Can we please change the email topic/subject header of the debate emails to something else. When these debates start, a lot of people quit reading or create a message rule to delete the messages with that specific header. Over the years some people quit h-costume because of heated debates. So please leave the questionnaire title/header for just people answering the questions.
I started the original questionnaire message as a fun way for us to get to know one another and something lurkers would feel comfortable answering. I have enjoyed ready people's responses to the questions. Some people are new to costuming could use the answers as what would interest them or what is available in the marketplace. People answers and humor have given me a good giggle. Personally, I have enjoyed reading the memories of their favorite bargains and memories of their sewing machines. H-costume is an email list that covers historic costuming into the 1950s. So all are welcome...beginners to scholars! We all began somewhere. This is a wonderful place to learn. Fashion history is what made us what we are today. I like all areas...historic, fantasy, and present day fashion. I collect depending what my area of interest is at the time. Over the years, I went through a year of purchasing antique etiquette books and fashion dictionaries, got stuck in the 1920s fashion magazines for a couple of years, bustle era for several years, medieval for a while, Elizabethan, Regency, etc. I float fashion around like a butterfly, landing on a time period and find out that I like it. I love the history of the fashion industry, not just the styles of periods but the businesses and trades, people who influenced it, etc. I physically can not sit behind a sewing machine or hand-stitching for 24 hours at a time like I did in my youth. But I love to look every stitch in a dress. That is how I can come up with 30 photos of one dress or 7 views of one hat. I wish I could afford to purchase original text or images from pre-19th Century. They are out of my pocketbook range. People ask me frequently! what fashion time period is my favorite. I answer, "That is like asking me which is my favorite child. I love them all for different reasons." I deal with a wide variety of groups of study and interests. This past weekend, I visited vintage car shows (some owners like antique clothing to go with their cars), and a wedding of two different cultures. I am always watching fashion because you never know what you will see...like the 30ish year old man who drove up next to us. He was driving a vintage Harley and wearing kaki pants, Polo shirt, penny-loafers, and designer sunglasses. An interesting fashion statement! Since two of my college degrees heavily focus on fashion marketing and the topic is being discussed, here are some of my findings. ---Currently published historic fashion books that sell the most are 20th Century ones, main focus 1940s-1970s. Women's fashions books sell more than menswear and childrenswear. ---Hot topics in current fashion publications, books, and magazines are past Hollywood fashions icons, hairstyles, celebrities, and designers. The majority of college to thirty-something aged females state that their style icons in history are Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy. Look at today's fashion and you can see these icons' influences...especially sunglasses, other accessories, and hairstyles. Cary Grant's style is what men generally like. ---In the U.S., the largest re-enactment group is the American Civil War. ---Quilters are the largest home sewing market. ---Resort-wear is the largest market in present day fashion. Resort-wear and Halloween have higher grossing clothing selling seasons than the back-to-school season. A good portion of the resort-wear are influenced after 1950-1970s fashions. Hawaiian print shirts were very hot for last summer and this summer in menswear age 45 and older. Go to any concert for a 1970s band and you will see a large variety of these shirts. Present trend for women's resort-wear is halter tops from the 1940s-70s for all aged women and teenaged girls. ---I have a lot more but am tired and heading to bed. As for embroidery machines, visit quilting shows. There you will find from the cheapest to the industrial machines and most dealers will let you experiment with them. Good night! Penny Ladnier, Owner, The Costume Gallery Websites www.costumegallery.com www.costumelibrary.com www.costumeclassroom.com www.costumeslideshows.com _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
