Hi, Kit Morgan here and as I’m at my daughter’s in New York, I was in a bit of a quandary as to what to write about. But then I remembered I have a few books here and thought I’d share with you some lovely fashion plates from one of them. After all, there’s always fashion going’s on around here. My daughter is a fashion photographer and music video director. Since my arrival, she’s shot for a major cosmetics company and done several fashion shoots as well. She even did a puppy shoot for a friend, then toddled off to San Francisco to shoot a music video. Currently, she’s in Scotland. Ah the life! At any rate, I have a book I bought at Strand’s Book Store in Manhattan last year with some lovely photos in it. My how fashion changes over the years. A lot of my stories take place on the Oregon prairie or the orchard covered rolling hills of what is now apple country in Washington state. My characters are dressed in simple attire, calico prairie dresses and aprons with simple white bonnets. But these, well, maybe I’ll write some stories in a different setting just so I can dress my characters in some of the fancier dresses of the day! Oh, by the way, that’s Rowena, the long-haired chihuahua in the above picture. Cute isn’t she? If she lived back in the 1800s, what would her owner be wearing? Well, it would depend on the decade …
The 1850’s … 1860’s …
1870’s … Oh, those sleeves!
1880’s … I guess they got tired of said sleeves …
1890’s … And by now decided to draw attention to the front of one’s skirt instead of the bustle in the back!
My, my! How things changed! I could spend hours on sites like Pinterest making historical fashion boards, and have! It’s part of what makes writing historical westerns so much fun! But which is your favorite? They didn’t carry little dogs in their reticules back then, so Rowena the chihuahua is better off living in modern-day Brooklyn. But I think her owner, had she lived back in the day, would look lovely in the 1870’s evening gown with the rose-covered skirt! What’s your favorite pick?
USA Today bestselling author Kit Morgan is the author of over 140 books of historical and contemporary western romance! Her stories are fun, sweet stories full of love, laughter, and just a little bit of mayhem! Kit creates her stories in her little log cabin in the woods in the Pacific Northwest. An avid reader and knitter, when not writing, she can be found with either a book or a pair of knitting needles in her hands! Oh, and the occasional smidge of chocolate!
I am leaning toward the 1880’s as more my style. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, I’m not so sure about the mutton chop sleeves of the 1870’s. Mutton chop was big back then. Mutton chop sideburns and all that!
I liked the 1870’s and said sleeves. Lol!! Great blog thank for sharing
The book I have is all in Italian, Tonya. Otherwise, I could have added the descriptions for each fashion plate. I must say I’ve never seen such pretty dresses. I collect books on historical fashion and this one has some of the best.
Its the 1880 for me
Yes, they did all sorts of fancy things on the skirt fronts with lace and ribbons! I think it’s my favorite too!
Personally I like today’s styles best. I couldn’t handle those tight skinny middles. At my age, I have become all about comfort. But if I had to choose an era here, I would go with the 1860’s off the shoulder dress. It is so pretty.
And you’d get to wear a big hoop skirt, Janine!
I like looking at them. NO bustle for me that’s for sure. I am not sure I could handle the tiny waists either.
I know! Who has a waist that size??? Oh, my little sister. But she was a racehorse jockey. She’s tiny anyway! She doesn’t count!
I’m glad I wasn’t around then. I don’t like any of them, but guess the 1880’s isn’t so bad.
The 1880s seems to be the favorite so far! But I do like the dresses in the 1890s too.
Have fun at your daughters. Welcome to the site today. I like them all, but if I had to choose which one to wear right now, it would be the 1890 pink day dress.
I’m all about comfort and practicality. I prefer a clean line.
Yeah, the cleaner lines began in the Edwardian era and then really took off in the 1920s! I think they must have had the most comfortable clothing.
I’d rather take poofy sleeves than the huge bustle! LOL, these are great images.
I know, right? Those sleeved would always be in the way of something, but so would the bustle!
I like the 1870’s.. Don’t like them bustles.lol.
This is why I dress up in prairie attire for book events. SOOOO much more comfortable!
For some unknown reason–maybe just history–I love looking at fashion plates, but the truth is I’d hate having to wear any of those dresses that look so uncomfortable to me. (Yeah, I was and probably still am a tomboy! 🙂 ) Comfort and ease of movement mean the most to me.
Would you mind mentioned something is wrong with the boardagain? I tried posting goodbye to Kathryn Albright and I was given a message that I had posted twice when no message at all showed up. I hate miss saying goodbye. Thannk you.
Me too! I collect historical fashion books. The clothes were so pretty. But man, oh man. To wear them? Ekkks! And yes I’ll make a mention Eliza and let Katherine know too!
I like the 1870’s but I think that is because I do not actually have to wear them.
I like the 1870 dress with the burgundy sleeves and rose covered dress body. The sleeves are a bit much but the simplicity of the lines of the bodice and skirt appeal, as does the color. In all of the dresses except the 1850’s and 1860’s, the wasp waists are just hard to imagine having. A corset can push just so much out of the way. I have tried to sit with a hoop skirt, difficult, and would not want to have to deal with a bustle.
The 1890s are more my style.