“A Century of Fashion”

1862 Vienna fashions.

I'm thrilled to be attending renowned fashion expert Ivan Sayers’s fashion show "A Century of Fashion" this coming Sunday in Victoria. I hope to learn a lot and take some photos.

​One of the myths about Victorian women is that they always laced themselves in tight corsets to have fashionable narrow, elongated bodies (remember the image of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind being laced up by Mamie so that her waistline would measure only 18 inches?) 

In reality, most women in that era wore their daily corsets more for necessity, and women rarely  "swooned" away.  In addition, corsets were not only a fashion statement. They were believed to be good for a healthful posture and to keep internal organs in alignment! The rumor of Victorian women actually having a rib or two removed in order to slim the waistline is simply not true. Thank heaven!

I await Mr. Sayers’s observations.

UPDATE
The fashion show was spectacular. Ivan Sayers did not disappoint. His two-hour talk was full of humor and wonderful stories and details. Sadly, no photographs were allowed.

Mr. Sayers began by “dressing” a model on stage from under slip to elegant Victorian gown, explaining what each item was used for—under slips, bust enhancers, etc.—and how they were worn.

For instance, if corsets were laced up in the back, it meant the lady was assisted by a maid. If, on the other hand, she had to dress herself, the corset would lace up the front.

He continued from the turn of the 19th century Victorian costumes through the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. The models showed off their dresses of exceptional material and color while Mr. Sayers explained how fashion through the decades was largely dictated by what was happening in the world.

For example, we experienced loose flapper styles in the 1920s (when everyone was happy and blasé after the war), more practical clothing during  WWII, and then in the late 1940s, Christian Dior brought back femininity and the hourglass figure in his “New Look.”

1951. “Acetate fabrics by Robert Perrier” for the leading clothing designers. ©Robert Perrier | Wikimedia Commons.

Of course, it wasn’t long before the mini-skirt arrived on the scene, reflecting the free-love, revolutionary decade of the ’60s.

Sayers’s collection (which he has accumulated throughout his life and is still growing) is exceptional. If he has a show in your area, don't miss it. Check out his website for upcoming events in 2018.