Summer of 1891’s Fads and Fancies

“Most of the Louis IV jackets have elaborate jabots of old Mechlin lace or of embroidered chiffon drawn to the front.”
 – Photo source, Pinterest

What is the Proper Thing to Be Worn by Society Ladies? They say we are to wear all summer mittens up the arm. 

All the imported street dresses are made with a bias velvet ruffle running round the feet. 

Turquoises are being extensively worn, especially with necklaces, mingled with diamonds. 

Umbrellas and parasols designed to carry with mourning costumes have ebonized or onyx handles. 

A unique bracelet is the one of woven chain showing strands of silver, different golds and platinum. 

A bride's jewel-case is not complete when it does not include a diamond bracelet, earrings, finger-ring and brooch. 

It is the correct thing now to add a souvenir spoon to the conventional Christening present of pap-bowl and mug. 

Most of the Louis IV jackets have elaborate jabots of old Mechlin lace or of embroidered chiffon drawn to the front. 

Tables are now bought on purpose for the large lamps, which are so much used. White enamel tables, about knee high, are used for the delicate colored, porcelain lamps and ebony tables are used for the various kinds of iron lamps, some of these tables have a space underneath for a piece of bric-a-brac. 

This season a fancy crops out for long chains worn about the neck and hanging loosely over the bust. At the first ball of the season Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt wore a string of diamonds a yard long that went round her neck twice and fell almost to her belt. Mrs. Edmund Russell always wears at her art lectures a string of gold beads, superbly carved. Some of the gold chains have whole pearls introduced every two inches. Then there are the gem chains of plain polished stones, such as carbuncles, turquoises, amethysts, spinels, moonstones and onyx, none cut but the diamond. 

In favor of the woman who adorns herself, the feathers of the peacock begin to vie with rosettes and mock jewels. But let each fair maid pause and question with herself before she puts them on. There are conditions; can she fulfill them? In the days when poets and singers went about the world as troubadours they plucked the long feathers from the tails of peacocks and stripped them to leave on the midrib only the central eye. This, each troubadour wore upon his cap, and it meant that the eyes of the world were turned upon him. Are the eyes of the world turned upon you, fair maid, in attention and admiration? If so, you may wear on your cap peacock's eyes.— San Francisco Call, 1891

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Gilded Age Fancies and News of 1892

 

Parasol sachets, or cases, are long bags, made up of silk or linen, with rolls of scented wadding inside; lay into the perfumed depths, a shirr string drawn up, and the article hung up in a closet or laid up on a shelf till need it again.

A London periodical, suggesting some ideas for entertainment at garden parties, advises as a novelty a “bar of American drinks,” and includes ice cream sodas as the sine qua non of such feature. Fancy not knowing the delights of ice cream soda! England has a match before her.

Ivory with silver monograms studded with rhinestones are new and gorgeous backing for dressing table brushes.

Lady Somerset, in her zeal for the temperance cause, has descended into mines to address the toilers in the sunless depths.

Parasol sachets, or cases, are long bags, made up of silk or linen, with rolls of scented wadding inside; lay into the perfumed depths, a shirr string drawn up, and the article hung up in a closet or laid up on a shelf till need it again.– New York Times, 1892

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor of the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia