Take a look at this photograph from the 1890’s. What’s different between the mother and her
daughters? We know that in the
nineteenth century, children were dressed as miniature adults. But, when it came to girls, there were some
key differences that were designed to send a message.
You will notice that
the mother has her hair up and the daughters wear their hair loose and
flowing.
Also, the mother’s skirt reaches
the floor and the skirts of the daughters are considerably shorter. It was only
when a girl was mature enough to marry, around the age of seventeen, that she
was allowed to put up her hair and lower her hemline.
This was a signal to everyone that she was
now available and ready for marriage.
It
was considered an important rite of passage. Not only that, it was improper for
a girl of marriageable age to wear her hair down.
This sent another, altogether different
message:
it was considered a sign of
sensuality and vice.
After a girl put
her hair up, loose hair was reserved for her husband and the bedroom.
For references and additional reading: Go to
Extras
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