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Fashion Conjecture


Jib

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Today we have fashion knock offs. Any history that shows people in the past doing the same? The style is French but the tailor was doing a copy job based upon notes and advice. Trying to "fake" a trend?

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Today we have fashion knock offs. Any history that shows people in the past doing the same? The style is French but the tailor was doing a copy job based upon notes and advice. Trying to "fake" a trend?

Well what we call today a fashion knock-off derives from the idea that top designers try to "copy right" their designs but so far really haven't been able to... In the past folks always copied the top fashions to the best of their ability, whether it was by purchasing something from your local tailor or in some cases "off the hanger/ready mades" (seems funeral/mourning clothing MAY have been ready made in certain cases) or whether you made it yourself... There were fashion plates but I don't know how widely these were circulated and of course you saw "fashion" if you frequented large cities/towns or had the chance to view members of the court or nobility for what ever reason... Fashionable ladies in London were known to walk about parks to show off their finery.

Hector


"I being shot through the left cheek, the bullet striking away great part of my upper jaw, and several teeth which dropt down the deck where I fell... I was forced to write what I would say to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffered by speaking."~ Woodes Rogers

Crewe of the Archangel

http://jcsterlingcptarchang.wix.com/creweofthearchangel#

http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/

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In the past folks always copied the top fashions to the best of their ability,

Let me rephrase that, in the past Fashion conscious folks in most cases copied the top fashions to the best of their ability. For instance legend has it that the Fontage/Commode headdress of the ladies developed when one of Louis's mistresses hair got messed when out riding... she supposedly quickly tied it back up in a certain way and the King found it charming and then supposedly other women tried to copy the style and developed the high headdress of lace and wire and other frou-frou... Who knows how many other fashion trends developed perchance because of such a silly incedent.... geeze they need spell check on this list... ;)

Any way it seems that many of the gentlemen's fashions often originated in something partical... but NOT ALL.... The full bottom wig for instance is said to have started because Charles II was rapidly turning gray or even losing his hair. So, they say that he began wearing wigs and everyone else who wanted to ape the King and had the money to do so, did.... until it was all the rage.... Wigs were quite valuable as well so much so that the English actually had, according to either Picard or Waller, slang for pinching them.

Hector


"I being shot through the left cheek, the bullet striking away great part of my upper jaw, and several teeth which dropt down the deck where I fell... I was forced to write what I would say to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffered by speaking."~ Woodes Rogers

Crewe of the Archangel

http://jcsterlingcptarchang.wix.com/creweofthearchangel#

http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/

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Talk about the origin of a fashion how about men's ties? Always seemed like a bad idea to me. Wrap something tight about your neck and hope it never catches on anything and chokes you!

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Talk about the origin of a fashion how about men's ties? Always seemed like a bad idea to me. Wrap something tight about your neck and hope it never catches on anything and chokes you!

Well, and unfortunately I don't know how this developed or how far back it goes, but in fox hunting, the stock tie actually doubled as a bandage in case of accident out on the hunt. The stock pin, worn even by men, worn with the opening part downward so as not to have it open accidently and stab the rider in the chin, was also used to help secure the bandage or "hold bits" together if needed. I would assume the modern tie evolved directly from the cravat but if that was worn originaly "as a spare bandage" I have no clue. But one wonders when one knows the history of fox hunting attire.

Just a thought

Hector


"I being shot through the left cheek, the bullet striking away great part of my upper jaw, and several teeth which dropt down the deck where I fell... I was forced to write what I would say to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffered by speaking."~ Woodes Rogers

Crewe of the Archangel

http://jcsterlingcptarchang.wix.com/creweofthearchangel#

http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/

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Today we have fashion knock offs. Any history that shows people in the past doing the same? The style is French but the tailor was doing a copy job based upon notes and advice. Trying to "fake" a trend?

Sure was, Jib! One need only look at the 16th and 17th century clothing in Irish Museums (Ulster Museum in Belfast and the National Museum in Dublin). There are a number of jackets/doublets in these museums that imitate fashionable dress in general shape. But the cut of the clothing is VERY different from the originals they seek to copy. Matter of act, it is obvious that the tailor who made the Irish versions could have never seen a fashionable jacket/doublet close up. Instead of the skirts being widened by pleats, they are widened with gores, much like medieval garments. And some of the garments don't have side seams but wrap around the body with an extremely efficient use of cloth. The results are quite stunningly similar, but the construction couldn't be more different. Fascinates me...

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Building an Empire... one prickety stitch at a time!

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How about using the absolutely worng fabric/ materials for the garment?  Cut up bed sheets, sail cloth, or something else cobbled together?

Are you ship wrecked on an uncharted island?

Hector


"I being shot through the left cheek, the bullet striking away great part of my upper jaw, and several teeth which dropt down the deck where I fell... I was forced to write what I would say to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffered by speaking."~ Woodes Rogers

Crewe of the Archangel

http://jcsterlingcptarchang.wix.com/creweofthearchangel#

http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/

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No not ship wrecked. I just remember that a friend of mine spent a little time in India in the mid 90's. She brought home wild hareem styled pants made out of the most outlandish fabrics. Some of these pants I swear wher mad out of sofa covers.

I do a little writing from time to time (just for fun) and some of questions are research for such.

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