Lucile – Dressmaker to Fashion Icon

    By | February 26th, 2016|Categories: Fashion, Uncategorized, Women's History|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

    Lucy Grows into Lucile Lucy Christiana Sutherland was born in London in 1841. Her mother moved back to Ontario, Canada, after the death of her father. The family moved to the Isle of Jersey when her mother remarried. Lucy married James Stuart Wallace in 1884 and gave birth to a daughter, Esme, in 1885. The [...]

      Redfern Ltd. – Under Charles Poynter Redfern

      By | February 26th, 2016|Categories: Edwardian Era, Fashion, Uncategorized, Victorian Era|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

      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 [...]

        Jacques Doucet – Great Old Master of Fashion Design

        By | February 19th, 2016|Categories: Edwardian Era, Fashion, Uncategorized, Victorian Era|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

        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 [...]

          John Redfern – the Ladies’ Tailor

          By | February 19th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|

          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 [...]

            World War I Changes Fashion

            By | February 12th, 2016|Categories: Edwardian Era, Fashion, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , |

            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 [...]

              Coco Chanel: a Simple Little Dressmaker

              By | February 5th, 2016|Categories: 1920s fashion, Edwardian Fashion, Fashion, Uncategorized, Women's History|Tags: , , , , |

              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 [...]

                Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of My Fair Lady

                By | February 4th, 2016|Categories: Edwardian Era, Fashion, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

                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 [...]

                  Legends of Fashion – Christian Dior

                  By | January 28th, 2016|Categories: Fashion, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , |

                  by Donna Klein   When we think of Christian Dior today, perfume, makeup, and accessories come to mind, as well as a fashion label that has been successful for nearly 60 years. World War II brought austerity measures to every industry, even fashion. Once the conflict ended, women were ready to shed the masculine look [...]

                  Health Takeaways of the mid-Victorian Era

                  By | January 22nd, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized, Victorian Era|Tags: , , , , |

                  by Donna Klein   It's January once again, bringing with it a plethora of diet and exercise ads. They're everywhere! Health is at the top of many New Year's resolutions. Following through on those resolutions is another story completely, however. I know I'm guilty of it. Are you?   I've been working with my doctor [...]