Charles Williams Store Catalog Fall/Winter 1925

Up next in my catalog scans is the Charles Williams Store Catalog Fall/Winter for 1925. I bought this catalog on Ebay about 10 years ago.

 

 I love the addition of fur at the hem of some of the coats.

 

Love that bottomblack and red dress on the right.

 

 

Monthly Theme Post - Maxi Skirts

 

Hmmm... maxi skirts.... Knee length skirts and I are friends, but maxi skirts an I are not really friends. The only skirt I have that could qualify for this theme post is the skirt to my half mourning 1880's costume. There is a  matching veiled hat, corset and jet jewelry that goes along with it as well. I made it 4 years ago for my mum's big Halloween party. She hired a magician to perform, who tied me up with ropes that fell apart - magically! 

Anyway... back to maxi skirts. One reason I don't like to wear them is that there is an extreme religious group in my area that subjugates women in a depressing way. They are unschooled, unable to go out alone and have to wear these awful skirts. Of course the men are not subject to any of these regulations. They make me sad when I see them, therefore when I think of maxi skirts I think of them.

My Corset Collection

The black waist cincher on the left I wear all the time. I originally made it to wear with an 1880's bustle gown. The corset in the middle is Chinese brocade and is so tiny- 20" waist!  I can't believe this used to fit me! The corset on the right I made to wear to an exhibition of corsets at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Apparently I have 2 orange corsets. I'm not even really into orange but they were both made as part of a costume. The one on the left I hand beaded while watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs one year. It goes to a hot pink and orange can-can dancer outfit. The corset on the right is art of a 1900's-1910's black and orange Halloween costume. Every dot is sequined and the skirt has Beistle cats painted on it.

 

 

I could not get a good photo of the pink corset. In person it is not so shiny and is a lovely raspberry colour. It is an overbust corset with a drawstring at the top to make it secure.  The corset in the centre is a lovely gray/purple and also looks better in person. The corset on the right is my attempt at make a a more vintage looking corset.

 The corset on the left is from from around 1900. It is in rough shape, but I still think it is beautiful. Every seam has 4 channels of boning! The middle vinyl corset is the only commercial one, I think it's from Leg Avenue. Each corset has it's own color coded bag, and they all live in the box my hockey skates came in.