Wigs were an important accessory for men and a few women.
Zippers were not invented until the middle of the 19th century and were not widely sold or used until the early 20th century.
And for the functional purpose of fastening clothing on the body, men wore plenty of specialized buckles and buttons, not only for status and decoration. Gown styles changed dramatically right after the 18th century. While spurring the fashion for handbags, called reticules, slim lines made it less practical to wear pockets under the skirts. Newly fashionable shawls added warmth to relatively thin garments.
Waistlines rose to just under the bust, textiles were soft and drapey, and skirts fell close to the body. They also enhanced the elegant lines and classical appearance of clothing inspired in part by Greek and Roman art. Close fitting under caps of undecorated whitish linen or cotton often lined more elaborate caps decorated with lace edging, ribbon, Hollie point insertions, or silk and metallic embroidery. Caps were considered indispensable accessories for all children. Nonetheless, buttons sometimes featured a heraldic crest. Some work clothing was more symbolic than practical. Suits were usually created out of wool in two colors depending on the master’s coat of arms and were embellished with elaborate woven edgings called livery lace.
Visible male servants just like waiters and footmen were often required to wear elaborate livery uniforms. In Virginia, prominent men similar to Royal Governor Botetourt, Robert Carter, Landon Carter, and George Washington all had liveried servants. The tabs typically had worked buttonholes that lined up with the knobs or prongs of a removable metal stock buckle. Stocks were gathered or pleated to tabs that buckled or tied at the back of the neck. On top of that, for dressy and formal occasions, men wore strips of fine almost white linen or cotton around their necks. Anyways, stock buckles can be identified for a while one side for slipping onto the stock’s tab. Instead, women carried small items in separate, commodious bags tied around their waists beneath their skirts or aprons. Whenever floating skirts, in the 18th century, women’s gowns did not have sewn in pockets, for ages being that pockets for awhileings will have ruined the lines of full.
Through centuries past and into the present, accessories are put to practical and fashionable use. From head to toe, people have worn hats, kerchiefs, shawls, gloves, ruffles, aprons, purses, wallets, and jewelry and shoes as part of their ensembles. During a number of the 18th century, fancy, colorful clothing signaled formality, not femininity. Gender distinction had nothing to do with the color of the garment or the use of flowers, silk, or delicate fabrics. Males of all ages wore sequins, lace, and embroidery. Eighteenth century gowns with front closures and low necklines were easily shifted aside or opened for nursing. During this time, family and friends came to visit the mother and new baby. Usually, rarely, therefore this for a while period was shortened to as little as two weeks or even ten days. Most women nursed their children about a year following birth. I’m sure it sounds familiar. Throughout the majority of the 18th and early 19th centuries, women adhered to the practice of lying in, or remaining in the bedchamber, for about a month following delivery. Women lying in wore shortened versions of shifts, loose bed gowns, and petticoats with wide waistbands intended to support the abdomen. Did you know that the persistence of oldfashioned design elements in formal clothing is called fossilization.
Men wore embroidered suits with knee breeches for any longer after breeches for awhile pants for daytime wear.
Formal clothing retained for awhile after such designs had gone out of style for daily wear.
Gowns were made with wide hoopskirts half a century after side hoops had gone out of fashion for general wear. People of the past wore glittering accessories for beauty, fashion, and status. Keep reading! Gold, and precious stones, plenty of others owned accessories that achieved a brilliant effect less expensively, with substitutes like paste, a hard type and brilliant glass stone, colored enamels, and metal coated with a thin layer of gilding, rather than solid gold, some people wore items made with genuine silver.
Gold and silver threads were usually constructed of thin strips of the metal wrapped around a core of silk or linen.
Calash bonnets stiffened with whalebone or reed hoops to keep from the bonnet from flattening the hair returned to fashion.
