Long Live Long Legs

I have some fun, old sewing books I like to flip through on occasion -- sometimes for laughs.  Take for instance the following discussion about the absurdity of various fashion trends, from Fabrics and Dress by Rathbone and Tarple, 1937.  Hang in there with me.  There's a good laugh coming.

First up is the fabulous headdress above, a la Marie Antoinette -- Watch out madame, you're tipping starboard!

"Regardless of how reasonable or sane the inspiration for a fashion may be, the style sometimes is carried to extreme, with grotesque and absurd results. We can glance through books on historic costume and pick out many "follies" which have grown out of sensible fashions.  Outstanding among the freaks of fashion has been the headdress made popular by Marie Antoinette, Queen of France and Royal Dictator of Fashion..."  And the book goes on to discuss the fabulous hair-do above. (I say go for it, Bjork. I liked your cheeky swan dress.)

The next folly of fashion on the table are poulaines, medieval shoes with liripipe toes. (This seriously takes me back to my History of Costume class my Freshman year in college. How in the world did I recall the term, poulaines?)

"Shoes with long toes were another absurdity of fashion to which we often point with ridicule... richer and more eminent personages wore shoes with tips a foot long and princes two feet (Fig. 4)" And so forth.

Now here's where it gets good.

"Another recent fashion, which will probably seem as absurd as many of these when it becomes long out-of-date, is the very short skirt of 1928-1929, which was about three inches above the knee (Fig. 7) When worn with extremely high heels, it made the expanse of the legs much longer than the length of the skirt..."

Wait.  What?.

Innocent eyes, look away. 

The scandal!

What woman would want her legs to look longer by wearing a short not-that-short skirt?  Just the most absurd idea in fashion ever -- the extremely short skirt of 1928-1929 -- clearly as absurd as the pirate hat and the carrot shoe.  It will never last.

I do love my old books.

-o-o-o-o-o-

Regarding poulaines: "Such shoes proved a hazard among the French Crusaders at the Battle of Nicopolis (1396) when they had to cut off the tips in order to run away." Isaac Asimov, Isaac Asimov's Book of Facts, 1979.

Some fashions don't repeat themselves -- for good reason.

Comments

[Karin (the Mrs.)]

Hahaha. I totally picture those pirates clipping the tips off their shoes while trying to fence off some enemy. Too funny!

[Karen Davis]

haha the extremely short skirt! Thank you for the chuckle... totally made my evening!

[Mrs Frankenstien]

hee hee, she does look a bit slatternly doesn't she, "stay away from my husband with those freakishly deceptive long legs lady!"

[kellie]

love it! I remember reading about those long toed shoes in 10th grade history, my teacher said they were eventually banned because people kept getting hurt!

[Corvus]

I'm so wearing a miniskirt today. Long live legs!

[SillyFrillyKids]

Oh my, I feel such a harlot now with my favorite little summer skirts. The SHAME... lol!

[Katy Sanders]

It's funny how styles have change over the course of history.

[heather]

kinda makes me wonder what event or social change took place between the early 1900's and the late 20's. How did it become acceptable in such a short span of time (given the rest of history) that womens dress went from hiding their ankles to baring their knees!

[melissa]

I just read "queen of fashion" what Marie Antoinette wore to the revolution. It was really good! Talked about her history and how she used fashion to gain favor in the court.. you might like it.

[Erika Sews-it-all]

Too funny! Short skirts...little did that author know what was coming!

[justarabbit]

Actually, I was in Beirut recently and went out for a walk in a modest khaki mini skirt, during the day along the beach boardwalk, and was totally leered at the whole time by men. It's really quite weird to wear even modest miniskirts out during the day there. However, the skinny jean and tight fitting long-sleeved top have been embraced whole heartedly in Beirut. Personally I don't see much difference between real leg and a tightly covered bit of leg, but some people apparently do.

[Kristen]

This so makes me wish that I had gone to college a year later...the year they added the "History of Costume and Dress" to the curriculum. It's so interesting to see not only fashions from history, but an author's takes on those fashions when he himself is from another era!

[Dreaming Bear]

What a hoot!

[Meredith]

That picture is probably the best thing ever.

[Denise]

Um... and what would these experts say about acid wash? Which (eek) I have had to shield my eyes from while shopping recently. I thought there were enough of us around who remember that the first time to never go there again.

[emma watson]

thank you i have had so much inspiration from u and what you have achieved and i have only looked at a few of your pages/blogs.

[Karen]

I just got my patterns yesterday and can't wait to try them. I found your site via another blog...not sure which one but I am so glad I did. I also discovered that prior to knowing your fabric and design by name I had already purchased some of your material. LOVE IT!

[April~Living The Sweet Life]

Love the extreme short skirt! I need to go through my grandma's stash of patterns.

[Brooke romney]

I love it. It was so fun to see you at "our" haircut. I also have Alyson's name and phone number for you if you want it. She said she'd love it. Just email me or call or I'll run into you at preschool!

[Donna]

Oh Heather, I just loved your post today, very very well written as well as funny, and me, being one that would love my legs to look longer in a not so short skirt thought this part was fabulous, thanks Heather!

[angelina]

haha, my sister and i like to read old nursing books: they say things like " always be silent while the doctor is in the room" and " the doctor must always never be argued with " etc etc. then the bedpan stuff....and the diagnosing....times sure do change!

[julia]

It's really too bad my grandmother isn't here anymore so that I might share this with her. She would have gotten such a kick and a laugh out of the shamelessly short skirt (she was a seamstress and always, always well dressed and absolutely informed about the latest fashion trends).

[Laura]

that is HILarious! The author's certainty that this ridiculous fad will look absurd in years to come... the EXTREMELY short skirt. awesome!

[Stacy]

I like how you tie the history to the fashion... Very cool

[elise cole]

The strange thing is that the accompanying picture doesn't show a skirt that is three inches above the knee. As far as I can tell, that skirt is covering her knees.