Halloween Costume Countdown - Day 8
Oct. 8th, 2011 08:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vivienI found a divine bit of Halloween/masquerade costume history.
Fancy dresses described; or, What to wear at fancy balls by Ardern Holt (1887)
Read the whole book online here, compete with the gorgeous illustrations.
If you ever want to dress up as a Queen Bee, Belle of the Racecourse, a Canadian Snow-Wreath, an Oarswoman, or a Golden Hen, this is the reference for you.
Check out these extremely detailed descriptions:
Gloaming, In The: Dress of grey tulle, or muslin, or gauze over satin, made as an ordinary evening dress or in classic fashion; a veil of the same material; fireflies imprisoned in the tulle; bat fastened on one shoulder, an owl on the other; silver and smoked pearl ornaments.
Dutch Fish Wife: Full plain blue skirt, round waist band, 6 or 8 inches deep, red, blue, and white, tied with a ribbon bow in front; short orange bodice, square in front, filled with kerchief, sleeves rolled up, cape of green, lined with rose colour, round neck, reaching below the waist; close-fitting cap with lace lappets, large straw hat over, basket of fish.
Here is one of the illustrations:
Gorgeous. Peruse and share with us which fancy dress strikes your fancy. I'm partial to the description of Ophelia, January, and Magpie.
Fancy dresses described; or, What to wear at fancy balls by Ardern Holt (1887)
Read the whole book online here, compete with the gorgeous illustrations.
If you ever want to dress up as a Queen Bee, Belle of the Racecourse, a Canadian Snow-Wreath, an Oarswoman, or a Golden Hen, this is the reference for you.
Check out these extremely detailed descriptions:
Gloaming, In The: Dress of grey tulle, or muslin, or gauze over satin, made as an ordinary evening dress or in classic fashion; a veil of the same material; fireflies imprisoned in the tulle; bat fastened on one shoulder, an owl on the other; silver and smoked pearl ornaments.
Dutch Fish Wife: Full plain blue skirt, round waist band, 6 or 8 inches deep, red, blue, and white, tied with a ribbon bow in front; short orange bodice, square in front, filled with kerchief, sleeves rolled up, cape of green, lined with rose colour, round neck, reaching below the waist; close-fitting cap with lace lappets, large straw hat over, basket of fish.
Here is one of the illustrations:
Gorgeous. Peruse and share with us which fancy dress strikes your fancy. I'm partial to the description of Ophelia, January, and Magpie.