Sepia Saturday: She made hats

[dee_burris]

This is a photo I estimate to be circa 1868-1875 of the millinery shop owned and operated by my great-great grandmother, Mary Emily (Conner) Meek in Grenada Co., MS. (Click here to read more about her.)



From comparing the only known photo I have of her to this one, I think grandmama was the lady seated to the right of the post.

But I can't be sure.

This is a Sepia Saturday post. Head over there for more wonderful photos.

Comments

from Brett Payne/Photo-Sleuth

[(Anonymous)]

Judging by the clothing, I'm pretty sure that this wonderful photographic portrait was taken in the 1890s, and would be fairly confident at narrowing it down to the late 1890s. These leg-of-mutton sleeves would not have been around prior to 1890. Thanks for participating in Sepia Saturday and sharing your family archives.

Re: from Brett Payne/Photo-Sleuth

[dee_burris]

The millinery shop was closed by 1875, when my great great grandmother had remarried and moved to Russellville, Pope Co., AR. By 1890, grandma was 52, and a widow.

That's why I used 1875 as my outside date.

I think you are calling a puffy sleeve - which was in vogue in the late 1860s and early 1870s, a "leg of mutton sleeve." A leg of mutton sleeve was generally gathered at the elbow and tight from there on down to the wrist, as in this photo of dress patterns from the 1890s below.



Also, that flat hat worn by the woman I believe to by my grandmother was in vogue in the 1870s. Women tended to wear their hats more straight atop their heads or even pitched forward on the forehead.

By the 1890s, the crowns of women's hats had gotten much higher, and the Gibson Girls were emulated by many women, with their cloche style hats.