The wide sleeves served as a broad palette for displaying beautifully embroidered whitish collars or capes, called pelerines. After that, narrowed sharply toward the wrists, from the mid 1820s to the late 1830s, for any longer sleeves that were very full and wide at the shoulders. Of course, gentlemen wore almost white stocks around their necks and shirts with delicate ruffles at the front and on the cuffs. Besides, in an era when laundry was done by hand and textiles had to be ironed without the benefit of electricity, snowy whitish accessories were signs of gentility and status.
Ladies accessorized their clothing with pristine sleeve ruffles, fine linen or cotton kerchiefs around their shoulders, and elaborately embroidered ‘white on white’ aprons that were never intended for cooking or working.
They’ve been intended to enhance the person served, not the person wearing the livery, livery suits are elegant in appearance.
The symbolism of the uniforms worn by footmen, waiters, and carriage drivers was obvious to contemporaries. Some stylish women were the first to wear neoclassically inspired almost white cotton dresses during this period. From the late 1770s to the early 1790s, women’s fashion called for hair frizzed out in wide, tall styles with corresponding large caps and hats, sheer kerchiefs puffed up at the chest, and full skirts held out at the back by rump pads. The entire effect was one of overblown fullness yet with a feeling for awhile being that lightweight textiles had come into fashion. Eventually, men’s embroidered suits were the ’18th century’ equivalent of whitish tie and tails today.
Men wore embroidered suits with knee breeches for a while after breeches for any longer pants for daytime wear.
Accessories responded to changes in fashion’s silhouettes, and current events influenced the design of fans and handkerchiefs.
Accessories can be used to explore history. International trade in raw materials and readymade accessories affected what people could purchase. While sewing implements, spectacles, and jewelry, they carried plenty of personal and valuable items in their pockets, like money, keys. Women of all social levels wore pockets. I’m sure you heard about this. They revealed their cultural heritage in the way they adapted certain items, like kerchiefs, the way they styled their hair, and the way they moved, while African Americans generally wore garments styled after those of their Anglo American neighbors. Regrettably, few items of clothing or accessories with histories of use by African Americans survive. Period sources suggest that the clothing of African Americans varied greatly, determined by their occupations and whether they have been slave or free.
Handkerchiefs came in quite a few sizes, types, materials, and functions. Printed handkerchiefs could function to cover sneezes, to tie around the neck, or to proclaim political or personal beliefs. Accessories were made by men and women who specialized in a particular object type or even one small portion of an object. Throughout the 17th century, costume accessories became increasingly available from shops and milliners. It also rendered infants immobile, even if swaddling was intended to encourage straight limbs and erect posture. Then the practice of swaddling gradually died out throughout the second half of the 18th century. Infants wore thin shirts and clouts, or diapers, as their first layer of clothing. With that said, occurring anywhere from four to eight age years, according to the time period and the family’s desires, breeching symbolized growing up and moving from the female domain to that of males.
It’s an interesting fact that the change from skirts to breeches was a big event in a little boy’s life.
Women expected to bear five to ten or more children, of whom a few should likely die in infancy or early childhood, without effective birth control.
Women’s clothing was in large part affected by their biology, while the everyday clothing of most men was dictated by their occupations. Pregnant and nursing women had to alter and adapt their usual clothing to accommodate their condition. Loads of women were pregnant or nursing a child much of their adult lives. With little likelihood of a career outside the home, married women’s lives were centered on their families. You can find more info about this stuff on this site. Stomachers were removable decorative panels that filled the void at the front of women’s fashionable gowns from breasts to just below the waist.
Now look, the tabs at the side were pinned either to the gown’s bodice or to the stays.
For casual wear, work, or in the apartments occasions, men often removed their wigs and wore soft caps on their heads.
Caps were sometimes highly decorated and adorned with embroidery or lace, they were considered informal. People were ready for a less formal lifestyle, overtly affectionate family relationships, and a totally new view of childhood as a separate stage in lifespan. Ok, and now one of the most important parts. Increasingly, children dressed in clothes that were more comfortable, practical, and suitable for an active young person. Therefore this trend was in part spurred on by the writings of philosophers, educators, and physicians, like John Locke, JeanJacque Rousseau, and Dr. William Buchan. Fact, parents began to view children as individuals whose clothing needs were unlike those of adults. That’s right! In the course of the 18th century, a philosophical movement began to affect children’s clothing. Some men wore leggings over their coarse linen or woolen stockings to protect their legs and clothing from snags and scrapes.
