I have had something like this in my collection. A note with mine said
that
it was a garment worn in 1936 for a GWA celebration ball. The fabric was
'screaming gunnysack' as might have been appropriate for the Great
Depression. Also have a red sateen gents jacket with lovely lace cuffs
and
gilt trim that came from another source, but was used during the 30's
decade.
kathleen Mitchell
----- Original Message -----
From: "Katy Bishop" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Historical Costume" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 8:44 AM
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: <[email protected]>
>> 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
>> > [email protected]
>> > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>
>
>
> --
> Katy Bishop, Vintage Victorian
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.VintageVictorian.com
> Custom reproduction gowns of the Victorian Era.
> Publisher of the Vintage Dress Series books.
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