The most uncomfortable yet beautiful dress I’ve ever worn was for a Jane Austen ball in Pasadena, CA which occurs annually in January. One must practice the English Country dance all year if possible by attending a weekly English Country dance group. I wanted to truly experience what ladies had to wear, the time it took to prepare one’s hair and the effort to climb into all the accoutrements. So, I had a historical dressmaker create the dress of the period and all the underclothes. It took 4 hours to have my hair styled and another few hours to have a friend help me lace up. It’s amazing how after you’ve dressed it doesn’t look like you have 3 or 4 layers under the dress. I had to carry myself differently and once in the assembly room I experienced how hot one got so much so it was difficult for me to enjoy myself dancing. But enjoy I did…. (I would post a photo but I don’t know how on Substack)
When Sophie (then of Wessex) was coming to a charity at which I volunteer, I made a Victorian outfit so that I could impersonate Elizabeth Lind, who gave the land and £15k for the building of Holy Trinity. This is the church building on the Isle of Wight which now houses Aspire Ryde. I was not on the list of people to meet Sophie, the idea was that I would just curtesy to her and disappear. But Sophie detained me, wanting to know about my outfit. It was designed to be worn inside a massive unheated church in October and was really heavy. A few years later, Lady Sally Grylls (Bear’s mum, who lives on the Island), was arranging an event to raise funds for McMillan’s nurses at Albert Cottage on the Osborne Estate. A week beforehand, one of the organisers suggested that it would be nice to have someone dressed as Princess Beatrice (who lived in the Cottage) greet the guests. Sally immediately offered my services, but it was the middle of a heatwave. There was no way I could wear the same outfit, and had to make another in double quick time.
My ancestor was ‘Habit Maker to the Princess of Wales and made Mantua - amongst a whole host of other eighteenth century clothing as advertised on her trade card. The Prince (poor Fred!)and Princess of Wales particularly liked her masquerade costumes!
I’m working on a book about my ancestor who was also a cookery book author - no names here! Your Georgian Courtiers book was on my reading list and very enlightening !
If you’d like to know more - just shout/or type. Women lost in History podcast!!??
I earned my degrees in French History and Literature and always thought the 18th century had to be the most marvelous era. However, when it comes to outfits they were wearing, I am rethinking this....
My two most uncomfortable outfits: Flight attendant uniform worn in the 70s: One style definitely did not fit or suit all. We were under constant scrutiny for bulges, weight gain etc.etc. and wore short skirts, stiletto heels, tight blouse and jacket, all hair pulled up or back, silly little hat balanced on top. This uniform did not allow for any bloating, which often happens in flight, and I was often very miserable and uncomfortable. Fortunately this was just an in- between job after uni. until I moved to the USA with my husband (then to be). Then I married into an Indian family and had to wear a sari for a formal occasion, which was extremely uncomfortable. With my very western , fair complexion and light blond hair, I had to wear said sari in public on the S I Ferry. I look at the photos now and really didn't look so bad, but then I just wanted to die of embarrassment.
Very interesting and entertaining writing on the mantua. I was surprised that the bones of the whale are flexible.
I have had some uncomfortable shoes like when 3 inch wedges were in fashion when I was a teenager. High heeled shoes. The embarrassment of arriving to play in an orchestra late and in the interval discovering I had yoghurt all down the lower part of my long black skirt.
You must have felt a million dollars in the mantua? Once you were in.
You mentioned topics we haven’t discussed yet so what about John? We’re taught that Magna Carta was the first step towards individual rights and that he didn’t want to sign it? How true is that? Was he really as horrid a person as he is made out to be?
Thank you Lucy, fascinating and ?fun?; what ladies have to put up with. My worst have involved work-related outfits: full hazmat suit with been respirator in 28 degrees heat so that you couldn't see for the salty sweat continually running into your eyes and not able to take it off to wipe your face. Self-imposed torment I suppose as I was in theory a 'Volunteer'!
My wedding dress. It was full on big skirt and tie back. I couldn’t lean over or my bust fell out. Going to the toilet took two friends and 20 minutes. I also made the mistake of having a train that was bustled. The weight on the backend left me exhausted. It was sure pretty but can’t imagine more layers.
