So my history is bad. I blame it on the conceptual method of teaching history. I don't remember the dates for the sunset of the British Empire. I've been trying to guess from the costumes on Indian Summers... I know, I'm an airhead! And should be ashamed to reveal such ignorance!

I'm an historian. I think only the wealthy took baths with any regularity, and not all of them chose to, though this shifted and changed over time.

The poor had only one set of clothes - in my research in the late c19th I uncovered a lot of complaints from doctors, for example, about women delivering babies in their only set of clothes. A doctor demanded a lying-in outfit! People did wear linings that could be stripped out to wash, and also cuffs etc. But I still think the smell would have been immense, well after the soap revolutions. One had to have not only soap but water (and not from a tap far down the street) and something to heat water. All pretty difficult for the masses.

Ginger, what a dress! I opened your pic as Miss 7 came into the room.
Miss 7: Cool. That's a very pretty dress. Is she going somewhere?
Me: Yes, to a party.
M7: what sort of a party? And I really like her hair, it's straight, and it's curly, and I think it was already curly, and...Did she buy her dress or did she make it?
Me: She made it.
M7: oh wow. Do you think she could make me one?

I've had a moment to catch up on the blog and wanted to comment on what a fun and enlightening thread this is Rachy! Thanks for posting. And, holy frockamoly, Ginger: Your creation is jaw dropping, and you look AH-MAZING!

Thanks Rachylou!

Haha, Rachylou, no worries! I would really expect the BBC to have their facts straight, too!

Everyone, thank you SO much for the sweet words. This is a crazy hobby, and incidentally the single biggest reason I have a very small "real" clothing budget. That red fabric alone cost significantly more than my EB parka. :p

Brooklyn, there are number of Outlander entries - some really interesting stuff. The designer still seems to have a chip on her shoulder, but I think she's learned a bit how to handle herself on social media.

Sally, there is so much to enjoy and discover on that site! Besides the big new ones, and the big old ones, they are really good at reviewing old stuff (good and bad) and discovering things that are so worth it. Have you seen the older (1990s) Persuasion with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds? Flat-out the BEST Regency-period costuming I have ever seen. And not just individual items, but how they are worn (repeatedly) (with different chemisettes) and realistically (hair comes uncurled in the wind, but isn't worn Down and Modern to start with) and differently in Bath vs. the country. Such a good movie.

Wonderful thread! Singing has given me a chance to wear some wonderful costumes. Of course, in that case, the production designer will tweak the wardrobe realities to create a unified vision. For example, my kimono in Butterfly was made of ombre dyed silk georgette -- because the designer wanted to highlight that we were seeing the Japanese woman through Pinkerton's (male lead character -- a 19th century American naval officer) eyes. The dresses were to move and flutter as we walked -- creating a sense of the "butterfly." It was a gorgeous garment -- and I have traditionally undergarments to boot. And there was lots of practice walking like a geisha while simultaneously singing in Italian!

Off to see Ginger's link ---- and eat cake!

That version of Persuasion is just wonderful. I watch it over and over again. I always cry at the end! And yes, the costumes are lovely and feel very authentic, not merely cinematic.

Beth Ann, that sounds so much fun! Performing in awesome clothes is a blast!

I have seen that version of Persuasion and it is terrific!! I recently enjoyed 'far from the madding crowd' too. Also love the original brideshead revisited and 'A room with a View'. Excuse my poor capitalisation - on my phone!

Ok. Brideshead and Room with a View are completely formative movies for me.

But that Persuasion... That's an interesting one to me in light of our discussion on reality in historical costuming. I went to see Persuasion with my dad, my brother, and my best friend. We all had to sit separately... and listen, my brother is in the movie business... so when we all joined back up in the aisle we burst into laughter... because it was the ugliest cast/makeup in history. It was on purpose of course and some really appreciated it, but on the other hand it's hard to say people go to the movies for yet more reality.

As a movie, I didn't like Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette. But I love it as a Pepsi Cola commercial that I run on the tv in the background for atmosphere...

What a fun read! Thanks for starting it, Rachy. And thanks for the link, Ginger. Love the costume!

Brideshead Revisited! My best friend and I called each other Julia all through high school because of that show...

We named a teddy bear Briny. I still have Briny

I do love historical clothing talk, so thanks for this, Rachylou. And Ginger, what beautiful work! I thought Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thomas was very accurate, too. One of their gowns even looked as if it had been dyed with woad. Did you see Mr. Turner? Extraordinary sets & costumes--I just wanted to walk into that movie & live there.

OMG! I love this! I find historical clothing very interesting (former Rennie here). I often wondered what happened to, say Queen Elizabeth I'st elaborate wardrobe after she died. All those pearls and jewels sewn onto her gowns. Were they property of the state? I'm sure as they were expensive, they were re-cut and re-used.

That's a fascinating question, Witchy. There must be something on display somewhere.

I googled. elizabethi.org says her clothes went to Anne of Denmark (now I have to look her up!). No gowns have lasted, but gloves and corsets have...

Per wikipedia: Anne of Denmark was married to Elizabeth's successor, James 1.

I did not know he got a wife from Denmark. Hmm.