#edwardian fashion
Princess Maria Therese von Thurn und Taxus, née Infanta of Portugal. Early 1900s
Queen Maud + pink
Of the wardrobe today in The National Museum in Oslo, a predominantely large part of the dresses are pink. It’s said to have been Queen Maud’d favourite colour, especially the more beige dominated borderlining “deadleaf”, the big hit colour of the 1930s. Pink is present in her wedding trousseau, in her exquisite 1897 fancy dress, in day dresses and in gala gowns. Here’s some favourites (all in the care of The National Museum in Oslo).
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Princess Maud of Wales + prince Carl of Denmark: a love story
(they were later to become the king and queen of Norway)
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Queen Maud + sports
When then Princess Maud of Wales married in 1896, her trousseau (I.E. her new wardrobe) was discussed in detail in the press. Some magazines was surprised by the amount of “sportswear” and the lack of grand robes, especially considering her mother Alexandra being one of the absolute fashion icons of the time, and she was known for a more opulent style.
The love for sports would be vital in Queen Maud’s life. She was one of the first of the British royal family to ride a bike in public, and she loved riding, skating and tennis. When she became the queen of Norway in 1906, she immediately learned skiing, toboganning and other winter sports. When staying at the royal winter residence, she usually went skiing twice a day.
But for all these activities she used skirts, and always rode side-saddle. Not until the 1930s does skiing trousers appear in her wardrobe. She was surprisingly fit and muscular due to her active lifestyle, and can be seen in many a sleeveless gala gown in the 1930s - she was then well into her 60s.
From top left:
- Riding attire for side saddle, 1920-26. Made by Busvine & Co ( X)
- Queen Maud riding at Bygdø in Oslo, 1910-15
- Riding attire for side saddle, early 1920s. Made by Busvine & Co ( X)
- Description of Maud’s trousseau from “The Queen, 1896
- Then princess Maud, newly wed, biking at Sandringham, 1896
- Sports suit, 1896, part of Maud’s trousseau. Made by Vernon ( X)
- Knitted wool coat trimmed with fur, ca. 1920 ( X)
- Queen Maud skiing in Oslo, 1927-35 sometime
- Wool coat trimmed with fur, late 1920s ( X)
As a bonus: here’s Queen Maud’s ice skates and roller skates from around 1900. They’re essentially sports boots with a separate metal bottom screwed or strapped on the boots. And yeah, high heels were essential.
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Matching coat and dress, of coral silk with brown velvet piping, 1909.
The coat looks inspired by 18th century riding habits and military coats. The dress, on the other hand, looks more inspired by late Medieval and/or early Renaissance style. An eclectic style in total, and interestingly also a bit modern looking, some 110 years later.
From The National Museum in Oslo (OK-12906)
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Time to kick the festive season off - here’s a turnaround on the popular idea of woman as songbird. C. 1908
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