The most uncomfortable yet beautiful dress I’ve ever worn was for a Jane Austen ball in Pasadena, CA which occurs annually in January. One must practice the English Country dance all year if possible by attending a weekly English Country dance group. I wanted to truly experience what ladies had to wear, the time it took to prepare one’s hair and the effort to climb into all the accoutrements. So, I had a historical dressmaker create the dress of the period and all the underclothes. It took 4 hours to have my hair styled and another few hours to have a friend help me lace up. It’s amazing how after you’ve dressed it doesn’t look like you have 3 or 4 layers under the dress. I had to carry myself differently and once in the assembly room I experienced how hot one got so much so it was difficult for me to enjoy myself dancing. But enjoy I did…. (I would post a photo but I don’t know how on Substack)
When Sophie (then of Wessex) was coming to a charity at which I volunteer, I made a Victorian outfit so that I could impersonate Elizabeth Lind, who gave the land and £15k for the building of Holy Trinity. This is the church building on the Isle of Wight which now houses Aspire Ryde. I was not on the list of people to meet Sophie, the idea was that I would just curtesy to her and disappear. But Sophie detained me, wanting to know about my outfit. It was designed to be worn inside a massive unheated church in October and was really heavy. A few years later, Lady Sally Grylls (Bear’s mum, who lives on the Island), was arranging an event to raise funds for McMillan’s nurses at Albert Cottage on the Osborne Estate. A week beforehand, one of the organisers suggested that it would be nice to have someone dressed as Princess Beatrice (who lived in the Cottage) greet the guests. Sally immediately offered my services, but it was the middle of a heatwave. There was no way I could wear the same outfit, and had to make another in double quick time.
This is BEYOND THE CALL!
My ancestor was ‘Habit Maker to the Princess of Wales and made Mantua - amongst a whole host of other eighteenth century clothing as advertised on her trade card. The Prince (poor Fred!)and Princess of Wales particularly liked her masquerade costumes!
I’m working on a book about my ancestor who was also a cookery book author - no names here! Your Georgian Courtiers book was on my reading list and very enlightening !
If you’d like to know more - just shout/or type. Women lost in History podcast!!??
Wow - amazing! I loved the old masquerade display at the Museum of London, wonder if they’ll do anything like it at their new site.
I earned my degrees in French History and Literature and always thought the 18th century had to be the most marvelous era. However, when it comes to outfits they were wearing, I am rethinking this....
My two most uncomfortable outfits: Flight attendant uniform worn in the 70s: One style definitely did not fit or suit all. We were under constant scrutiny for bulges, weight gain etc.etc. and wore short skirts, stiletto heels, tight blouse and jacket, all hair pulled up or back, silly little hat balanced on top. This uniform did not allow for any bloating, which often happens in flight, and I was often very miserable and uncomfortable. Fortunately this was just an in- between job after uni. until I moved to the USA with my husband (then to be). Then I married into an Indian family and had to wear a sari for a formal occasion, which was extremely uncomfortable. With my very western , fair complexion and light blond hair, I had to wear said sari in public on the S I Ferry. I look at the photos now and really didn't look so bad, but then I just wanted to die of embarrassment.
I feel for you! But I also revel in the glamour of 1950s and 60s flight attendant looks you see in adverts.
Very interesting and entertaining writing on the mantua. I was surprised that the bones of the whale are flexible.
I have had some uncomfortable shoes like when 3 inch wedges were in fashion when I was a teenager. High heeled shoes. The embarrassment of arriving to play in an orchestra late and in the interval discovering I had yoghurt all down the lower part of my long black skirt.
You must have felt a million dollars in the mantua? Once you were in.
I wonder with these old style costumes if they used to wear more layers in the winter than the summer?
You mentioned topics we haven’t discussed yet so what about John? We’re taught that Magna Carta was the first step towards individual rights and that he didn’t want to sign it? How true is that? Was he really as horrid a person as he is made out to be?
Thank you Lucy, fascinating and ?fun?; what ladies have to put up with. My worst have involved work-related outfits: full hazmat suit with been respirator in 28 degrees heat so that you couldn't see for the salty sweat continually running into your eyes and not able to take it off to wipe your face. Self-imposed torment I suppose as I was in theory a 'Volunteer'!
Informative. 🌹❤️🌹
My wedding dress. It was full on big skirt and tie back. I couldn’t lean over or my bust fell out. Going to the toilet took two friends and 20 minutes. I also made the mistake of having a train that was bustled. The weight on the backend left me exhausted. It was sure pretty but can’t imagine more layers.
Whale bone. Silver thread.Yards of material. How much would all of this weigh?
Technical answer here - A LOT!
“A LOT” I always knew the metric system is precise, but…wow.