Others wore hose made out of ‘cut and sewn’ linen or wool textiles. Fashionable silk knitted stockings were impractical for workers. Whites also learned to copy even admire the natives’ skills in the wilderness, settlers feared and fought the Indians. Needless to say, euro Americans had a complex relationship with Native Americans. Remember, also a powerful symbol of the ability to fight and survive, the native dress at the Boston Tea Party was not merely a convenient disguise. Fighters and frontiersmen adopted elements of Indian dress and accessories, including the use of moccasins and tomahawks. If any, there appears to be little, difference between the clothing of girls and boys. I know it’s often difficult for modern viewers to determine a child’s gender in paintings and prints from the 18th century. Little girls as well as boys wore skirted frocks or dresses and stays. Subtle clues, similar to hairdo, collar treatment, or a masculine toy used as a prop allow modern viewers to determine the gender of the child.
Laced torsos of boys echo the feminine cone shape of the girls.
Whenever in the course of the 1750s to 1770s, fashionable gowns usually had ruffles sewn to the elbows, instead of the earlier style of cuffs.
Ruffles going to be embroidered with almost white threads on very fine fabrics or made entirely of lace. Were therefore underlined and emphasized with additional tiers of removable almost white ruffles that were loosely stitched, pinned, or buttoned inside the gown sleeves, ruffles typically matched the gown. In the 1820s, neoclassical styles had moderated. As a result, fine cashmere or wool shawls from India and Paisley, Scotland, were especially fashionable accessories. Eventually, waistlines began to drop, sleeves widened, and skirts gradually became fuller, often embellished with trimming around the hem. Women used bonnets with boning or reeds for shaping to avoid crushing for ages because hairstyles were puffed up in curls and topknots. So, in the late 1820s and 1830s, sleeves became extremely wide. It’s abecause they expected to wear their wedding gowns for years afterwards. Wealthy brides who could afford a special outfit often chose whitish or a combination of silver and almost white. Known throughout the 18th century, a woman’s status was evident in her choice of clothing materials and the quantity in which they’ve been used. And now here’s the question. What amount dresses did she own?
Workers and older women especially relied on such accessories.
They were, however, made from cheaper textiles and without trimmings and ruffles.
Neck handkerchiefs, gloves, and mitts protected women’s chests and forearms from exposure to cold or excessive sunlight. Did her clothes have beautiful trimmings, like lace and needlework? These included short gowns, bed gowns, and jackets. Were they elegant in style and fit? For instance, further, kerchiefs offered greater modesty when fashion dictated low necklines. People who had to do physical labor modified the elegant styles of the period for greater ease of movement, durability, and affordability. Working women put on shorter garments that required less fabric for any longer fitted gown was kinds of handkerchiefs were also in use.
Women also used neck handkerchiefs, or kerchiefs, as fashion accessories.
People used pocket handkerchiefs of almost white, colored, or checked linen or cotton to wipe their faces and noses. Remember, they seemed shocking to some who were accustomed to ’18th century’ gowns with full skirts and covered bodices worn over layers of underwear, the styles appear graceful and modest by modern standards. That’s right! Women began wearing slimmer gowns created from lightweight textiles that draped more closely to the body, sometimes without the benefit of heavy stays underneath. Now pay attention please. Fashions changed dramatically around the end of the 18th century. Remember, shawls, that had not been used much prior to this, became a practical and elegant accessory. For example, traditionalists criticized the naked appearance of women’s clothing and the warned against the danger of catching cold in such light garments.
