Fran has some lovely possibilities for both in The Voice Of
Fashion...with pattern shapes. Of course, the Visitor would be in the
latest ton with hat, glove, perhaps lorgnette, and etc. have fun.
There are some etiquette books of that time period to bring you up to
date for dress and deportment for a Tea.
Thanks, Kathleen. I think there are also some in The Edwardian Modiste.
Three points:
A morning wrapper and a tea gown were often the same basic style. The
difference wass in the materials and decorations. Flannel, printed
calico, fairly sturdy white cottons, etc. were for wrappers. Soft
silks, large quantities of lace and embroidery, etc. were for tea gowns.
Neither a tea gown nor a wrapper is ever worn when going from one place
to another. In other words, no one who was not living, or at least
staying as a guest in the house, would be wearing one.
Tea gowns, and to some extent wrappers, were clothing for married women
(and invalids who were too ill to dress fully). This really is a
marital status distinction, not an age distinction. Throughout the 19th
century into the early 20th, a middle- or upper-class woman's career was
(on the whole and with individual exceptions) marriage. This made it
important to distinguish married women and unmarried young ladies by
their clothing. Married women, widows, and spinsters who had given up
were permitted to wear richer and more luxurious garments. Unmarried
young ladies were supposed to look modest, but at the same time
available. In this case wearing a lingeriesh garment at a tea party,
especially with gentlemen present, would look too available and not
sufficiently modest.
Fran
Lavolta Press
http://www.lavoltapress.com
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