Eumenides

(This is a fantastic and bloodthirsty costume, with a snaky theme and a classic Greek chiton rather than the usual gown of the era.  It may well still have been worn over a corset and bustle, though!)

Red or black veils, snakes entwined about bare arms, buskins like a huntress, rough chiton of brown, or black, or blood-coloured, girt with skins of snakes; other serpents bind their waists, and their garments are embroidered with snakes' eyes.

Source: Holt, Ardern.  Fancy Dresses Described, 5th Edition.  London: Debenham & Freebody, 1887.

Comments

2 responses to “Eumenides”

  1. The Dreamstress Avatar

    Your blog is such an exciting discovery! I’m fascinated by historical fancy dress and am compiling my own database of fancy dress images and mentions – lots of photographs and articles from New Zealand magazines. I’m going to enjoy following what you put up!

  2. Susan de Guardiola Avatar

    How wonderful! I just came back from a trip to New Zealand, though I was touring rather than doing research. I very much enjoyed a wearable art show that I saw in Rotorua. If any of your fancy dress material is historical, I would be very interested in seeing it!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *