Thursday, November 19, 2009

Vintage Black Friday, Mourning Attire

Vintage Black Friday is here.
What will I do when this party is over?
I have enjoyed it so much.

 for hostessing this wonderful opportunity
 to fulfill all my "vintage black" desires.

 





When Queen Victoria of England lost her precious husband Albert, in December of 1861 she went into deep mourning. She took the custom of wearing "mourning black" to a new level. All the Victorian ladies of that time followed her in the custom. It became an outward showing of grief when a loved one passed. Many women created a whole new wardrobe for the now fashionable black attire.



Queen Victoria and daughter
with bust of Albert









another image (unknown) from late 1800's






Two current replicas of mourning attire






Mary Todd Lincoln




Two mourning blouses found at a local flea market






When I was in High School, Gone With the Wind
 was re-released in theatres.
I had read the book twice by then
and fell in love with the movie.



These two images are from the movie scene where Scarlett is attending a ball shortly after the death of her husband. For you not familiar with the story, Scarlett married a man she did not love, trying to invoke jealousy from her beloved Ashley Wilkes. When her husband died in the Civil War, she found herself in a strict code of mourning, but her heart was not in it.



Please click on this
YouTube link to see Scarlett and Rhett
dance the Virginia Reel.
You will love it!!

Have a Wonderful Vintage Black Friday

Do a little dance today!
Debra

20 comments:

  1. Debra I love the vintage photos and the Victorian style dress you found at the flea market, how gorgeous is that.


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  2. I've never seen Gone With the Wind before-kinda curious now. Great post!

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  3. Great post and very interesting! I'm enjoying reading through earlier posts too....Happy Fall Ya'll from Houston,TX

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  4. Hi Debra ~ Thank goodness we don't have to wear those heavy mourning clothes today! Thanks for showing Gone With the Wind stuff. I did watch the Virginia Reel scene and loved seeing the women's different colored dresses. Then I couldn't resist watching the library scene too. Great stuff...I may be way too much into decorating cause I was really examining the decor in that scene - those are curved!! bookshelves.

    Cynthia K.

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  5. Such an original take on VBF! You amaze me!
    :-)
    Anne

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  6. Debra, the vintage photos are just beautiful! Love the ones at the flea market! Happy Vintage Black Friday, I enjoyed your pictures!

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  7. I do declare! Fiddle de de!
    Lee

    Dana is missing out big time.

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  8. Ok now I have to watch Gone with the Wind this weekend. See what you have done with your great post! To rent or buy?

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  9. Thanks for the unique post! So many details in the beautiful mourning attire. Interesting to see the photos. sandi

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  10. A great VBF post - vintage mourning attire is so beautiful. Thanks so much for posting all these great photos.

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  11. Debra, those photos are so good. Amazing how far we have come. Now days you have no clue when someone has a death in the family. I am not suggesting we go back to those clothes, but now days people wear jeans and tennis shoes to funerals. I guess I am just remembering when black was the appropriate attire.

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  12. Hi Debra...love the photos and your blog header's are always just gorgoues. Have a great VBF...julie

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  13. great post, Debra! lately i've really been into Victorian mourning style, the jewelry in particular...thanks for sharing!

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  14. I just love this time period but I cannot imagine having to wear so many layers!

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  15. Really fun blacks! I love Victorian too!!
    Hugs, Lisa

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  16. Oh my goodness....I would wear any and ALL of that - it is all SO GORGEOUS!!! Can we change it from "mourning" to "morning?"

    Serious Eye Candy post - Thank You!!!

    ;-) Robelyn

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  17. Thanks for the history lesson ~ I never knew about this but it appeals to my darker side (slightly gothic) alittle. Blessings friend ~ so thankful for you!

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  18. I've been enlightened, again ... thank you!! So interesting. I'm ashamed to admit I have never read or seen 'Gone with the wind' ... I have the book ... think I'll put it on my next to read list ... thanks!!

    xo
    Jill

    p.s. I'll be missing VBF as well ... mostly I'll miss all you gals faithfully visiting and sharing ; (

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  19. What wonderful garments...surely there will never be such a time of elegance again. And yet, my evaporating hormones say yay! can you imagine having a hot flash in one of those babies? yikes. Beautiful post!

    -c
    yapping cat

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