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St. Martin’s Lanterns

Advent Calendar

Mutter Sonne

The post How Fashion Changed in the 19th Century first appeared on Around the Year.

Depending on where you live, you might know this historical period by different names, such as Mid-Victorian, Civil War, 3rd Napoleonic Era. It coincided with the reign of naturally Queen Victoria, Empress Eugene and Empress Sisi, each of whom heavily influenced the fashions of her time. After jealously looking at the photos posted each year, this year I finally had a chance to attend myself!

There is a video at the end of this post, in case you would like to see some of the gowns in action!

The annual Victorian Ball hosted by PriorAttire is held in Bath on the first weekend in May, usually coinciding also with the Met Gala – we all know who had the better dresses! I arrived on Friday afternoon, in time to explore a little before getting dressed in 1860s day-wear for a historical evening promenade through the city.

A number of girls stayed in the same hotel as me, so the receptionists soon had to get used to women in hoop skirts coming in and out. The promenade was a great opportunity to meet the people and chat to other dressmakers.

Oddly enough, I felt very myself in my dress, it did not feel like I was playing a part. I guess wearing the (almost) historically correct underpinnings also helped make the dress “real” as opposed to an empty costume worn over of the true you. Many people stopped to talk to us about our costumes, asked for pictures, and – my personal favorite – a skateboarder lifted his baseball cap at us! Funnily enough, others felt “underdressed” when they saw us, instead of us feeling overdressed.

On Saturday afternoon we had a dance workshop, in preparation for that night’s ball. Dances were called, and we learned how to dance polkas, quadrilles and English country dances. Some women wore day dresses, but most of us just showed up in our crinolines with a petticoat. I simply wore crinoline and t-shirt. It was important to get a sense of the space dancing in our big skirts.

Some of us did some last-minute shopping, ribbons, flowers and the like. I miraculously found some affordable vintage evening gloves in an antique store, and also some historically plausible clip-on earrings at a little shop in the Guildhall market.

Then we helped each other dress, and again the atmosphere was amazing. Imagine five exited girls getting into huge dresses in very small rooms, and finally building a chain in the corridor to lace the dresses of fix their hair. We were of course running late, and the fact that a pizza delivery guy had to squeeze past us, didn’t exactly help either. But we made it!

Finally we were all done and ready to hurry to the ball. When we got there, I noticed that I had forgotten my evening gloves. After some hesitation I figured I could run back to the hotel to get them, as every one was still queuing to have their picture taken.

I didn’t want to miss my chance of an official portrait, but there were enough people in front of me to give me 10 minutes to spare. That meant I had a proper “Cinderella running” moment. I also encountered some other latecomers to the ball, the gentleman courteously lifting his hat. In return I gave a hurried bow, and then started running again.

At eight o’clock, the ball started with a procession of all the couples, who walked in, bowed to the hostess/dance instructor, before separating into lines of men and women walking around the perimeter of the ballroom, before rejoining their partner at the doors. and walking around the room again this time as couples. Once we came to the doors again, we joined a second couple, to form a set of four dancers, ready to kick off the night with a Spanish Walz, which smoothly transitioned into a Danish Dance. Polkas and Quadrilles, Reels and Country-dancing followed. We had a short break about mid-evening, before dancing again till almost midnight.

Sunday morning I met with a few ball-goers for brunch at Sally Lunns, a historic little restaurant in town. The bulk of the ball guests brunched at the Pump rooms, but they were already sold out. Then we wandered around town a little more, and I caught the 3:13 train home. The End.

Since this was my first time going to a costume event, I was really exited, but also a little worried about how my dress was going to look next to all of the gowns of more experienced dressmakers. I did look a little simpler than most, but that was only to be expected, and didn’t stop me from enjoying my weekend to the full.

Especially the dancing was amazing – even though due to gentlemen shortage I danced with women most of the night. But since the dances are danced mostly in sets instead of the lead/follow setup, that didn’t really matter. Instead we danced our hearts out underneath the brilliant chandeliers, while about 500 meters of fabric whirled across the old wooden floors.

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The post 1860s Victorian Ball Bath 2024 – My First Historical Costume Event first appeared on Around the Year.

After moving away to England 7 years ago, we kept the tradition of singing a few songs at home, and baking our version of the customary Lussebullar: since we prefer the taste, we simply make Cinnamon rolls, but roll them into the traditional s-shape required.

This year I found out that there are actually one or two Lucia events in London, but unfortunately it was too far away for me to attend weekly rehearsals.

Then last week, on an impulse, I sewed myself a white Lucialinne, the simple white shift dress worn for the festivities, which really resembles and Edwardian nightgown. Since it’s impossible to buy them here, and the dress is a really simple one, I decided to just make one, even though I wouldn’t be wearing it anywhere. Unfortunaltey I couldnt find a Luciakrona, the candle crown anywhere, and it was impossible to build one. They need to be quite sturdy and are usually made of metal, with either 5 or 7 candles. Often the bare metal is then wrapped in evergreens and secured with red ribbon. I did however make a normal wreath like the one worn by Lucia’s followers to complete the look.

