The women of Easter, from Ladies Home Journal, April 1912, issue.
courtesy of thevintagesite.com.
Did you ever wonder what was the history of Easter fashion trends? Being a lover of all things stylish, I did! Here’s what I found. Easter has one of the richest legacies for finery, and it may be one of the last fashionable traditions left, albeit barely.
For centuries, Easter Sunday dress was steeped in respect for the glory of God. It was defined by civility, formality and propriety. One of the most famous of en masse holiday attire – the New York City Easter Parade – dates back more than 100 years and was originally a huge procession of Easter ensembles down 5th Avenue. I remember seeing all of the wonderful outfits on tv as a kid.
Apparently, no one ever decreed that new clothes must be worn on Easter Sunday, but it was part of the tradition. If you couldn’t afford a new outfit, women would buy a hat or men, a new tie. Grosgrain ribbon was a favorite to spruce up an old ensemble.
And, Easter comes at a time of year when we’ve had enough of winter and are yearning for the color, warmth and blooms of spring. Easter fashion mirrors that in its florals, lace, ribbons and gorgeous color!
Robin Givhan wrote a wonderful Washington Post piece on the subject, and I love her description of what’s become of the tradition: “The day remains one of the last gasps of old-school style. It gives milliners a reason to stock up on horsehair and ostrich feathers. It has hairstylists recalling the best method for setting Shirley Temple curls. And it makes parents who normally are gender-neutral on matters of child-rearing suddenly revert to stereotypes — putting daughters in frilly dresses and boys in pint-size navy blazers and clip-on ties.” Amen!
Here are some Easter fashions I love…doggie style!
Easter Fashion Trends – Perennials
Ani and Sophie in their Easter dresses. Ani wears a pastel patchwork dress from Petco’s adorable, new spring collection, and Sophie wears a pastel floral frock, also from the Petco collection. Both have a flattering empire waistline, with a dainty satin ribbon and bow, across it. I was impressed with how stylish Petco’s spring collection is. Love.
This is a wonderful shade of blue gingham Easter vest for little boys. I love the formal bow tie; it’s the perfect touch for making Easter special. Made by Miascloset on Etsy.
Collars and bandanas are a great way to get into the spirit, if you have a dog that doesn’t like wearing clothes. I think this Easter bunny collar is adorable; also comes in Easter eggs by PawNClawsCouture, also on Etsy.
The bunny bandana with bow is fresh and it sparkles! Also comes in a matching bow tie for the gents, and both in different color schemes. Both at MollyMeDogBoutique on Etsy.
This vest is so cheery, it’s perfect for Easter for those who prefer clean lines to frills. And, isn’t this pup precious? All cotton, checkered floral fun. At WhirlyDogSupplies shop on Etsy.
Easter is meant to be celebrated with flair, so join the fun and the finery of it all, dogs, of course, included. Happy Easter, everyone!
You might also be interested in my post on the history of canine couture.
Are you dressing up for the holiday? Tell me what your pup is wearing!
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