Monday, November 10, 2008

10 Facts about the Edwardian era



All my previous books were set in Regency England, an era that I felt quite knowledgeable about. But now I've switched to the Edwardian era--a little daunting, but I really enjoy the research (though sometimes it seems endless!). Since it's an era we don't read much about in historical romance (most publishing houses used to consider anything post-1900 a no-no in the romantic fiction world), I thought I'd share some fun facts.

Edwardian England -- 1901 - 1910 (though the era generally includes the years up to the Great War in 1914)

10. The speed limit for motorcars in 1902 was 12 mph, though Miss Dorothy Levitt set a world record for women by driving 91 mph that same year. She was forever being fined for breaking the speed limit, so she recommended that ladies join the Automobile Assocation (annual subscription--two guineas), whose 'scouts' would warn drivers of nearby speed traps.

9. The Ladies' Automobile Association was founded in 1903, and the first president was the Baroness Campbell de Laurentz.

8. Shops catered to female motorists, providing flannel-lined leather motoring knickers, three-quarter length leather coats with storm fronts and sleeve wind guards, silk head-veils, tweed coats lined with fur or fleece, goggles, and special driving gloves.

8. Ladies also like to cycle, roller-skate (called 'rinking' then), play tennis and golf. Both Burberry and Harrod's offerred specialty clothing for these activities, such as golf suits, golf knickers, cycling knickers, and even a special cycling skirt that divided at the back to fall 'modestly' on either side of the seat.

7. Speaking of clothing, the Edwardian lady wore *many* layers. The first undergarment layer was the 'combinations' --a sort of vest and pants in one, reaching to the knees (either with short sleeves, or shoulder straps). Over that, a lady wore a corset, its busks fastened with metal clips down the front, and laced up the back. Sometimes they would attach silk pads to the hips and under the arms to heighten the 'hourglass' look, making the waist appear more slender. Then came the camisole (sometimes called a 'petticoat bodice'), sort of an under-blouse that buttoned up the front. Then came the knickers with lace frills at the knee--sometimes they buttoned at the waist, and sometimes they were tied with tapes (knickers and camisoles, by the way, were always white). Then came silk stockings--black, white, or grey--held up by garters. The last of the undergarments was the waist-petticoat made of silk or lawn. The waist-petticoat was tied around the waist. Finally, after all that, the lady would put on either a dress or skirt and blouse. If she wore a blouse and skirt, then she also wore a stiffened belt that fastened in the front and was pinned to the undergarments in the back so that there could never be a gap. Add to that hat, shoes, and gloves, and, well....just imagine how long it took to get dressed and undressed!

6. Electricity was widespread at this point, though some country houses were slower to convert than town houses and might, perhaps, still have gas lighting in the servants' quarters.

5. Edwardian ladies loved cosmetics--and the fashionable look was unnaturally pale. The cosmetics of the era were chemical-based, rather than the herbal ones of earlier centuries, and were often very damaging to the skin. The first layer a lady might apply was a white face paint, made of white lead in a cream base, called 'enamel.' After that came rice powder or pearl powder, followed by rouge and lip-rouge. Some women had their lips and cheeks tattooed to stay permanently colored. Eye makeup generally wasn't common except for eyebrow pencil, though the ladies sometimes brightened their eyes with the terribly dangerous drops of belladonna. Before 1909, women quietly shopped for cosmetics, heavily veiled, coming through back doors of salons. But in 1909, Gordon Selfridge opened a new store in Oxford Street where he placed cosmetics on open display and encouraged ladies to select and experiment. After that, other stores followed his lead and women began to purchase cosmetics out in the open.

4. As for scents, the most popular of the era was violet. Other popular scents included Jordan Water, Atkinson's lavender, or heliotrope, orris root, or roses. The faint smell of sweat was referred to elegantly as "bouquet de corsage" and was claimed to be attractive to gentlemen (good thing, with all those layers of clothing!).

3. Brown hair was considered the height of fashion--particularly 'nut brown' hair or chestnut. It was considered very unfortunate during the Edwardian era to be blond.

2. There was a short-lived trend in the opening of the Edwardian era of breast piercing. The nipples were pierced and fitted with tiny gold rings said to improve the bust line and make it curvier, and to produce a pleasant sensation as the rings moved against the clothing.

1. Edwardian women were still mostly educated at home, taking lessons with their governesses. Some young ladies were sent to finishing school abroad--mostly France, Germany, and Switzerland--where, for two years they might learn French or German and social poise.