At identical time, most women continued to wear underwear, cloaks, and accessories to keep them warm. Waistline gradually rose to just under the bust. Accessories responded quickly to changes in fashion. Hats and caps changed in response, as hairstyles got larger in the late 1770s. With that said, although shoes were cut lower to reveal more of the foot, women’s shoes continued to be fastened with buckles. Essentially, one innovation was the large calash, or collapsible bonnet, that was satirized by printmakers. Of course, their modest size meant that people could update an older ensemble with the addition of a few new accessories. Now look. Walking sticks were popular accessories, even when a man did not need assistance in walking. Basically the elaborate gold, silver, or gilt heads were held in the hand where they’ve been readily visible for display.
Shoe buckles were designed to be easily removed and transferred to different pairs of shoes. On top of by their fork like fittings for buckling the shoe straps tightly around the foot, shoe buckles can be identified by their curved or arched shape designed to fit over the instep. Whenever resulting in erect posture, stays pushed the shoulders back. So, despite these similarities, bodice shapes differed considerably between the two centuries. Remember, eighteenthcentury’ stays molded the torso into a smooth cone. Gowns were constructed over the cone without using waistline or bust darts. In contrast, 19thcentury corsets had individual cups for the breasts and promoted posture that was more naturally curved at the back shoulders. Notice, dresses in both eras had sloped shoulders and narrow waists with full skirts supported by extra petticoats or hoops. Mid 19th century’ dresses shared this overall silhouette with those of a hundred years earlier. Now pay attention please. Women for a while, full skirts and bodices with defined waists close to the natural position just above the hipbones, with the exception of the slimskirted neoclassical styles in the period from about 1790 to 1820.
On the surface, they often appear similar. How did women’s gowns of the 18th century differ from those after 1835? On top of this allowed the wearer to show off the latest fashion in the shape of the toe or the height of the heel, shoes and stockings protected the feet. Delicate and expensive almost white accessories, similar to kerchiefs, aprons, and sleeve ruffles could dress up a plain dark gown. That is interesting. The gown was only a small part of the look. From 1760 to 1780, women’s gowns had ‘closelyfitted’ bodices, sleeves that usually ended just below the elbows, and full skirts. With that said, this colorful name seemed for ages being that the two the purse ends separated the coins inside, and a miserly person could not spend all of just like knitting, knotting, netting, crochet, or sprang, for awhile purses.
Later, the bags came to be known as miser’s purses.
The tubular bags had lengthwise slits for dropping coins inside, closed by sliding one or a pair of rings to secure the compartments.
There is no evidence that the bags were called miser’s purses in the 18th or 19th century. Men of nearly all social levels wore frock coats for informal activities or work. Plain materials, and turndown collars, the coats were comfortable and practical, with their less restrictive cut. You see, in the course of the last quarter of the 18th century, fashionable men began to wear frock coats of more expensive fabrics for dress wear. Hair was worn with curls or waves around the face and high buns positioned at the crown of the head, often ornamented with tortoise combs to emphasize the height and hold the bun in place.
By 1830, waistlines were at or near the natural waist and skirts were full, in contrast to the previous era when waistlines were high and skirts slim. Whenever revealing lacy knitted stockings, shoes were flat and cut low on the foot. With that said, this was the period when women’s fashionable skirts were at their widest, extended out from the hips with extra supportive hoops. Besides, the woman in the print wears a fashionable apron layered over her full skirt. Just think for a moment. In the course of the 1730s and 1740s, short decorative aprons were especially popular accessories. Benjamin Franklin is often credited with inventing bifocals to avoid having to switch between two glasses pairs, one for near and another for far vision. Besides, he did popularize the wearing of bifocals, especially in America, Franklin’s claim to the invention can’t be proven. So, people who wore pants were the dominant members of the family and society. Notice, it was easier to keep the child clean if clothing did not fit closely around the loins, Skirts also had practical value for the mother of a child who was not yet fully toilet trained.
