Introduction

Welcome! I created this site in spring 2011 as part of my undergraduate thesis project, “Public History and the Applied History of Clothing and Needle Arts.” It’s designed to be a resource for the research and reproduction of historical clothing – among other things. Now that I’ve graduated, the content of this site will broaden in scope, covering not just historical clothing but also more general sewing information, vintage style, and all sorts of antiquated domesticity, as well as the odd bit of theorizing here and there. In general, things will be grounded in history, but (hopefully!) not stuck in the past.

I believe that public history has a lot to offer, on a practical as well as a more abstract level: it can help us look backwards and directly learn useful things from those who came before us, or simply be inspired to broaden our horizons and think outside the box. We have many more options than just what’s customarily offered in the here and now, and many of those options are, well, better. In my not-always-terribly-humble opinion! So whether it’s using natural fibers for sewing, old-fashioned milk paint for non-toxic furniture refinishing, or seasonal local produce for cooking, I’m always inclined to ask “How did they used to do this?” and look there first for inspiration, and often healthy and environmentally-friendly approaches.

But this site isn’t just about my ideas, or my inclinations. There’s a great deal of great information out there on the internet (and, of course, in books and other print sources), but sometimes it can be difficult to find. So part of what I’m doing with the Bygone Glamour blog is including copious links to other blogs and websites, especially to specific posts, articles, and tutorials. This is the purpose of my Link Bouquets, and you’ll also find collected links all over the site, especially on glossary entries and base posts.

Note that the site didn’t develop as gradually as most blogs, so beware that scrolling through posts in reverse chronological order will get strange and disjointed very quickly. In many ways, this site was set up to function more like a traditional website than a blog. Basic information and major overview articles about the site are listed across the top and also here in the index, as well as being linked to whenever else happens to be relevant. The site can be browsed in a variety of ways, based on what you’re interested in. You can explore by category (each century, project, and garment has its own category), by tag (there are tags for garment types, fibers and materials, fashion eras, sewing techniques, etc.), or through the Index. General updates and posts coming after the end of the thesis can be found under the “Updates” tab.

For more information on different aspects of this site, see also:

• The Division III that started it all: Clothing Thesis Project
• Proper blog posts and all the latest: Updates
• Everything, but organized: Index
• If you’re curious about me: About Ava

This page, and many other aspects of the site, will keep changing as I fiddle with getting it all set up properly. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to contact me: ava dot trimble at g mail dot com.

And once again – welcome to my corner of the internet! Happy browsing.

-Ava

(last updated June 9, 2011)