Forum Activity for @curtis

Call For Knowledgeable Persons

General Discussion

There more to Uniforms than just protection. One looks at the progression of Armor, from the Bronze Age Helmets and Shield, to the Iron Age of the Greek and Roman, to the full suited Knights of the 12^th and 13^th. Century., and, protection is the first thing to come to mind. But there more.

It Protection, and Utility, but it also tradition, it Inspiration, and Intimidation, and it Pride.

Things which may appear silly to those who do not know, like the Epaulets on Uniforms continuing up thru W.W.I, but these do serve, beside there obvious function of itentfing rank, a useful function. They help to protect the Shoulder bone from the glancing blow of a Saber from horse back.

The BiCorn hat, worn side ways for captains and fore and aft for Litinuts has it origins in the Roman head gear, where the Centurion would have the Comb on his helmet, the Side to Side for the Command of the whole column, and the Fore and aft for each unit. It being the Whole column could se the Centurions Comb, and each of his officers under him, there combs, so that the whole knew where they where heading, Simple communications.

The TriCorn Hat, a staple of 17^th. And 18^th,. Century fashion, gets it start in the Military. If one wearing a broad brim hat, and then try handling a Pike, the brim of the hat gets in the way, same with doing Drill and loading with the new Muskets, so one side of the hat gets pined back,. (Thank of the Slouch hat with the Feather in it of the Caviler during the English Civil War) Next step was to pin both left and right flaps, and pinning the rear became natural.

I always said, the first weapon of European Army's was to try and Intimidate your opponents army by letting see how well dressed yours Army is.

An another example, the Famous Polished Winged Hussars of the 14^th thru the 17^th. Century, those wings where not just to show, but there where whistles which screamed as the Hussars road at full gallop at you, those wings fluttering and making the rider look larger, more terrifying. The Solderers who where on the receiving end of the Winged Hussars, where half beaten before the first blow, with fear as they saw the Hussars charging, and there mighty reputations.

Any way, that a start.

Call for Historical Models

General Discussion

With the advancments in technology, and trasportation, Socirty begains to change faster and Faster.

Having only 2 eras from 1500-1750 is very limiting.

Early Modern Times (1500-1750)

Modern Era (1750 to the present)

The dates are also, Arbitrery.

1500 is a good divider, with the Discovery by Christopher Columbus of something that some in Europe had know for centurys, but by and large was unknow, that of the exsitance of a land to the west, open up many changes, the center of power moved, and a whole new age was opening. At the same time, the Printing press, and the Reformatin was happening.

Some Where between the War of the Spanish Sussion (1701-1714) and the Death of Queen Ann, (1714), We come up with another Nateral divider.

In France, King Luis XIV dies in 1715

So using Anglaphile notations, the Georgian era, (1715-1830)

But the Georgian Era, often is split becase of the French Revolution and the Napolionic Wars ( this could actually be called the Seconed World War, the First being the F&I or Seven years War)

And in all of the English Speaking World, Queen Victoria is used to refer to a Age.

So:

1492-1715 Exploration and Reformation.

1715-1787 (Baroque, Rococo, Colonial, Revolution.)

1787-1830 Empires ( French Empier, English Regency & British Empier, American Federlist)

1830-1901: Victorian

1901 to Present: The Tweneth Century.

Yes, this can all be sub-divided agin to make it more accurate, but I trying to keep broad eras, But what we have above are eras tied together by politics, actions and fashion.

There Be Elves....

General Discussion

Immram, the Journeyer, is Aelven. J.R.R. Tolkien records 4 dialects of the lven language, Sarati, Tengwar and Cirth, in Writing, and Early and late Quenya, which is a later spoken version, and which there is much Aelvish poetry written in.

In lfasklinn, which is the Aelven school in Iceland in the town of Reykjavik, Head master Magns Skarphinsson reports there are 13 different forms of Hulduflk .

lven also appear among the Fearier Folk, or the Wee people of Irerland, Manx and Scotland, and by tradition where descended from the Tuatha D Danann who inhabited the land before the arrival of the Celts.

There Be Elves....

General Discussion

The Hulduflk (Icelandic hidden people from huldu- "pertaining to secrecy" and flk "people", "folk") are elves in Icelandic folklore., are a very serious matter, to offend them, is to risk a life time of bad luck. In Iceland, Roads get re routed to prevent risking offending them, at other times, Giant Boulders, which act as doorways between there world and ours, are Carefully re located, AFTER, a person who can speak to them,. Has negotiated with the Aeleves, and secured there permission for the move.

New 1920's Le Grenier Shop in Paris

Business Announcements

Just a little more about Roaring Twenties...

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Fantastic.

Roaring Twenties arrive to Le Grenier

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I learned years ago, High Quality Wool, dose not scratch. Also, the proper care is important in maintaining soft wool (wash in cold water, air dry, use a gentle soap, one that leaves the natural oils in it. I will refrain from name brands here, but if it good to wash sheep with when it on them, then it suitable to wash the fabrics woven from it.)

Also, Natural fibers, i.e. Wool, Silk, Lenin, Cotton, unlike man made fibers, can breath, being more comfortable to ware both when it hot and when it cold.( That why I can wear a 100% Wool broad cloth blazer in the summer, and not feel too warm, or Wear a Harris wool Tweed jacket in the middle of winter, and not feel cold. Sorry, not a fan of Polyester, it locks you in like a balloon, but it dose not breath, hot in the summer, cold in the winter)

Any way, sorry for my lecture on the value of natural fibers in clothing.

Roaring Twenties arrive to Le Grenier

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I want to compliment you and thank you for your excellent 8 pice / Newsboy cap.

Background, or at lest as I been told and have read, the 8 pice or Newsboy cap comes about as tailors would take the scraps of fabric from making a suit, and sew them together in to caps, sometimes they give them to the customers, some time they sell them. When it was slow in the shop, the tailors would spend there time making these from the scraps, one can do this with much smaller scraps of fabric than the traditional Yorkshire or flat country cap. The Newspaper boys like the look, and the inexpensiveness of them, and it became fashion, for Newsboys to wear them. We all remember Jackie Coogan in the 1921 film with Charlie Chaplin, The Kid, with that way too large Newsboy cap.

But it was also worn by people of fashion, So it one item of clothing that both the Working man, and the kid, as well as the finely dressed gentlemen can wear.

Roaring Twenties arrive to Le Grenier

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Roaring Twenties arrive to Le Grenier

Marketplace Archive ** CLOSED **