Why Are My Great Aunt's All Wearing The Same Dress ?

[Roobarb]

Just going off topic for a minute ...........   


I got a brilliant birthday card last year for my sister. On the front it said "Remember those embarrassing clothes our mother used to make us wear?"
And inside "Well you can stop now!"


Luckily she took it in the spirit it was intended!
                                   

[Eilleen]

 deb
  I see what you mean,
 It's like her dress is draped over a bench, 

Eilleen.

[Big-Al]

On the second group photo where Minnie is stood at the back it looks like she may be supporting herself on two walking sticks.
Her arms look very straight and rigid compared to the other ladies.

[aghadowey]

It was quite common years ago for sisters to have 'matching' dresses made from same pattern or material with slight alterations to collars, sleeves, etc. Apparently my grandmother and her sisters were often dressed this way when their mother made their clothes. Suspect a large bolt of material was bought cheaply and used until all was used up.
The two older girls in this picture were born 1893 and 1895 and the same material was used for both of their outfits.

[Stefan Woolf]

On the second group photo where Minnie is stood at the back it looks like she may be supporting herself on two walking sticks.
Her arms look very straight and rigid compared to the other ladies.

I see what you mean - she does look a bit "rigid".

However there's no suggestion in the family that she was ever in any way disabled, other than she was quite hard of hearing in later life.

Personally I think she is holding the two chair backs of those sat in front of her.

Stef.