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Our information on the 1870s is still quite limited, but there were major developments durung the decade. We do begin to see more adverisements in the 1870s. One notable trend is that we see the tunic suits disppering as a major style. We also see more stores offering kneepants, especially for younger boys. Perhaps the major development in the decade was the appearance of large mail order stores. Montgomery Ward launched America's most famous mail order business in 1872. There may be earlier companies, but Wards was by far the dominate company. These stores will provide us a major source of information about fashion trends over time. There were department store catalogs and fashion magazines. Advertisements in newspapers and magazines become more prevalent and advances are made in lithography so that they can be better illustrated. Photographs could not yet be reproduced. The note one retailer used photographic CDVs to ad avertize his Lorne suit in 1871. We note patterns be advetized in magazines.
We do not yet have any advertisements for 1870. We do have some patent submissions. As knee pabts and long stockings became ibvreasingly popular there was a need for stocking supporters. We note a patent for a combined stocking supporter and skeleton waist. And another patent for a body brace and supporter.
Advertisements in newspapers and magazines become more prevalent and advances are made in lithography so that they can be better illustrated. Photographs could not yet be reproduced. The note one retailer used photographic CDVs to advertize the Lorne suit in 1871. It was a boy' suit which still had a tunic look. It was advertized as "new style", but looks to us like styles we have seen earlier.
Perhaps the major development in the decade was the appearance of large mail order stores. Montgomery Ward launched America's most famous mail order business in 1872. There may be earlier companies, but Wards was by far the dominate company. These stores will provide us a major source of information about fashion trends over time. A new fashion magazine appeared in 1872--The Delineator. The magazine offered patterns to consumer and is one of the most important sources of information on late 19th century clothing, both in America and Britain. We have archived several items from issues of The Delineator. We will eventually add them to the approptiate annual pages of the catalog section. These entries are very important because The Delineator provided a very detailed discussion of the garment patterns they offered.
This of course was the U.S. centenary year. We do not have many sources for 1876 yet. We do have one very valuable source. It is a page from what looks like a Butterick catalog with patterns for a variety of garments. It includes bibs, tuckers, undershirts, suits, jackets, and overcoats for younger children.
We note patterns be advetized in magazines. A good example is patterns boys outfits offered by Harpers in 1878. Note that some of the suits still look something like a tunic, rather a cross between a tunic and jacket. There were also patterns for jackets offered that do not have a tunic look.
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