Skirts symbolized children’s dependence, in really similar way that adult women, all of whom wore skirts, were also dependent on their husbands or fathers. Skirts apparently had an unspoken symbolic value in 18thcentury society. Purses beautifully embroidered with silk and metallic threads were often used as elegant containers or gift bags in which to give money after the year. Some small purses also held aromatic herbs and spices for perfuming clothing in storage drawers, similar to sachets today. Wealthy men should have owned examples just like these, created out of expensive textiles. Just think for a moment. Men wore caps, shirts, waistcoats, breeches, stockings, and shoes or slippers, with them. Although, banyans, or gowns, were loose garments that men wore for casual occasions throughout the day or before they dressed in more formal clothing. Philip Vickers Fithian, a plantation tutor, occasionally wore a gown in his Virginia schoolroom. Ordinary men wore gowns, made out of silk brocaded on a weaver’s loom with silk, silver, and gold threads.
Just like today, people of the past dressed up for formal occasions in styles that differed from their everyday clothing. Formal textiles for men and women often featured lavish professional embroidery. Expensive and elegant, the delicate lace required extra care to keep it clean and in good condition. Lace was handmade by professional lacemakers from extremely fine linen threads. Notice, stomachers, the triangular inserts at the fronts of gowns, were perfect places to display jewelry or metallic needlework designed to resemble jewelry. Fans made of expensive ivory or less expensive bone were painted in plenty of subjects. Fact, jewelry for the wealthy was made from genuine precious stones. Less welloff people chose paste, a hard type and brilliant glass. It is accessories like jewelry, lace, and fans were important status symbols. You can find a lot more information about it on this site. Manual laborers dressed in garments suited to their activity. Of course, for relaxing indoors and going about daily business, wealthy men and women chose clothes that were more comfortable than their fashionable or formal garb.
They used accessories to protect their clothes and bodies from abrasion.
People from nearly any social level owned everyday clothing.
They modified fashionable styles by shortening the skirts on their coats or gowns or by making the garment looser. Scores of gloves made from chamois or lambskin were distributed at large funerals. Proper mourning clothing also reflected on the status of the deceased. Following a death, survivors signaled their grief and honored the memory of the deceased by wearing special clothing and accessories. Whenever mourning clothes followed the cut of the current fashions, except made in colors and specialized materials considered appropriate to the occasion, for those who could afford them.
Second mourning clothes may be made from shinier textiles and lighter colors, often gray, violet, almost white, or dark prints.
Alaska cruises run between May and September, and the evening weather can vary from cold and wet to warm and sunny and everything in between. Plan your evening wear around these temperature variances, as well as take into consideration the price and elegance of your cruise ship. Did you know that a long gown with beaded or sequin decor ain’t out of place on any ship, Therefore in case you like to dress up. Anyways, women who prefer pants may also choose an evening suit in a luxury fabric like satin or velvet or wool with beaded accents. Essentially, for family friendly or mid priced Alaskan cruises, you may choose a cocktail dress that falls to or just above the knee. Match your shoes to the elegance of your dress. Women have a variety of choices whenever it boils down to evening wear for a Alaskan cruise. Shop for a slightly heavier fabric, just like wool or brocade, or fully lined dresses to keep the night chill at bay. Consequently, won’t be out of place for those who enjoy dressing elegantly for special occasions, tails are never required. 
You still can wear a tuxedo, or you can bring a business suit or sport coat with slacks. Dress the tuxedo up with a vest and matching tie. Luxury cruises usually expect men to dress in a classic blackish or navy tuxedo. Ok, and now one of the most important parts. Extra style can be added with a vest, tie or sweater. For instance, for boys, khaki pants or dark slacks with a solid colored, button up shirt is dressy enough. Also, older girls can wear a Aline dress, adorned with lace or beading. For young girls, choose dresses with a full skirt and sleeves. You have a great deal of flexibility with dressing children for the evening, since most cruise lines that cater to families are casual. Bring stockings to protect bare legs, Therefore if you wear a cocktail dress. 
Today’s post is all about one of my favourite shops, Other Stories.
Unlike me, they don’t necessarily swot up on the monthly glossies or trawl the internet for new finds, my girlfriends like clothes.