As We Were: A Series About 19th Century Photography, Fashion, and Fun

As We Were, is my own personal look into 19th Century photography, fashion, and culture. The idea came from my box of ghosts, or that is the many boxes I have full of 19th Century photos that need to be shared.

My regular readers will recognize some of the images, but there are many many many more that haven’t been seen for a long time.

Each 1st and 4th Wednesday I’ll ~~ramble~~ share my photos, along with stories, thoughts on fashion like how bustles and hoop skirts really work, society, and other related subjects.

All images are from the collection of and property of Juliette Kings / Marla Todd. Please ask for permission before reproducing. Thank you.

Fashionable tweens.

This one is a little later, from the 1890’s. Flowers never go out of style.

Fashionable friends have fashionable hats and fabulous pets.

A remarkable hat. Check out the detail in the sleeves. Why do most costumes in movies get the beautiful details all wrong? It is those tiny details that make the moment come alive.

Notice the feathers. Now imagine the wild bright colors these hats were. There was nothing drab about the colors these women were wearing. We only see them in black and white. Imagine the colors!

Fashionable friends in the 1880’s with fabulous hats. Do you think they planned this or just happened to show up wearing these delightful creations?

Any good mother would know to start their children off early with stylish hats. Of course they had a dog.

Of course you could always borrow your boyfriend’s hat.

1840’s. Yes, I’m a teenager here with my sister and I’m still bored.

Ready for adventure in the 1850’s

Ambrotypes. Sisters early 1850’s. Note the fabulous matching dresses and tinted cheeks. Love these girls.

Smile. Around 1850-54

Daguerreotype 1840’s

Daguerreotype 1840’s

Civil War era dress. Check out the beautiful details.

My regular readers might recognize this fine fellow. Innocenzio D’Antonio: An opera singer and friend of the family.

Randolpho wearing one of his famous hats. Notice his nicely tinted cheeks.

Future posts will include:

Civil War Era Fashion including the hoop skirt
California portraits
Bustle Dresses
Hoop Skirts
Many many posts on fashions of the 1840’s – 90’s
Big hair
Children
Parents and children
Families
Grandparents
19^thCentury Teens
Dogs and Cats
Weddings, graduations, and other special occasions
Children and toys
Tinted images
Tintypes
Big hats
Having fun
Extreme Fashion
Beautifully unattractive portraits
Vampires, Ghosts, and other paranormal issues, with help from Nigel
Fabulous Hats
Cabinet Card Backs
Outdoors
RPPC – Real Picture Post Cards
Hot Victorian Guys
And more

Post Mortem and Erotic photographic images from the 19th Century are popular among collectors and online discussion groups. While there are many interesting and beautiful examples in both genres, I do not collect either of these types of photos and will not be featuring either one in my future posts.

Remember to come back every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month for another fun installment of As We Were.

If you have any questions or comments please leave them below. I’d love to hear from you.

~ Juliette aka Vampire Maman