Just as John Redfern began as a mercer, the Doucet family's business began in fabric and lace. In 1841, La Mode described the Doucets (then at 17 rue de la Paix) has having a "numerous and noble clientele", highly stylish in late spring for "trousseaus and corbeilles" - the corbeille being the gift of material wealth given to … Continue reading The House of Doucet (1816-1928)
Tag: 19th century
Redfern Ltd. (ca. 1855-1940)
Redfern is relatively well known as an early couture and tailoring house, but the specific people involved, or their talents beyond women's suits and riding attire, are often overlooked when discussing the progress of fashion - which is usually distilled down into a few vibrant personalities and their innovations. Redfern's early years overlapped with Charles … Continue reading Redfern Ltd. (ca. 1855-1940)
Corsetry and Feminism: Appendix
As mentioned in the third part of this series, there are many modern women who regularly wear corsets who have never been scientifically studied. Obsolete Victorian medical science is far too frequently cited as an objective, truthful source - but there have been a few recent studies that are also brought up to defend the … Continue reading Corsetry and Feminism: Appendix
Fact and Fiction: Corsetry and Feminism, Part Two
Suffrage vs. Dress Reform Given that the members of the women's rights movement lived at a time when there was no scientific evidence against the intensely negative health claims, it is no wonder that they might regard the corset as a death-trap. However, early feminist opposition to the corset is vastly overstated today. To illustrate, … Continue reading Fact and Fiction: Corsetry and Feminism, Part Two
A Difficult History: Corsetry and Feminism, Part One
Recently, I began following a couple of Tumblr blogs focusing on waist training and daily corset wear. Daily wear is not for me, waist training even less so, but I find it an interesting practice. It is also a controversial one. For example, a recent Huffington Post article, "Corset Queen Penny Brown Loves Getting 'Waisted'," drew … Continue reading A Difficult History: Corsetry and Feminism, Part One
Mimic of Modes 