There are lots of conspiracy theories and myths in all areas of life, including fashion, hygiene, relationships, etc. It can be hard to tell what the reality was for earlier periods, but the 19th century is open to our eyes due to the invention of photography. On the photos below, you’ll see the fashion trends and typical appearance of the mid-19th-century men and women in Britain. We think that the most interesting thing about these photos are pretty and elegant female hairstyles. But it’s up to you what details of their appearance to notice and appreciate.

An incredible Victorian antique dress set dating to the 1840s, most likely a wedding gown for a young , petite bride. A remarkable survivor, in mostly excellent condition, the set consists of a gown, a second bodice for the evening, a structured shawl, drawstring belt and small bag. The dress is in pale gold silk, with a glossy satin finish, the bodice fitted and boned with a pointed waist, V neck, piped seams and hook fastenings at centre back. The sleeves are made in two tiers - a gently curving trumpet, the shape helped with pleats, to the forearm, trimmed with wavy silk and needle lace. Under this the sleeve is fitted to the cuff. The skirt forms a dome, tightly cartridge pleated in to the waist all around. The dress is accessorised with a long belt, a narrow knotted silk rope with a woven silk ' bead ' creating a drawstring mechanism, the ends weighted with elaborate tassels ( the coiled parts you see on the tassels are actually finely twisted metal strands ) The shawl is made with a large piece of silk in a matching colour, folded and ruched at the arms and back neck to form a structured mantel with long tails at the front. The ends of the tails and the back are edged with silk fringe. The second bodice is for the evening, the two would have been unpicked and attached to the skirt as required. Similar to the day bodice, but with a wide round neck and short gathered sleeves ( the sleeves have been detached, and one is missing ) The front is decorated with elaborately applied waves of silk, studded with small silk covered buttons. Also included is a small drawstring bag with similar tassels to the shawl. Bothe bodices are cotton lined, the skirt is lined with glazed cotton. Hand sewn. CONDITION Mostly excellent. The dress has small feint orangey marks, most visible on the top of the skirt at the front and the back of one sleeve. The lace has a couple of very small holes. The skirt is loose from the waist for about 7cm at the back right. The bodice centre front bone is missing, the channel for it is present. The shawl has some very small feint marks. The bag has some small marks. The second bodice has had it's sleeves removed, as mentioned, and one is missing. Three of the five bones are missing, the channels present. Some small feint marks as the dress. The top eye for the hook is broken. Approx measurements - main dress - bust 32 waist 23 shoulder 18 length 48.5. Second bodice waist 23 bust 34 IMPORTANT INFORMATION - The pieces i sell are often over 100 years old and rarely in perfect condition, i make every effort to describe and show any faults, so PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION, READ THE CONDITION REPORT, STUDY THE IMAGES AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS before buying. If you receive your item and there is a problem that wasn't mentioned in the listing please contact me and i will be happy to rectify the situation. Measurements are approximate, and usually taken on the stand on the outside of the garment, please ask if you need accurate measurements.I sell all pieces as i find them, as a result vintage / antique items may have a musty odour. Colours on your screen may not be 100% accurate to the item.

* I'm not entirely certain that all of these are daguerreotypes; I'm really no expert on early photography. It's possible that some of these are examples of other techniques: ambrotypes, tintypes, etc.

Mrs Frances (McBane) Henderson [b]

Antique child's or doll's dark brown leather slipper or shoe- not sure why there is only one, but there were other singles indication perhaps a collection. It is handmade, and lined in red and white silk windowpane material. It looks much like other shoes I found for the era of the 1840s-50'They are in very good condition, the leather is still soft and supple.and it has a little stacked wood heel. It also could have been a salesman's sample.This is part of a collection we recently procured from Carey's Shoe Store, a store that was established in 1919 in Charlevoix, Michigan. The family recently decided to let go of the remaining stock of the store, about 150 pairs, most new and in their original boxes.  Marked Size: none Measured length inside, heel to toe: 5” Width across bottom: 1 ¾” Heel: ¾ PN0425117

Collodion positive of the wife of William Ward Booth Junior, c. 1860, unknown artist

Last week's Vexations of a Poet's Heart briefly explored the close relationship between William Henry Fox Talbot and his neighbor, Thomas Moore, the radical and wildly popular Irish poet. It was not only Henry who

Unknown woman 37

She is one of the world's photographic pioneers, a hitherto obscure Scottish woman who helped create some of the earliest photographic masterpieces.

Explore CharmaineZoe's Marvelous Melange's 26931 photos on Flickr!