Yes, there are photo sources that show people costumed in what we would consider bad 18th century costume, especially the women. There was a great interest in American history at this time, and it probably helped spur the restoration of Williamsburg to its colonial roots.
Cindy Abel -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Katy Bishop Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 7:45 AM To: Historical Costume Subject: Re: [h-cost] 1867 Washington DC Fashion question Years ago I came across a costume in an antique store, a pitiful little cheap cotton dress, looking like 1920s or 1930s cloth and basic design, done in pseudo-18th century style. The makers label said it was a George Washington bicentennial dress. I have since regretted not having bought it..... Katy On Feb 5, 2008 4:59 PM, Janet Newton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > How about a ball in honor of George Washington's birthday - > > The original version of the holiday was in commemoration of George > Washington's birthday in 1796 (the last full year of his presidency). > Washington, according to the calendar that has been used since at > least the mid-18th century, was born on February 22, 1732. According > to the old style calendar in use back then, however, he was born on > February 11. At least in 1796, many Americans celebrated his birthday > on the 22nd while others marked the occasion on the 11th instead. > > By the early 19th century, Washington's Birthday had taken firm root > in the American experience as a bona fide national holiday. Its > traditions included Birthnight Balls in various regions, speeches and > receptions given by prominent public figures, and a lot of revelry in > taverns throughout the land. Then along came Abraham Lincoln, another > revered president and fellow February baby (born on the 12th of the > month). The first formal observance of his birthday took place in > 1865, the year after his assassination, when both houses of Congress > gathered for a memorial address. While Lincoln's Birthday did not > become a federal holiday like George Washington's, it did become a legal holiday in several states. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Agnes Gawne" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <h-costume@mail.indra.com> > Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 1:03 PM > Subject: [h-cost] 1867 Washington DC Fashion question > > > > > My brother sent me a question about fashion in 1867 - specifically > > regarding a ball in Washington DC. Do any of you have any idea why > > an > > 1867 woman would powder her hair or wear a blue ribbon around her neck? > > > > Here is the original quote. It's taken from the letters of John Hay. > > He was Abraham Lincoln's private secretary all during the Lincoln > > administration and then got sent to France as a diplomatic attache > > during the Johnson administration. He wrote about the ball in DC in > > February > > 1867 when he'd just returned from Paris. > > > > begin quote: > > "February 11. Mrs. Sprague gave a beautiful ball. The ladies who > > danced the Cotillon, and many who did not, had their hair powdered a > > la marquise. I have never seen so beautiful and picturesque a > > roomful. Some of the most striking were the Hostess herself (with > > whom I danced), the Hoyts, Miss Romain Goddard, Miss Haggerty, and > > Mrs. Banks, who was very correctly dressed, even to the extend of > > the blue ribbon around the neck, a little refinement in which she > > was alone -- Miss Kinzie, a fresh Western beauty and a superb danseuse. > > Mrs. Sumner and Miss Hooper, though not powdered, were beautifully > > dressed." > > :end quote > > > > I have my theories but I don't want to influence any of your answers > > as they are just theories. > > > > Thanks, > > Agnes > > _______________________________________________ > > h-costume mailing list > > h-costume@mail.indra.com > > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > h-costume mailing list > h-costume@mail.indra.com > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume > -- Katy Bishop, Vintage Victorian [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.VintageVictorian.com Custom reproduction gowns of the Victorian Era. Publisher of the Vintage Dress Series books. _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
