Challenge and image source from Sepia Saturday.
A few words from Marilyn Brindley (aka Little Nell): Whilst Alan is away I'm stepping in as admin and I hope you all enjoy the prompts I've chosen for the next few weeks. The value of our Sepia Saturday Facebook group page was never more apparent than a few weeks ago when Mrs Marvel, of Who Were They, posted this link for we ‘Sepians’ to enjoy. The wonderful pictures there of chatelaines made me think about our theme for this week. We haven't actually had bodily adornments of any kind as a prompt before, so this rather lovely image, 'Portrait of a woman with elaborate cameo jewelry and off the shoulder dress' from SMU Central University Libraries vis Flickr Commons is the one I've chosen. It's from around 1850 but nothing is known about the creator or sitter. I'm sure the photo sleuths amongst us would be able to tell us more but I'm not much of a detective myself.
All that we ask for now is that you post your own response to Number 181 on or around Saturday June 15th. It's time to open your jewellery case and dig out some sparkling images. We're looking for any bodily adornments: from girls with pearl earrings to gents with an impressive medal collection (or vice versa), even tattoos would fit the bill I'm sure. Don't forget to link back to this Sepia Saturday page or add the mini-banner at the bottom of this post if you prefer.When you've posted on your own blog, add the link to the specific page here on Mr Linky, leave a comment too please, and then try to visit as many other Sepians as you can.
My maternal grandmother never dressed like a "grandmother", she loved to get dressed up and loved her jewelry. I inherited this gene from her. We would always say she'd rather go out without her underwear than forget her earrings"!
She would refashion items into earrings from rings, or bracelets from coins.She had a huge amount of costume jewelry.
She loved to dress stylishly.
She often bought clothes, wore them and t hen returned them!! I remember in 1963 she bought a beautiful pink suit from Eaton's Department Store (interesting aside story in this link about the Francophone dropping of the possessive apostrophe in the name) in Montreal for a wedding in Dublin. She went over by ship, The Franconia II of Cunard Lines. When she returned home from the trip she took the suit back.
There is more information about Eaton's Department Store over at The Department Store blog.
In both these wedding photos she is the first woman on the right.
1957
1951
Seems like she was a trailblazer = everyone buys then returns expensive clothing these day. :)
ReplyDeleteI just love how everyone is jammed in together for that second photo...all just about sitting on top of each other...like a bunch of puppies or kittens.. So relaxed and happy...great photo!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool grandmother!
ReplyDeleteIs it common practice to return clothes after you have worn them other than when you try them on?
ReplyDeleteEven all smashing together, some on the edges got cut off!
ReplyDeleteCheeky Granny !! Ha Ha ! Nowadays if I buy a ready made suit or trousers etc I often find the pockets sewn up lightly. At least I know my new suit is at its first wedding or funeral !!
ReplyDeleteNow I have this mental picture of your grandmother clad only in her underwear, but wearing lots of jewellery!
ReplyDeleteDid she wear them with the tags still attached? That alone would take a lot of skill, never mind the stories she must have spun at each store.
ReplyDelete