Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Alan Day Date: 21 Aug 09 - 03:18 PM Virginia, Is that traditional beachwear dress ? Sian ,now you are getting complicated, Bowler Hat and pinstripe suit - City of London, Cockney -Pearly outfits (How's Yer Father suits), Suberbs Horsey and hunting outfits, Farm Labourers outfits, it is not straight forward. No wonder it is difficult to pinpoint a dress that suits all. Al |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: WalkaboutsVerse Date: 22 Aug 09 - 05:16 AM "If so, everyone should dress like the Beatles because they made the most money. :)" (Stringsinger)...so pop were the Beatles, they even tried talking with American accents. |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Penny S. Date: 22 Aug 09 - 05:30 AM Last night, driving through Dulwich, I found myself behind a woman cycling. Cropped jeans, lying low on the hip. Above, a thong bisecting exposed upper buttocks. Above that a skimpy top waist length. Someone below mentioned thongs, or I wouldn't have crept the thread. Penny |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Will Fly Date: 22 Aug 09 - 06:13 AM I was the thong mentioner - nd I've also seen thong-tops peeking out. Brrr! A man who feels very unwell finds that conventional medicine can't cure him, so he goes to an alternative medical practitioner. After listening to his symptoms, the practitioner hands him a leather thong, 7" long, saying, "Cut off one inch from this thong each day and eat it. At the end of seven days, you should feel better". So, the man cuts off an inch each day and eats it. At the end of the week he goes back to the practitioner who says, "How do you feel?" The man replies, "No better, no better at all." The practitioner sighs and says, "Oh well, that just proves the truth of the old tune: The thong is ended, but the malady lingers on...". I'll get me coat. |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: WalkaboutsVerse Date: 22 Aug 09 - 06:21 AM "Last night, driving through Dulwich, I found myself behind a woman cycling. Cropped jeans, lying low on the hip. Above, a thong bisecting exposed upper buttocks. Above that a skimpy top waist length. Someone below mentioned thongs, or I wouldn't have crept the thread." (Penny)...threadbare, then. ;-)> |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Paul Burke Date: 22 Aug 09 - 07:57 AM The English national dress should include the chip on the shoulder. Or is that the national cuisine? |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Micca Date: 22 Aug 09 - 08:36 AM PennyS I understand the "technical" term for the "visible thong above low-slung jeans" is a "Whale tail" |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Alan Day Date: 22 Aug 09 - 03:02 PM For someone who by mistake put his body in the leg hole of a pair of pants,I can honestly say that a thong looks incredibly painful to wear, (as were the pants). Al |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Anne Lister Date: 23 Aug 09 - 05:14 AM The Welsh women's costume as generally portrayed was mostly invented by Lady Augusta Waddington from Llanover Hall, who was busy re-inventing a lot of "Welsh" customs, place names and habits. She made Llanover into a model village and made all the pubs into tearooms. (Should that be "but" rather than "and"?) A fascinating character, but her inventions aren't necessarily historically accurate! The trouble with national dress is that no one normally wears it in everyday life these days, no matter which country you look at. So it's normally seen worn by dance display teams. In which case we're back to Morris dancing, I suppose ... or should we be looking at more modern dance forms? |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Jack Campin Date: 23 Aug 09 - 08:29 AM tartan trews in the Lowlands Never worn by a significant number of people of any social class, except for military-related formal dress in the 19th century. Earlier the farmworker's smockfrock, tho only worn as work dress, was a sort of English national dress I suppose, tho only among agrarian labouring-class; but that disappeared completely in early C20. Found all over Europe. They were still in everyday use in Romania about 20 years ago. |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: greg stephens Date: 23 Aug 09 - 01:35 PM Surely national dress is something that foreigners have? We don't need that sort of thing in England. |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Mooh Date: 23 Aug 09 - 03:33 PM Just to keep this musical, it's the thinger not the thong. My kid is going to England in a couple of weeks, so please settle this soon, before she goes shopping. Peace, Mooh. |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Alan Day Date: 23 Aug 09 - 07:16 PM A National Costume is one to be worn with pride. Ours seems to be missing. Are you talking about the Scots,Welsh and Irish Greg we have nearly all got a bit of that blood in us and we live here. Stick a white flag up now ,or do you want me to hold your coat. Al |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Jamming With Ollie Beak (inactive) Date: 24 Aug 09 - 02:15 PM "The Welsh women's costume as generally portrayed was mostly invented by Lady Augusta Waddington from Llanover Hall" - Anne Lister Then there was Edward Williams/Iolo Morganwg/Iolo Morgannwg the renowned forger and collector of medieval Welsh documents, and godfather of the mesodruid phenomenon. |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: lady penelope Date: 24 Aug 09 - 05:44 PM Actually we do have a national dress, an American friend pointed it out. You see people wearing it all the time, at major and minor events, hay days and holidays. It is, dear catters, the ubiquitous yellow flourescent jacket. Apparently nowhere else seems to see the need to dress everyone in this item. And it also seemed apparent to my friend that nothing - by almost a matter of tradition - could be 'official' or done until someone in a flourescent jacket turned up to 'make it so'.... So fret no more, the matter is resolved..... *G* Unless someone in a flourescent jacket says otherwise.... |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Alan Day Date: 24 Aug 09 - 06:27 PM Thank goodness Lady P I thought you were going to say the red Tee Shirt with Ronaldo on the back now superseded with Rooney. That really would have stirred the natives. Alan, Alan, Alan, ALAN, ALAAN OY OY OY ALAAAAAN (for those lovers of a new brilliant TV programme) |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: paula t Date: 24 Aug 09 - 07:39 PM I have read this thread with interest.I feel it is important to keep these traditions alive, and writing them down is one way of doing this. However, these need to be full and accurate descriptions