The Historical Object

​I've chosen my vintage 1970's Laura Ashley dress.
A welsh fashion designer influenced by the Victorian era which, in Laura's mind, symbolised gentle and gracious living.
I feel like this piece doesn't reflect the fashion of the time, but more the mindset of the woman who created the brand that became incredibly popular.

The design of this dress is a princess cut made of 73% cotton and 27% viscose.

Green velvet: the color of growth, nature, and money. A calming color also that's very pleasing to the senses. Dark forest green is associated with terms like conservative, masculine and wealth. Velvet can be made from either synthetic or natural fibers. Because of its unusual softness and appearance as well as its high cost of production, velvet has often been associated with nobility.

I am unsure of the exact date this dress was made, but I think it was sometime during the 70's. This was a time of change, as people were fighting more and more for their rights, especially women all across the globe, maybe the designer was trying to hold on to the past in creating fabric and clothing inspired by the 19th century, trying to reflect wealth in a postwar world with social and economic changes. I would imagine it being popular with the upper classes.

The fashion of this time was influenced by Hollywood and pop bands as well as the hippie movement, mini skirts, hot pants, bell bottoms and turtlenecks were all the rage.
So to wear a dress in this conservative style would have been a statement of class and traditional values.

It may not be the most practical thing to wear for a hike, but I personally feel amazing when I wear it !