I ended up shooting this short video, to capture the mood of the season:

Lucia: Symbolism and Backstory

The name Lucia or Lucy can mean light, and that together with her feast day on December 13th in the dark of winter helped her gain popularity in Scandinavia, especially in Sweden, where her feast day is celebrated as the Night of Light. Lucia is dressed in a long white gown (feel free to be creative with white skirts and long-sleeve blouses) with a red ribbon or sash tied around the waist, the ends falling down the front of the dress. Naturally the real St Lucy of Syracuse would not have dressed like that, the Lucia costume could be symbolical of her attributes (white=virginity, red=martyrdom), as well as being a crossover with a Christmas angel.

The first evidence of a a white-clad Lucia dates back to the 18th century, where she was depicted with angels wings, and carrying candles in both hands. However Lucia as a public holiday only came into fashion in the 1950s, in connection with the crowning of the towns Lucia, similar to a beauty pageant.

Men also participate in the Lucia procession and choir, usually as Stärngossar (star boys) inspired by the three wise men.

Ideas to Celebrate Lucia from Home In Style

• Watch a Lucia procession online (see a few of my favourites below)
• Bake Lussebullar and serve with mulled wine or cardamon coffee
• Light up your backyard (or a part of the forest) with candles – extra points for snow!
• Dress as Sankta Lucia or a Stärngosse and serve your family and friends cakes or pastries
• Sing “Sankta Lucia”

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Luciamorgon i Kungsholms kyrka

Sankta Lucia – Celebrating Light in the Dark of Winter December 13th St Lucy's Day 2023

Lucia 2019 – Lucia morning from Gränna Sweden

Light in the darkness | Swedish Lucia Tradition

Lucia 2022 – Lucia morning from Gräfsnäs Sweden

LUCIA – The night of light

Lucia 2018 i Kungsholms Kyrka med Kungsholmens gymnasium/Stockholms musikgymnasium

A Salutation to Light in the Darkest of Nights

Jonna Jinton Lucia 2014 "Ljus i mörkret"

Helen Sjöholm & Benny Andersson Nu tändas tusen juleljus

Lucia – Ljus i mörkret HD jonnajinton.se

Lucia 2015 Sweden (Updated subtitles)

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St. Martin’s Lanterns

Advent Calendar

Mutter Sonne

The post Celebrating Lucia from Home: Easy Traditions you can Start Right Now! first appeared on Around the Year.

I don’t think hankies with pre-made holes are still available for purchase, so here is a workaround to create the handkerchiefs of your dreams using only some plain white cotton and embroidery thread!

You will need:

• White cotton fabric (or a pastel color if you prefer)
• Embroidery-cotton
• Embroidery needle
• Fine crochet hook

Depending on the thickness you’re going for, you can bi-sect the (usually 6-standed) embroidery cotton and only work with 3 threads.

First things first, hem your handkerchief using a blanket stitch. Make sure to get it as even as possible. Alternatively, you could also use a whip-stitch.

Now it’s time to crochet! Create a row of double crochets all around your hanky, using the loops of the blanket of whip-stitches on the hem. That will be the sturdy base for your lace design. Now find your favorite crochet lace edging pattern, and add that onto your base. Check out the video below, for a step-by-step demonstration!

Pro-tip: embroider a simple flower design or your monogram onto a corner of your hanky!

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The post How to Make Vintage Handkerchiefs with Crochet-Lace Edging! first appeared on Around the Year.

The post Making an Edwardian Summer Dress first appeared on Around the Year.

According to Wikipedia:

She was a member of upper middle class society, always perfectly dressed in the latest fashionable attire appropriate for the place and time of day. The Gibson Girl was also one of the new, more athletic-shaped women, who could be found cycling through Central Park, often exercised and was emancipated to the extent that she could enter the workplace.^[3] In addition to the Gibson Girl’s refined beauty, in spirit, she was calm, independent, confident, and sought personal fulfillment. She could be depicted attending college and vying for a good mate, but she would never have participated in the suffrage movement.

Though complicated-looking, you can create the iconic Edwardian hairstyle in under 30 seconds. I admit, this one is not a very fancy style, but a simpler one, that might work well for turn-of-the-century everyday.

Here’s how to do it:

Can you beat my time? Post your results using #gibsongirlchallenge

The post The Easiest Gibson Girl Hairstyle Ever? first appeared on Around the Year.

I used a natural/vegan nail polish, as there are less toxic ingredients in it than in regular nail varnish. Check it out here: Happy Nails Clear Nail Polish.

The post DIY Valentine’s Day Glitter Nails first appeared on Around the Year.

Springt direkt zur Selle im Video:

• Bund/Schaft: 01:27
• Ferse: 07:17
• Fußteil und Spitze: 15:01

Material:

• 50-75g Sockenwolle

The post Einfache Socken Stricken für Anfänger — mit Boomerangferse! first appeared on Around the Year.

Below there’s a dressing-up video, showing me getting into the 1840s dress and all it’s underwear, transforming into an early victorian lady.

The post Victorian DRESS REVEAL and Dressing-Up Video! 1840s Day-Dress first appeared on Around the Year.

The post How to Braid an Easy Dutch Side Braid first appeared on Around the Year.