Vintage Auto Clothing
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There was nothing secretive about the turn-of-the-century motor car. It was proud of its occupants, and anxious to share them with all on their route. Early automobiles (before cars like the Model T were affordable for the masses) whirled through towns and countryside, shouting out "if you want to see the latest thing out, look at me, and look at my passengers." |
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There was also another element that made this same demand of correct dressing, and that was because the motor car was essentially the car of wealth and culture; therefore it behooved those who were born in the era of the horseless chariot, to look their part and to uphold their station. |
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By the turn-of-the-century, vintage motoring fashions for women were no longer merely leather suits. There were now motor calling costumes, theater and opera wraps specially designed to wear when motoring to the play or the opera, and of all sorts of novel fur garments for cold weather riding, as well as shopping costumes entirely made of soft Danish kid. And this doesn't count the accessories in the way of gloves, veils, hoods, hats, lap robes, and foot muffs. |
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Vintage Motor Calling Wraps: |
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[Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division: LC-USZ62-74640 ] | |
Vintage Motoring Hats and Hoods:
Fur caps to match the fur motoring coats were worn with adjustable ear protectors while kid caps were worn to match the kid coats. For bad weather riding, there was nothing more serviceable than the toque made of waterproof silk rubber. In shape it was quite as stylish as any toque of velvet.
The most popular style in veils had an accordion-pleated curtain in front and two long plain chiffon scarf ends. This veil was finished in the front with a narrow ribbon which tied around the low crown of the hat. From this the accordion-pleated curtain fell, the long ends crossed in the back and were tied in front under the chin, drawing the accordion-pleating close to the face. Vintage Accessories: Gauntlets matching the color of the motor coat were a must have accessory. They were made with the gauntlet cuff stiffened and at the top displayed the wearer's monogram, sometimes in printed gold letters, and sometimes hand-embroidered. Many Edwardian ladies had as many as a dozen pairs of gauntlets, in shades of tan, brown, mauve, deep green, and dark red.
Dangling from her long watch chain, or her fob, the Edwardian lady had an odd little bunch of charms, each one of which was supposed to recall something she didn’t wish to forget, so |
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