At 23:11 14/01/2007, you wrote:
In a message dated 1/14/2007 12:28:46 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Note that: there are an equal number of photographs with the women's wear
buttoning left over-right as well, so this could be a transition time
It was indeed a transition time. You see both men's and women's clothes
buttoning both ways, in real clothes as well as photographs. (One of the
hazards of relying on photographs alone is that the image could
be reversed.) One
theory is that the gender closings were only standardized as ready-to-wear
became widespread, and that was later in the 19th century.
I heard a theory that the side clothes fastened on was standardised
when cutting with a band saw became popular, along with tailored
clothes for women. A band saw could cut many thicknesses of fabric,
and often a manufactory would be cutting and making up men's'and
women's clothing side by side, unlike a tailor's workshop. Here each
section would be made up by a specialist - buttonholer/sleeve
maker/pocket setter etc., so confusion was less likely to occur.
Suzi
_______________________________________________
h-costume mailing list
h-costume@mail.indra.com
http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
