Admiration of the vintage lady and slightly envious

pauline

pauline

Registered Guest
As my knowledge of vintage fashions grows and I understand more fully how clothes were worn, I just admire these ladies more and more, the time taken to get ready compared with today, the layers of outer wear ,foundation garments hats and gloves especially in this hot weather must have been very hard to wear but in a way they did not have a choose.I admire them so much for that.

I also think how life for a lady has changed.
I accept that life is faster now especially for ladies, going to work, doing the shopping , housework and the role has changed a lot in the last 50 years having gained a lot also but I cannot help to think that women in general women have also lost a lot, the time to get ready in the morning or evening, this time for themselves ,which it takes to put on a corselet clipping on her stocking and checking that the seems are straight, them putting on a dress or suite, doing her hair and makeup might have taken longer then but that time was her own and in a way this time just reinforce her femininity for the day or evening ahead.

It would be great to know your opinion about this sort of topic.
 
I admit I would love to have the luxury of a dedicated half hour to prepare myself in the morning, rather than a snatched ten minutes! But then there wasn't all that bra burning for nothing, so I wouldn't wish to take it all back...
 
I do wonder though if there is period source material that can be researched. I wonder if ladies really did view it that way, or viewed it more as a taxing chore. Just like today, there are ladies who take hours in the bathroom getting ready and there are women who run out sans makeup, and if they have to get ready for a formal event with all the layers and the makeup, they drag their feet.

Surely though, the "Vanity" as part of a bedroom suite of furniture has all but disappeared. And having "dressing rooms" built in as part of architecture unless you are very rich just has gone the same way.

Men don't probably take any more time then dressing if wearing a suit or a tux than they do today. But i will say what has disappeared is the concept of the smoking jacket or dressing robe to put over your shirtsleeves. And of course men were dressed more formally during the day than they do now for the most part. and of course they didn't want to spill something on their shirts so probably wore the dressing robe for that reason too because clothes washing was at a premium so they didn't have to go through 2 shirts during the day.

Or maybe they were dressed up all day because they could never get ready because the women were hogging the dressing areas!
 
Originally posted by Patentleathershoes
I do wonder though if there is period source material that can be researched. I wonder if ladies really did view it that way, or viewed it more as a taxing chore. Just like today, there are ladies who take hours in the bathroom getting ready and there are women who run out sans makeup, and if they have to get ready for a formal event with all the layers and the makeup, they drag their feet.
Click to expand...

I think that is a interesting point you have made it would be interesting to here what others have to say.

Oh Harriet, I would not like to turn the clock back as our life style today is so much better than then, well maybe from a fashion point then yes I would, as some of todays fashion are well not to my liking.
 
Well, I didn't get my nickname, Molasses, for nothing. It use to take me forever to get dressed. Hours! I now have it down to about 30 minutes..LOL.

I think some of the things those ladies did to get ready was enjoyable. I remember my Mom doing her nails and soaking in the tub. I think stockings were a bit of a pain what with them always getting runs.

Interesting topic. I will have to think some more about it.
 
As a man I have to say it's difficult undersatand and to imagine spending a hour or so getting ready, but as I look more at vintage ladies fashions I can understand why they had to spent that time.
 
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