Fashion History - Edwardian Fashion Designs of Late 1890's

All fashion eras have their archetypes. Edwardian trendsetters included the Gibson Girl and Alice Roosevelt Longworth.

The Gibson Girl was a fictitious, unnamed character portrayed in the illustrations of Charles Dana Gibson who created what would become the feminine ideal for 20 years.

The Gibson Girl was shown as youthful and strong, fun loving, yet sophisticated. She was tall and slender with a long neck, ample bust and hips, and a small waist. Her upswept bouffant hairdo was all the rage and her aristocratic bearing inspired young women everywhere. The Gibson Girl was smart and independent, charming, and intelligent but was never shown to be political or interested in social causes.

The Gibson Girl became a merchandising bonanza. Her face and form were depicted on trays, on prints, pillow cases, souveniers, and ashtrays.

Alice Roosevelt Longworth, the eldest daughter of Theodore Roosevelt was a high profile society figure in the USA. Beautiful and outspoken, Alice rode in cars with men, smoked, and kept a pet snake. The song 'Alice Blue Gown,' referred to the popular shade called Alice Blue named after her eyes - light blue with a hint of gray.

Her father, the President of the United States once said, 'Either I can run the country or tend to Alice but I can't possibly do both."