Victorian Wrappers Store Posters

[Another Time Antiques]

I found these in my library stash and totally forgot I had them! I'm pretty sure they came from the old department store cleanout I did in Medina many many years ago. It was a store that had been in business since the late 1800s. I was up in the "left overs attic" ...in heaven! I really enjoyed those paw thru days.

I'll be listing these but wanted to show them off here for your fashion history enjoyment. Both are very large posters. One is dated Fall Winter Styles 1899 and the second on is Spring Summer 1901. And check out those prices!!

These are now listed on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1231401577/2-victorian-advertising-posters-womens

 

[Jonathan]

Considering the U.S. dollar in 1900 had the buying power equivalency of about $34.00 today, that means these wrappers cost the equivalent of about $500 - $600 today!

 

[Another Time Antiques]

That's a fun calculation!

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

Those are charming!

 

[Another Time Antiques]

Considering the U.S. dollar in 1900 had the buying power equivalency of about $34.00 today, that means these wrappers cost the equivalent of about $500 - $600 today!

so I discovered those prices in bold are per DOZEN! Boy that sure affects price

 

[Jonathan]

so I discovered those prices in bold are per DOZEN! Boy that sure affects price

AH - that makes a LOT more sense. That price seemed outrageously high to me. So these are for retailers to buy the styles wholesale.

 

[Another Time Antiques]

Yep..exactly. can you fathom buying 12 dresses for less than $15?
Fabric +labor+marketing: how much room is there in a $1?

 

[Jonathan]

So that means they would be the equivalent of about 35 - 40 each in today's money.
.

 

[Vinclothes]

And what were the factory seamstresses paid? Or were they home labor priced by the piece?
Marian

 

[Jonathan]

I looked through this: https://libraryguides.missouri.edu/pricesandwages/1900-1909 and it seems the average salary for a woman factory worker doin seamstress and similar work was between 2 and 3 dollars per day. so that would be between 65 and 100 dollars per day in today's money. The average factory salary today for women in the U.S. is $15.30 per hour. So it's not that far off of taday's rates.