Day Wear 1900-1902

Every New Years Day in Toronto the mayor has a glad hand session with her/his constituents. This ritual, known as a levee, is a tradition based on assemblies held by sovereigns or the sovereign's reps to which only men were received.

In the 19th and the early part of the 20th centuries levees gave fashionistas an excuse and an opportunity to strut their stuff. These days, I don't know; I've never been to a levee and our politicos have no fashion sense so I suspect it has probably become yet another jeans and T event. How dull.

However, during the Edwardian era levees were special and I'm sure the display of fave day wear was wonderful.

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Lingerie 1900-1904

Men often give women lingerie as gifts, often at their peril. The styles commonly chosen by guys are usually too sexy or not sexy enough but the worst mistake they make is buying the wrong sizes. Guys, if you must buy undies for your special women you're better off buying something too small than too big. You could also play it safe; give her a gift certificate from her fave lingerie shop while perhaps suggesting what you'd like to see her wear. Doing this while sharing a good bottle of wine is a nice touch.

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Couture 1900-1903

It's been said by fashion historians that the French, under Louis XIV, invented style. That may be but the first commercial haute couture designer was the Brit Charles Frederick Worth. More on him later.

The House of Vernon was a late 19th-century/early 20th-century English ladies tailoring establishment.

The Maison Rouff, known for elaborate day wear, was first established in Vienna in the 1880s and later in Paris in the early 1900s. In 1928 the house was taken over by Maggie Besancon de Wagner, who designed under the name Maggy Rouff.