Did you know that if it was 1823 rather than 2023 many of us would be right in the middle of the “social season”? From Jane Austen novels to Bridgerton, it is commonly referred to in stories set in the 19th century, and as I start to make my own plans for what is sure […] The post The social season: 19th Century's time to party appeared first on Recollections Blog ..read more

Clothing colors looked a lot different in the Victorian era. For women, for instance, a “little black dress” would have referred to a no-frills mourning gown. Strict rules, some unspoken and some quite explicit, governed what colors went together, and in what ways. Over the next few months, I will be taking a look at […] The post Tickled pink: colors in the Victorian era appeared first on Recollections Blog ..read more

How are you celebrating the arrival of spring? I will be spending a few days in the mountains next week, both as a farewell to the long winter we have had in Denver and also for my birthday which lands on May 3rd. I will be following in a long tradition of venturing out into […] The post Celebrating spring with the maypole appeared first on Recollections Blog ..read more

There is something about hat boxes that adds such a nice touch to a room or a feeling of sophistication to a scene. While they may not elicit as much excitement as vintage hats themselves, they are elegant reminders of a time past. A time of daily formality and attention to detail. A time when […] The post A brief history of hat boxes appeared first on Recollections Blog ..read more

A brooch is the perfect finishing touch to any Victorian dress or ensemble. I know I have regretted not having one more than once when dressing for a 19th-century-themed event! We have some great options here at Recollections, my favorite is the fairy cameo below.  The cameo style is a very distinctive Victorian look, though […] The post Let's talk about Victorian cameos! appeared first on Recollections Blog ..read more

We love Valentine’s Day here at Recollections! Perhaps it is because the Victorians embraced it so much. Whatever the case, we look forward to it and have enjoyed creating some great content over the last few years. We also love using it as an occasion to express love and appreciation for our customers and readers. […] The post Happy Valentine's Day! appeared first on Recollections Blog ..read more

Several months back I came across a framed glove on the Victoria and Albert Museum website. Upon further inspection, I was pleased to discover that it was a Valentine from 1836 from an unknown person to their unknown lover. It got me more than curious about the possibility of other existing 19th-century Valentine’s gifts. I […] The post 19th-century Valentine's gifts (to make you swoon) appeared first on Recollections Blog ..read more

We are going to try out a new feature here on Recollections! Knowing how much our community loves all things history, fashion, and women’s history related we will now be gathering news stories through the month that includes the latest in research on each topic.  What history news would you like us to make sure […] The post January History News Roundup appeared first on Recollections Blog ..read more

Victorian wedding dresses are a sight for any eyes – sore or otherwise. The era was a big time for weddings as life was becoming more public and both parties were increasingly given more say in who they met at the end of the aisle. Queen Victoria herself is a great example of this gradual […] The post Did Queen Victoria turn Victorian Wedding Dresses White? appeared first on Recollections Blog ..read more

I have a new hobby! I am a big fan of hand-lettering and a big history enthusiast. I recently decided to combine two of my passions and start lettering with a fountain pen. That naturally led me down an internet rabbit hole of trying to learn about the history of fountain pens and their related […] The post That's write! Inkwells through time appeared first on Recollections Blog ..read more