Anyone Collecting A Trousseau?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (342277)
Rockingham, Australia
August 31, 2016 8:39pm CST
Trousseaus are probably a thing of the past but once unmarried girls would collect various items of clothing including lingerie and nightwear to take with her when she married.
We went through a few museums while we were away recently and I took a photo of this 'bodice' in one of them. Someone has spent hours lavishly embroidering this ready for the big day when she married and moved out of her parent's house into her own.
Times have changed somewhat methinks!
19 people like this
20 responses
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
1 Sep 16
We don't do much of the handiwork folks once did that's for sure, other than those here that still do the quilting and other types of crafts. But, I bet that they didn't embroider anything this fancy to wear as undergarments. It is pretty, though.
2 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
1 Sep 16
@JudyEv Yes, but people here spend hours and hours with their quilting and other craft projects. It wouldn't be any different than that. I've done embroidery before, but for doilies (not sure if this is the correct spelling) and such and not since I was in my twenties.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342277)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Sep 16
@Platespinner It's a bit strange isn't it? I mean the guys don't really care if it's embroidered or not really. It does seem a bit of a waste of time.
little thought..
@Tampa_girl7 (50578)
• United States
1 Sep 16
That is really pretty. I had a hope chest that was full of various things for when I married.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50578)
• United States
1 Sep 16
@JudyEv my grandma mostly filled mine for me.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342277)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Sep 16
@Tampa_girl7 The older women of the family were keen on getting the younger ones fitted out weren't they?
@xFiacre (13180)
• Ireland
1 Sep 16
@judyev Lovely word that, bodice. I'm going to saying it all day. I love the feel of it in my mouth. I used to hear people refer to their "bottom drawer" which always mystyfied me till I was told this is where bashful young ladies store things for marriage.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342277)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Sep 16
Oh yes, I'd forgotten that. So that's three words for the same thing - bottom drawer, glory box and hope chest. I always thought the latter had a note of desperation to it. :)
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
1 Sep 16
trousseaus and bodice remind of romance paperbacks i used to read.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342277)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Sep 16
I have a book of the way all the old household tasks were done. It's meant to be a reference book if you're writing about Victorian times or whatever.
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
1 Sep 16
I remember when I got engaged, my future hubs gave me a hope chest and I started putting things in it for our future wedding. While I didn't embroider a bodice I did have a nice collection by the time we wed.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
1 Sep 16
@JudyEv I had a year and a half to fill it with lovely things.
2 people like this
@Hate2Iron (15727)
• Canada
1 Sep 16
I don't know when trousseaus became a thing of the past... same goes for hope chests. Will have to ask my mom if she had one!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342277)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Sep 16
I know for my 21st birthday many of the gifts were hope chest stuff.
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
2 Sep 16
yeah, I dont think I had a thing put back
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
1 Sep 16
wow! that 'twas sure a bunch 'f work, eh? i'd a hope chest myself. filled 't with 'essentials', mostly treasures i wished fer my home should the day come.
these days, those youngsters seem to 'xpect all their family 'n friends to provide all they're gonna need. yepperz, times 've certainly changed 'n i think not fer the better most oft.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
1 Sep 16
@JudyEv no ma'am, me neither :) i've been tryin' to talk the grand daughter 'nto such. i'm most certain she's rollin' her eyes 'n mouthin' to her momma that i've lost my mind - aka: grandma's crazy!
2 people like this
@Letranknight2015 (52096)
• Philippines
1 Sep 16
I wonder if they can make a fashion again so that people will make several to buy and wear something like this.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40323)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Sep 16
What a beautiful article of clothing. I agree that times have changed. Today, girls just go to "Victoria Secret."
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40323)
• Laguna Woods, California
2 Sep 16
@JudyEv - You are right ... they must have been used to hold up stockings. It makes sense.
1 person likes this
That's a beautiful bodice.
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
2 Sep 16
I guess I'm not collecting them, because I've never heard of it until now.
Interesting.
Interesting.1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342277)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Sep 16
That's interesting that you used 'glory box'. It seems the phrase wasn't much in use in the US although in Australia that's what we used.
@JudyEv (342277)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Sep 16
My sister used to do lovely embroidery. I did a bit at school but don't do it any more.
