we see certain floral prints, or a vintage-looking Valentines card. However, when applying the term to clothing we must follow a very specific set of guidelines. The “Victorian period” of history coincides with the ascension and reign of Queen Victoria from 1870 to 1900. Young and lovely, [...]