These are examples of eveningwear is from 1912, the year the
famed luxury liner
R.M.S. Titanic departed on her maiden voyage, only to
sink tragically in the
middle of the Atlantic Ocean. When she struck the iceberg, many of
the first
class passengers were in one of the elegant dining
rooms, robed in their finest
evening apparel. These are examples of such vestments.
The first gentleman is sporting the
newer, popular black tie tuxedo. Although the
white tie and tails would
always remain a popular option, by the 20th Century the
black tie and smoking jacket became a popular, if less formal, alternative to the
white tie and tails. Like a daytime suit, there are
different styles of men’s black tie
evening dress. This gentleman is wearing a peak-lapel,
vested suit. For shoes, he
wears a pair of oxfords,
which by the 20th Century, was the most popular option
for men’s
dress shoes.
Next is an elegant lady from the 1910s. She wears a fashionable evening gown
from the era. The most popular option were an empire
waistline, column skirt,
and half sleeves. By the 20th Century, the
bustle had gone out of style and
corsets were soon to follow. Thus the gown is a far more relaxed fit
than in
previous eras. She wears her hair up and in a bob, the
iconic hairstyle of the
1910s and the subsequent Roaring Twenties.
Next is another gentleman in a
different black tie tuxedo. This style is double
breasted and
shawl-lapel. The double breasted button option was
more popular
among the frock coats, worn when outdoors when en route to or
from the balls.
Unlike the previous gentleman, this
gentleman retains the more formal men’s
pumps. This was the last time they remained
commonplace and they soon
became superseded
by oxfords. Like the previous gentleman, he
completes his
outfit with a pair of white gloves. Although gloves would fall out
of favor with
men, much sooner than with women, they nonetheless remain a final
touch of
class.
Finally is another lady, wearing
a similar gown and hairstyle. Like the previous
lady, she
wears a pair of white opera gloves. In the 1910s, these were the
staple of women’s evening wear, as they were in previous eras, but in the course
of the 20th Century would become optional. Nevertheless, such
accouterments
remain a final touch of
elegance.
These are examples of daytime
fashion a century earlier. These outfits were
iconic of the
Napoleonic Era in France and the Regency Period in Britain.
First is a gentleman dressed in riding clothes. Riding clothes were popular
among men, who displayed their love for the great outdoors. For headgear,
he sports a top hat, which became the symbolic men’s hat of the 19th
Century. He wears a tailcoat, which at the time was part of everyday wear
and was
easy to ride in. For neckwear he wears a lace ascot at his neck,
which were popular at the
time. To complete his riding wear, he wears a
pair of foxhunting boots and a pair of kid leather gloves.
Next are two ladies from the era. The first wears a muslin dress, complete
with lace patterns. Muslin became enormously popular for women’s dresses
by the end of the
last century, as it was lighter and more comfortable. With
the fall of the royal family and aristocracy in France, simplicity
became the
new norm. Fashion designers turned to the chitons of Ancient Greece for
inspiration. The Empire waistline column silhouette dresses of the Regency
became the byproduct of this nostalgic throwback. Over her dress, she
wears a champagne spencer jacket.
The next lady is wearing a cotton dress of the same style. Like the ladies
a century later, their dresses are empire waistline,
column silhouette. This
terminology came from the styles of this era in reference to Napoleon and
the French Empire. She completes her dress with a shawl and, like the
previous lady, a bonnet, kid gloves, and a parasol.
Finally, is another gentleman of the era. His riding outfit is not much
different than the preceding gentleman,
save for his footwear. He wears the
fashionable Hungarian Hussar style boots, which were adopted in numerous
nations' militaries at the time.
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