clothes as old as time
evan de souza
Aside from photographs, history books, and museums, fashion also plays a crucial role in revealing the history and lifestyles of people from the past.
History is something that Cece Scriver has grown up with. A 14th generation Canadian whose ancestors came over to fight for the British, Scriver boasts that history is bred in her. Her father Stewart Scriver, 70, is an amateur historian, although he wouldn’t refer to himself as one. History has always interested him. He even wrote a history of his own family.
“I’m just really interested. I just like to find out what goes on, what went on,” he said.
Scriver and his wife left their teaching jobs after they both lost interest and decided to follow their passion. Mixing their interest in fashion and history Scriver decided to open the vintage clothing store Courage My Love located on at 14 Kensington Ave. in Toronto. Scriver’s daughter and grandchildren help out in the family business.
Vintage clothing stores have become increasingly popular over the past few years. According to the blog My Vintage Secret more than 25 vintage clothing stores are now open in Toronto. But aside from the relatively cheap prices and unique products people are interested in the story behind the clothes.
“It makes a lot of people happy when you have something that looks good and feels nice, and if I can tell them the story about it that’s even better,” he said in an interview at his Kensington Market store.
History is something that Cece Scriver has grown up with. A 14th generation Canadian whose ancestors came over to fight for the British, Scriver boasts that history is bred in her. Her father Stewart Scriver, 70, is an amateur historian, although he wouldn’t refer to himself as one. History has always interested him. He even wrote a history of his own family.
“I’m just really interested. I just like to find out what goes on, what went on,” he said.
Scriver and his wife left their teaching jobs after they both lost interest and decided to follow their passion. Mixing their interest in fashion and history Scriver decided to open the vintage clothing store Courage My Love located on at 14 Kensington Ave. in Toronto. Scriver’s daughter and grandchildren help out in the family business.
Vintage clothing stores have become increasingly popular over the past few years. According to the blog My Vintage Secret more than 25 vintage clothing stores are now open in Toronto. But aside from the relatively cheap prices and unique products people are interested in the story behind the clothes.
“It makes a lot of people happy when you have something that looks good and feels nice, and if I can tell them the story about it that’s even better,” he said in an interview at his Kensington Market store.
Courage My Love is a small and space that wears its 37 years of experience with pride. The bright orange walls are covered with not only vintage clothing but toys, postcards, pottery, and books. The smell of incense surrounds the store as customers look for the treasures hidden within.
“This place is like magic,” Cece Scriver leisurely said.
The magic Scriver is referring to isn’t just the unique products but also the stories and history that come with them.
Over the years the father-daughter duo has come across an assortment of interesting and historic items. Scriver describes a hundred year old silk black mourning cape from the Victorian era which she believes was probably owned by an eastern European family. The cape is chest length and has red silk trimming. Scriver marvels at the texture and handmade craftsmanship of the item.
They found the cape in the bottom of a box they bought at an auction in Belleville, Ont. Scriver can tell the era of the cape because “black was really in, because when Queen Victoria wore all black everyone started wearing all black,” she said.
In 1861, after the death of her husband Prince Albert, Queen Victoria dressed in all black and continued to dress that way until her death in 1901. According to Pauline Weston Thomas, who wrote a history of Victorian fashion for the website Fashion-era.com, many of the people at that time, including the lower class, decided to follow Queen Victoria’s example of dressing in the darker hue. Thomas wrote that the middle class in particular emulated Queen Victoria as a way to gain acceptance from the upper class.
“This place is like magic,” Cece Scriver leisurely said.
The magic Scriver is referring to isn’t just the unique products but also the stories and history that come with them.
Over the years the father-daughter duo has come across an assortment of interesting and historic items. Scriver describes a hundred year old silk black mourning cape from the Victorian era which she believes was probably owned by an eastern European family. The cape is chest length and has red silk trimming. Scriver marvels at the texture and handmade craftsmanship of the item.
They found the cape in the bottom of a box they bought at an auction in Belleville, Ont. Scriver can tell the era of the cape because “black was really in, because when Queen Victoria wore all black everyone started wearing all black,” she said.
In 1861, after the death of her husband Prince Albert, Queen Victoria dressed in all black and continued to dress that way until her death in 1901. According to Pauline Weston Thomas, who wrote a history of Victorian fashion for the website Fashion-era.com, many of the people at that time, including the lower class, decided to follow Queen Victoria’s example of dressing in the darker hue. Thomas wrote that the middle class in particular emulated Queen Victoria as a way to gain acceptance from the upper class.
