The Oddment Emporium

vicfangirlguide:

A silk dress from the 1860s. The vivid colour of this dress was achieved through the use of synthetic dyes first discovered by the British chemist William Perkins in the 1850s. These dyes, which were extracted from coal tar and were known as aniline dyes, became extremely fashionable and produced intense colours which could not be made using traditional natural dyes. The first colour to be produced was called ‘Perkin’s Mauve’ and it was followed by a succession of bright purples, magentas, yellows, blues and pinks.

(via victorianfanguide)

vicfangirlguide:

A chatelaine which was displayed at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Before the 1850s pockets were uncommon in female clothing and so women used chatelaines as a fashionable, decorative means of carrying small and useful items. The chatelaine would be hung from a belt and, through a series of clips and chains, contain a variety of objects such as scissors, keys, scent bottles, penknives, tweezers, writing pads and letter openers.

(via victorianfanguide)