This is one of my favorites. These ladies are advertising a hardware store by wearing a bunch of stuff from the store on their dresses. Check out the belt of keys and tell me this isn't an awesome steampunk outfit! (Source)
This is Dolly Shepard, Edwardian parachutist, aerial performer, and balloonist. This is the outfit she wore for parachuting, c. 1910. I love this outfit. Perfect for climbing ropes around balloons...or airships. (Source.)
There are lots of great photos of Victorian/ Edwardian women in versions of military dress. I chose this one because I love how feminine her outfit it, while also being very military. Also she's really pretty. This is actress Jean Aylwin in military inspired costume, possibly for 'The Girls of Gottenburg' c, 1907. (Source.)
This is a fashion plate for a fancy dress outfit. The woman is portraying "A Dirigible." Seriously, it's a dirigible costume. My first reaction when I saw this was: "OMG, I might have to make this." (Source.)
This is a photo of a Cantinière in the Crimean War in 1855. These women were usually wives of soldiers and they brought food and water to soldiers on the battlefield. I did a little research on their outfits. They did typically wear a feminized version of a uniform, usually with short skirt over trousers. I adore this particular one. (Source.)
This is a photo of a German ice skater from the 1910s. I think it pretty much speaks for itself. (Source.)
Finally we have one of my favorite mystery outfits. I have no idea what this is, why this woman is posed with huge scissors, what that thing on her head is, or why she's dressed that way. But I LOVE it. Is this a fancy dress costume? If so, what is she meant to represent? A military barber? Is this similar to the hardware store outfits at the top in that she is promoting a company? Do they make scissors? We will probably never know, but I'd love to hear your theories. (Source.)
Sadly, despite my best efforts, I wasn't able to come up with much for the scissors photo. However, I did find a bit more info than the Tumblr link provides - namely, this was up for auction and the back lists the name of "T. Vaughn" for the model. Probably an actress.
ReplyDeleteListing is here: http://entertainment-memorabilia.bidstart.com/NAPOLEON-SARONY-T-VAUGHN-Cabinet-Card-c1880-ACTRESS-/9430629/a.html
Thanks for the great info! Yeah, you're right that she's probably an actress or other stage performer, with that outfit.
DeleteMy guess about the scissors woman is that she was the person of honor at the ribbon cutting ceremony of something or other opening. Enlarging the photo didn't show me any clues, sadly.
ReplyDeleteYes, a ribbon-cutting ceremony is very plausible. But what is that on her head? That's what REALLY trips me up. :)
DeleteWhat type of jacket is on the balloonist/parachuting woman? Is there a pattern for this? Id love to do that with a corset in the middle instead of the flat piece.
ReplyDeleteBtw im new to steampunk and ur site has been a huge help
I don't know if there's a name for that style. If I were going to do it with a corset, I'd try to find a jacket that's close and modify it by turning back the fronts to leave room for the corset to show.
DeleteThis might be somewhat similar: Edwardian Walking Jacket Pattern
Did a quick search for the mystery outfit. The photo was taken by the most famous portrait photographer in America, Napoleon Sarony. The address shown is an erroneous one, apparently it was a common error, his studio was at 37 Union Square, not 87. He famously photographed Oscar Wilde and a host of other celebrities of the day. The photo is of "T. Vaughn", an 1880's actress, so this is probably a costume for a show. There is not further information on the subject, but Sarony's photos are a treasure of interesting images. One session with Oscar Wilde makes him look like Tom Baker as Dr. Who! lol
ReplyDelete