“Fashion and clothing is a way to tell history,” Cece said.
She gives the example of the Second World War, when people were not buying a lot of clothing. The lack of vintage clothing available today from that era demonstrates the social aspects of the time.
Fashion can not only describe the social customs and standards of the past and present but it can also determine economic conditions.
“There were certain things you couldn’t have because of what was going on in the world,” she said.
“Everything has gone through different periods for different reasons,” Stewart Scriver said as he looks around his historical treasure chest.
During the 1940s short dresses were prominent. The dresses were really long dresses from the 1930s. The Second World War prevented people from spending a lot of money so most of the clothing was refashioned and altered.
Throughout history there have been many economic low points, which can easily be shown through the types of clothing people were wearing.
She gives the example of the Second World War, when people were not buying a lot of clothing. The lack of vintage clothing available today from that era demonstrates the social aspects of the time.
Fashion can not only describe the social customs and standards of the past and present but it can also determine economic conditions.
“There were certain things you couldn’t have because of what was going on in the world,” she said.
“Everything has gone through different periods for different reasons,” Stewart Scriver said as he looks around his historical treasure chest.
During the 1940s short dresses were prominent. The dresses were really long dresses from the 1930s. The Second World War prevented people from spending a lot of money so most of the clothing was refashioned and altered.
Throughout history there have been many economic low points, which can easily be shown through the types of clothing people were wearing.
Historian Robin Burgoyne agrees with Scriver’s belief that fashion can tell history. Burgoyne runs her own business in Toronto where she researches the history of homes. Although her specialty is researching historical properties Burgoyne is still knowledgeable about the social and economic facets of the past.
“Often fashion is of the social climate and the social conventions of the time,” she said in a telephone interview from her Toronto home.
Burgoyne said that in the 17th and 18th centuries there was a greater distinction between men’s and women’s clothing. Men primarily wore wool broadcloth or silk suits or thin cotton waistcoats. Women were dressed in extravagant gowns with long sleeves, petticoats, and wide skirts that were supported by pocket hoops.
“There was no way you could mistake men’s clothing for a woman’s,” she said.
Burgoyne compares that to today’s fashion and the lack of distinction between male and female clothting. Modern fashion dictates the equality of gender roles and the decline of stereotypes. These are reflected in the new garments on sale in fashion stores in this generation.
Vintage stores and vintage shopping are a way of preserving the history found within fashion, even if not all shoppers are aware and interested in the stories woven through the garments fabric.
Alex Godlewski, 19, has been shopping vintage for two years. As she fished through the circular rack of cashmere sweaters at Courage My Love she said that she “never really thought about it” but that it does “seem cool.”
“Not everybody’s interested in history. If people are interested then I’m more than willing to tell them. It is just something extra,” Stewart Scriver said.
Nevertheless, for the owners of Courage My Love, fashion and history are intertwined.
“You can tell what was going on in the world you can also tell what is going to happen. It’s a way to look at the past and also predict the future,” Cece Scriver said.
“Often fashion is of the social climate and the social conventions of the time,” she said in a telephone interview from her Toronto home.
Burgoyne said that in the 17th and 18th centuries there was a greater distinction between men’s and women’s clothing. Men primarily wore wool broadcloth or silk suits or thin cotton waistcoats. Women were dressed in extravagant gowns with long sleeves, petticoats, and wide skirts that were supported by pocket hoops.
“There was no way you could mistake men’s clothing for a woman’s,” she said.
Burgoyne compares that to today’s fashion and the lack of distinction between male and female clothting. Modern fashion dictates the equality of gender roles and the decline of stereotypes. These are reflected in the new garments on sale in fashion stores in this generation.
Vintage stores and vintage shopping are a way of preserving the history found within fashion, even if not all shoppers are aware and interested in the stories woven through the garments fabric.
Alex Godlewski, 19, has been shopping vintage for two years. As she fished through the circular rack of cashmere sweaters at Courage My Love she said that she “never really thought about it” but that it does “seem cool.”
“Not everybody’s interested in history. If people are interested then I’m more than willing to tell them. It is just something extra,” Stewart Scriver said.
Nevertheless, for the owners of Courage My Love, fashion and history are intertwined.
“You can tell what was going on in the world you can also tell what is going to happen. It’s a way to look at the past and also predict the future,” Cece Scriver said.