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Posted by on Nov 23, 2013 in Archive | 0 comments

February 1972: Fashion and the Law

‘Mrs. Betty Ann Crosbie in her presentation on the status of women in the 1870’s to the Costume Society’s workshop last spring made mention of a tongue-in-cheek piece of legislation which purported to regulate and control female extravagance of dress.  The elaborate April Fool’s day joke was presented to the Parliament of the Canadas on April 1, 1859, and Mrs. Crosbie has sent along a copy of the original bill.  An act for the Reform and Regulation of Female Apparel, and to amend the Customs relating to Crinoline and other Artificial superfluities (Bill 999 2nd Session, 6th Parliament, 22 Victoria) The humour, unabashedly male chauvinist in tone, reveals a great deal about the relation of the sexes in mid-century Canada, and is typical of the ridicule which has always greeted any change in fashion.  The piece despite some offensive racist allusions would make an interesting re-print project for the Society.  In the meantime a few excerpts will perhaps excite members’ interest: “Whereas …. It hath been shown … that the Ladies...

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Posted by on Nov 23, 2013 in Archive | 0 comments

Summer 1971: Scraps from the Cutting Room Floor

Bits and pieces from here and there relating to costume in Canada From the Evening Telegram, Toronto, May 6, 1936 “Sixty years ago Miss Ida Romain, a belle of early Toronto, dancing partner of princes and statesmen, created a sensation with a remarkable costume made entirely of newspaper, which she wore to a fancy dress ball given on behalf of the Protestant Orphans’ Home.  That costume, yellowed but intact is still in the possession of Miss Romain, now a woman of 86 with a fund of interesting memories … The dress comprises of the Telegraph (predecessor to the Telegram), Glove, and Leader, Toronto papers of that time. Miss Romain made it herself with the aid of a seamstress, sewing the newspapers firmly to stiff buckram, and cleverly fashioning frills for the voluminous skirt and tight bodice … she ever contrived a newspaper bouquet-holder … A Toronto newspaper account of the ball had this to say of Miss Romain’s dress: ‘The attire worn by Miss Romain was remarkable for its novelty. ...

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Posted by on Dec 15, 2012 in Costume related | 0 comments

BIG EXHIBITION ROM CONTINUES TO FALL 2013

BIG EXHIBITION ROM CONTINUES TO FALL 2013

BIG is mounted in the Patricia Harris Gallery of Costume and Textiles at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) on Level 4 in the Museum’s Michael Lee-Chin Crystal. Opened in November 2012 the exhibition’s diverse objects, many never before displayed to the public, span the globe.  All have been drawn from the ROM’s renowned collection of approximately 50,000 textiles and costumes. A stunning display, the installation showcases 40 objects that, in one way or another, are BIG: big in size, big in historical significance, big news, created by a big name artist (Alexander McQueen, Martin Margiela, Vivienne Tam, Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent, among them), or, simply, carry a big price tag. They are historical (a stunning hand painted and dyed export chintz hanging circa 1750) and contemporary (a fantastic John Galliano for Christian Dior Couture that took a Dior team over 500 hours to create). With some objects publicly displayed for the first time, the installation offers a fresh, new way of exploring the ROM’s renowned collections. BIG...

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Posted by on Dec 1, 2012 in General | 0 comments

HOLIDAY GREETINGS TO CSO MEMBERS

HOLIDAY GREETINGS TO CSO MEMBERS

As the winter holiday season is upon us I would like to send wishes for a belated Happy Chanukah and a Merry Christmas to the members of the Costume Society of Ontario. This is a time for family, for reflection and to dress in our best. May all of our members truly enjoy this festive season. I am very excited about being CSO’s new Chair and look forward to sharing some of my ideas on how to keep the CSO growing and to strengthen our membership. I hope to find ways for us to help each other to reach goals, to be successful, to work together as a group with common interests, exceptional skills and vision. In the coming year I will be making a few suggestions on small changes, and big ideas to encourage the CSO to prosper as a group of like minded individuals. So to all, I extend my wishes, especially those for a Happy and Prosperous 2013! Joy Fine...

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Posted by on Nov 1, 2012 in Costume related | 0 comments

DRESSING FOR WAR: “CROSS-DRESSING IN COMBAT” TALK

DRESSING FOR WAR: “CROSS-DRESSING IN COMBAT” TALK

“Cross-Dressing in Combat” is the  second of two talks on DRESSING FOR WAR by Paul Federico, now Vice-Chair of the CSO. It  will be given Wednesday, 23 January 2013, 7 pm at the TOLL KEEPER’S MUSEUM, Toronto (northwest corner of Davenport Road and Bathurst Street);  information:  www.tollkeeperscottage.ca; (no phone number); tickets at the door. “Cross-Dressing in Combat,”  will be a look at role reversal, gender bending and the art, happenstance, tricks  and foibles of men as women and women as  men and their effect on battles, politics and the  times they lived...

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