There you have it....ten useless facts about the Edwardian era! Isn't it interesting that, with all the modern conveniences (cars, electricity, vacuum cleaners!) and newfound freedoms (motoring, cycling, etc.), upper-class ladies were *still* much more like their predecessors from two centuries before than like modern women? Despite all the advances, they were still vastly uneducated (far less so than their other European counterparts), with very little rights (voting, property rights, marriage rights, etc.), and very little to do or hope to do, except marry and have children. Pretty similar to the Georgian lady.

I must say, however, that I'm glad that publishers have finally opened the doors to eras outside the usual in historical romance. So many 'romantic classics' have been set during the Edwardian era (Somewhere in Time, Titanic, The Forsyte Saga, A Room With a View--all of the Merchant-Ivory films, really) that I'm amazed it's only now beginning to garner some interest in the world of romantic fiction.

And that leads me to my question of the day: What largely untapped historical period would you like to see gain ground in historical romance?

I think for me, besides Edwardian, I'd have to say World War II era, or perhaps the time between the two great wars.

14 comments:

Charlotte Featherstone said...

I do hope your heroes have quick fingers when undressing their ladies. I had NO idea there were that many layers.

And breast piercing....hmmm, not so very different from today. I was shocked by that.

Thanks for this very neat post. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Now, to answer your question.
I'd like to see more in the WWII era as I have a fondness for that period of time. My gran used to tell me wonderful stories that seem so romantic now of her days in the war. So many of my realtives served, both male and female. She always edited out the scary stuff for my benefit, I think. I used to love to sit and listen to her stories.
Another era I love, but has had a few books printed about,is the Georgian era. I love the bawdiness of that time, plus it's a challenge to make a man tough and sexy in lace cuffs and heels! lol!

Fantastic post;

Laura Essendine said...

I've just been researching a historical crime novel set in the era of Charles II. It was a time of great political, social and religious upheavel where a great many interesting things were happening around England.

Added to which, Charles's court was considered rather naughty, even for the time. Plenty of chance to work in lust, seductions and romance around this period.

Laura Essendine
Author – Casanova’s condoms
The Accidental Guru

Kristi Cook said...

Interesting, Laura! I just might have to delve into that era. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Genella deGrey said...

Great article, Kristina!

I was once told by a "New York" publisher that the American Revolutionary War was not sexy. (Wow. Good thing "NY" is so open-minded! NOT!)

I'm interested in seeing more from that era. The choices they had to make between Mother England and freedom, the men who joined the Continental Army to fight against the crown, and the women who stood by their sides.

What an amazing time in history.

And I really like the "high" fashion of that time, too.

Also – Just after that, the Pre-French Revolution (Both England and France for that matter.) The decadence of the aristos is simply fascinating to me.

I've already written five stories which range from 1745 to 1795 (they take place in Scotland, England, America and Venice, Italy) and I'd love to read other romances set in that time period.

:)
G.

Kristi Cook said...

Genella, I'm a fan of the American Revolution-era romance myself! There used to be a lot of those in 80's, and I'm hopeful that they'll make a comeback one day soon (especially since American History was my academic focus!). There was a Kathleen Woodiwiss book set sometime around the Revolutionary period that I remember loving!

I studied 'initial contact' quite a bit in grad school, and always found it fascinating (meaning the Europeans' first contact with Native Americans) and I'd LOVE to write a romance dealing with that someday. I really do think that NY publishers are widening their historical horizons right now, and I really do think that if a truly fabulous book set in just about any era landed on their desk, they'd snap it up. Right now everyone's looking for the 'next big thing.' And you just never know what that might be!

Amanda McIntyre said...

This is a test. I am having trouble posting LOL

Amanda

Amanda McIntyre said...

ok, there we go. Now to remember what I wrote!
First Genella , I agree I love the Civil war period and I especiually have an interest in the pre-civil war period as well.

Kristi, fascintating info! The makeup thing kind of made me think of the Joker in Batman!!
wow, what guinea pigs women have been through the ages LOL

Amanda

Fedora said...

Wow, cool post! I admit I didn't know any of that! And uh, pathetically, I seem to have trouble telling just about any of those historical periods apart--clearly history was not a good class for me!

C.M.W. said...

Got a question about Edwardians and makeup: what would they have called it? Was "makeup" widely used, or would they have referred to component parts--enamel, rouge, etc.?

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Anonymous said...

I'd like to see historical romance set in colonial India, especially during the Victorian era. Also romances set around diplomats missions.

Anonymous said...

We have really screwed up, letting the women get educated. They now have equal rights never want to stay home or cook, clean raise kids. Women of today get tattoos, wear pants, go out and party, have sex with guys on the first date. Woman of today have destroyed the family, the end is coming very soon.

Anonymous said...

ur a sexist prick