Oh, what fun it is to sit down with a good period drama. Downton Abbey, Somewhere in Time, My Fair Lady, Hello Dolly, Anna Karenina, etc. all provide glimpses into what was worn during their respective time periods. But, what about contemporary cinema of the day? When film was a new medium, many contemporary movies [...]
Edwardian fashion is a fun time from fashion history as there was such a drastic evolution in women’s clothing. Movies set in the Edwardian era are often so much fun to watch as the clothing changes are combined with advancements in women’s rights and roles in society. Here are five of our favorites, beginning with [...]
As the 20th century unfolded and the Edwardian era began, fashion was changing and so was the image of the 'ideal woman.' There are many attractive women from the era who thoroughly represented the vision of Edwardian beauty. We've touched on the lives of Evelyn Nesbit and Lily Elsie, two of the most beautiful and [...]
I don't know about you, but I have been enamored with the movie 'Somewhere in Time' since I first saw it. I was already a huge fan of Christopher Reeve (oh, that Superman!). His piercing blue eyes could melt almost every girl's heart! Jane Seymour, a relative unknown at the time, was so beautiful as [...]
The tea gown is the epitome of the charm of the late 19th century and early 20th century. Originally meant as a pretty, fashionable, and comfortable garment to wear at home, it grew into a fashion staple that is still loved today. An 1883 article on hygienic dress describes how indispensable the garment had become. [...]
by Donna Klein The Musical Beauty of My Fair Lady Being a part of the cast and crew of this musical has been a been a fun and educational experience, but the most fun is dressing the part. Whether we're flower girls, opera or Ascot patrons, servants, ball attendees, or Alfred P. Doolittle's cronies, we're [...]
by Donna Klein Celebrate 60 Years of the Musical, My Fair Lady This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Broadway debut of My Fair Lady, Lerner and Loewe's Tony Award-winning musical. This blog and the one following talks about My Fair Lady and what its like to be in the cast as preparations [...]
by Donna Klein Little Elsie - talent and beauty Lily Elsie came into this world as Elsie Hodder on April 8, 1886. Her mother was Charlotte Elizabeth Hodder, a dressmaker who operated a lodging house in Armley. Leeds, Yorkshire. Less is known about her father, although the obituary of Arthur Borrows, a one-time opera tenor, [...]
by Donna Klein How Charles Gibson created the Ideal Woman Women were in the forefront of societal change during the last decade of the 19th century. The woman of the 1890s was athletic, independent, and educated (thanks to recent access to higher education). She was on the cusp; coming into her own. Some women [...]