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Clothing
Worn in 1884 by the daughter of a wealthy Southern Ontario
family, this wedding dress reflects the tastes and attitudes of
Victorian society. Photographed on a mannequin, the two-piece dress
with bustle and train is made of ivory ribbed silk, with banded
silk-plush panels on the skirt and ruched tulle at the neck and
wrists. It expresses the Victorian image of a demure and
deferential bride wearing an exquisite white or ivory gown, whose
colour symbolized purity and which would be worn only once.
The veil, a tradition common to many cultures, was a kind of
gift wrapping, preserving her "newness". A bouquet of
orange blossoms or white roses also enhanced the theme of
purity.
In the Victorian era, as today, a wedding offered an opportunity
for the bride and her family not only to share their joy and
hospitality, but also to display their wealth and finery. Weddings
were simpler in less prosperous Victorian families. The bride chose
a wedding dress in whatever colour pleased her, and continued to
wear it on special occasions. (Canadian)
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A Helene Curtiss, "Empress" permanent wave machine. It
has two electrical switches and a timer on one side, including an
outlet marked "Test Curl". It has 30 individual wired
curlers. Accessories include 10 foil and cloth wrappers, 32
"Rub-O-Felt" pads, 30 metal rollers, 29 rubber and metal
"guards" marked "EMPRESS" and patent no.
2136196, and one allen key.
How it worked: Place a lock of hair in the
"Rub-O-Felt" protector and then you pulled the felt close
to the scalp (or as far up as the hair was to be curled). The hair
was then wet with a waving solution. The end of the lock was
wrapped in a foil and cloth wrapper. The lock was wound around a
roller and more solution was applied. Then the roller was wound
around the lock as far as the hair was to be curled (in any case no
farther than the protector pad) and fastened in place in one of the
rubber and metal guards. A heated curler was attached to the
roller. The usual time heating time was 7 minutes. (Unknown)
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