her smile….

once upon a time, she too was small

women learned about the concept of love languages and never stfu

I hope our baby’s love language is acts of service

I would like to point out what these women are wearing themselves. Because "what did WORKING women wear?!" is a refrain I hear a lot re: recreations of even the most basic historical clothing that has any visual interest at all

the lady on the far right has a brooch and a necklace! and some insertion lace on her blouse! the center-right lady in the plaid shirtwaist seems to be wearing a decorative necktie of some sort! all of them have sleeve puffs that are maybe a few years out of date, but not by much!

and these are working seamstresses! literally At Work!

working-class people have always loved beauty just as much as the rich. and found ways to incorporate it into their lives

Virginia Postrel in her book THE SUBSTANCE OF STYLE specifically points out that ornamentation is always possible no matter how limited your resources. You might not have quite enough food, but you can still put your hair in a braid more easily than you can buy a milk cow for your family. You might have to whittle your spoons yourself from a branch foraged in the wood, but you can still carve a knotwork pattern into the handle more easily than you can learn the craft of forging metal.

A thirst for beauty isn't something limited to the rich and knowledgeable. It's something that makes us human, and I worry that people who can't accept that working class or disadvantaged people from history might have appreciated and prioritised beauty and style in their lives are also failing to accept that these people were fully human. I mean think for just a moment where this trope of the filth encrusted medieval peasant came from - it wasn't from people who respected their dignity and personhood.

Cleanliness, style, and ornament are all ways that as humans we express our dignity, and attributing filth and squalor to people is a pretty common way to deny their dignity.

Yes. Of course their lives contained beauty.

"Cratchit's wife, dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned gown, but brave in ribbons which are cheap and make a goodly show for sixpence" - A Christmas Carol

This woman literally took her gown apart, turned it inside-out, and remade it into a more modern style. TWICE. And then managed to dress it up with some silk ribbons.