if they are to help future generations to maintain the culture.I would therefore like to add my humble expertise to existing postings. Micca, I loved your post. I feel however that you missed a vital piece of the British male national costume.You said, "Based only on a cursory observation of its widespread occurance the English national dress (male)it must be Jeans (scruffy)or extremely uunflattering shorts over pasty white legs, T shirt(with slogan or pop group or football club strip).This seems to be the most widespread male attire in this part of London" You forgot to add........ sandals with socks! Walkabouts verse, Your description of the female costume was almost there, but I feel it important to correct an important omission. You said, "Last night, driving through Dulwich, I found myself behind a woman cycling. Cropped jeans, lying low on the hip. Above, a thong bisecting exposed upper buttocks. Above that a skimpy top waist length. Don't forget the importance of the multiple piercings ("home made")through such parts of the body as eyebrows, lips, tongue, navel ...........and,in a case I saw this week, the back of the neck. I still have bad dreams about a thong I saw a young girl wearing at Party in the park a few years ago. The visible part was......A CHAIN!Now that is true dedication to the living tradition! |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: WalkaboutsVerse Date: 25 Aug 09 - 06:25 AM It was light-hearted, Paula, so I don't mind - but that was not my post. |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Alan Day Date: 25 Aug 09 - 10:33 AM Very observant paula t whilst driving? Lot if twisty roads through Dulwich. Enjoyed your posting though,very much. Al |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: GUEST,Doc John Date: 25 Aug 09 - 11:45 AM Isn't English national dress more based on class and 'occasion': evening dress, morning dress, shooting, hunting, fishing etc. I always get the impression that national dress was invented in the 19th century by those quaint folk who invented Ye Olde Tea Shopee etc although it was based on local fabrics, styles etc which were themselves based on necessity. Doc John |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Will Fly Date: 25 Aug 09 - 02:36 PM I have decreed that the English National Dress - from 1st January 2010 - will be: tattooes. No clothes, just tattooing over strategic parts of the body. So, my personal tattoos will be of a thong (you can imagine for yourselves where this might be, and wonder at my resilience), wellies, a choker, and possibly some kind of hat. In winter, I'll have a dragon tattooed on my back, with it's beak up my... 'Catters - where will your tattooes be under the new regime? No lies, now. |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Stringsinger Date: 25 Aug 09 - 05:47 PM There is nothing as laughable as a trumped-up national dress. i think it might look something like skinheads and Nazis. Frank |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Emma B Date: 25 Aug 09 - 05:54 PM 'There is nothing as laughable as a trumped-up national dress.' How very true - believe it or not someone has proposed this !! |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Alan Day Date: 25 Aug 09 - 06:07 PM That link Emma has made me wish I had never started this. Al |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: MuddleC Date: 25 Aug 09 - 06:48 PM --it's got to be shell suit bottoms with trainers and some football club t-shirt listing the client list of Saatchi & Saatchi, but watchout, the 'hoodies' are coming of age... |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: GUEST,Will Fly on the Hoof Date: 26 Aug 09 - 03:34 AM Emma's link is a hoot. But note the very prominent knives... |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: WalkaboutsVerse Date: 26 Aug 09 - 04:40 AM Thanks for that Emma B - I could fit my English flute in that sheath. :-)> |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Jamming With Ollie Beak (inactive) Date: 26 Aug 09 - 10:16 AM "Thanks for that Emma B - I could fit my English flute in that sheath" - WalkaboutsVerse Ahh the recorder I remember attempting to learn that instrument in school, and being thoroughly bored with it after about a half dozen lessons. English flute: A name used in the 18th century for the recorder to distinguish it from the transverse flute, (the ordinary orchestral flute) which was at that time called the German flute. |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: greg stephens Date: 26 Aug 09 - 11:03 AM Wxcellent, thanks Emma B for drawing that to my attention. I have sent off for an outfit and will wear it at all folk festivals, BNP meetings and any other appropriate occasions. |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Jamming With Ollie Beak (inactive) Date: 26 Aug 09 - 11:17 AM The dress will be quite fetching, I'm sure, Greg! *LOL* Charlotte Olivia Robertson (Ms0 |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: CarolC Date: 26 Aug 09 - 11:41 AM The thing about a country's national dress is that it's only a snapshot of the sort of clothes people in that country were wearing during a fairly specific period of time. So the question would really be, what was the national dress in Britain during the 19th century, or the 16th century, or whatever. And the answer to the question of what is the British national dress would be dependent on the time period being discussed. |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Alan Day Date: 26 Aug 09 - 01:04 PM We still seem to be hanging on to the Georgian era,long tail coats Top Hats,Waistcoats pinstripe trousers.The dresses were also very pretty unfussy, but delicately decorated. I would not be unhappy if that became out national dress.The jewellery from that period was also lovely I have two Georgian rings that I really enjoy wearing. The later Victorian dress was very fussy and lacy, but it is a question of taste. Will see me after class for six of the best!!! Al |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Jamming With Ollie Beak (inactive) Date: 26 Aug 09 - 01:16 PM "Will see me after class for six of the best!!!" - Alan Day ahhh...another fine old English custom *LOL* Charlotte Olivia Robertson (Ms) |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Alan Day Date: 26 Aug 09 - 01:44 PM Sadly one I received a few times Charlotte. Al |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Will Fly Date: 26 Aug 09 - 01:56 PM Six of the best what - tattooes? Al, you can spank me any time (tee-hee)... :-) |
Subject: RE: BS: British National Dress? From: Alan Day Date: 26 Aug 09 - 02:51 PM Will, I think I will stick with just a few tunes together and a nice cup of tea.Tattoos and spanking sound a bit painful to me. Al |