How the other half lives

[Forfarian]

I was looking through the Penny Illustrated Paper of 20 January 1912 and came across a column headed 'Answers to Correspondents'. This was one of them.

Jessie - You can fasten your own blouse with the "Greta" fastener. There are no hooks and eyes or buttons, simply neat linen-covered rust-proof steels, which need not be removed for washing. It was really aggravating to be prevented from wearing your best blouse because you had no-one to fasten it.

My mind boggles at the depths of deprivation suffered by poor Jessie 

[LottieD]

Och, there's nothing worse 

[Jennaya]

it's a hard life!!  lol

[Greensleeves]

I blame Jessie's lack of managerial skills  for this calamitous situation.  Had she bothered to consult her Mrs Beeton's Household Management it clearly states, regarding the duties of the Lady's Maid:

"It is perhaps unnecessary to add that it is their duty to be in waiting .... and to have all things prepared for the second dressing."

It also states that if the lady's maid notices  a muslin blouse is 'tumbled' she will have to take an iron to it.  I wonder what the mistress would have been doing to get her blouse 'tumbled'.   

[Treetotal]

Well she certainly wasn't ironing the newspapers was she 

I have just read "The Rise and Fall of the Victorian Servant" by Pamela Horn....Very enlightening and a really interesting read.

Carol

[Galium]

To be fair to Jessie, Edwardian blouses often fastened up the back, and if you didn't share your home with any female relations who could assist, it might be a bit tricky.

Eg. this one has hook and eye fasteners:

http://www.1860-1960.com/xa6498p0.html

It would be a shame to own that and not be able to wear it 

[mazi]

And then you get old and decrepit and the combined efforts of both of you cannot fasten things, that is if there is any time left after you have spent half an hour looking for the back of an earring.
 
mike

[ThrelfallYorky]

Thank heaven for zips, velcro, elastic and stretch fabrics! Not sure I'd want a Ladies' Maid attending me - too demoralising if she was all slim and pretty.

[Minimoo]

I love that blouse but I wouldn't like to have to iron it !