ladyandtherose

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Upcoming Period Dramas 2020 - Future

{New Post} Upcoming 2020 #PeriodDramas and More!

Who’s ready for a new decade of period dramas / historical dramas / costume dramas (with a specific time period)?

This year’s featured couple is Jamie and Claire from Outlander S5 (the same couple in Period Dramas 2014). I never would have imagined that when I selected the period drama couple photo for 2019 (Victoria and Albert), that was how 2019 would turn out for me. So I’m choosing a…

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Dior: Dresses of Dreams

{New Post} Gallery: Photos of the #Dior exhibition in Paris, 2017

Starting today, visitors to the V&A’s Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition in the Sainsbury Wing will find themselves surrounded by utterly ravishing and exquisite dresses by Dior and his successors.

The iconic Bar Suit, 1947

Those who were lucky to be in Paris for the Christian Dior: Couturier du Rêve (same title) exhibition two years ago – myself included – were enveloped in a…

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9 November 1888.

The mutilated body of 25-year-old Mary Jane Kelly was found in her bed in 13 Miller’s Court. She was the youngest, and possibly the last (at least during Autumn 1888), victim of Jack the Ripper.

A few months earlier, Mary Nichols (42-43) was found murdered on 31 August. This was followed eight days later with Annie Chapman’s violent death (46). On the last day of September, two women, Elizabeth Stride (44) and Catherine Eddowes (46) were murdered within an hour of each other.

Could all of them have avoided such a violent fate?

~*~

The Jack the Ripper Museum opened in London in August 2015. There had been much contradiction when it first opened for fear that it would glorify the Ripper. It eventually changed its focus to the women of the East End. After my visit in September 2017, I would say that it is not an ‘attraction’ but a memorial to the women who were not seen as humans until their gruesome deaths were exposed to the public. There are many original artefacts, as well as copies of newspaper prints (as wallpaper) throughout the museum.

In this self-guided tour, visitors have the option to don a Victorian costume as they navigate their way around the six-storey building. Though I had considered it, I felt perturbed, as if wearing a Victorian dress would transfer me to a time and place I did never wish to go.

First Floor – Mitre Square

On your way to the first floor, you may hear a scream and then a cry, “Murder!” This is the recreated scene of the discovery of Catherine Eddowes’ mutilated body.

2016: The location of Catherine’s body

Second Floor – Ripper’s Sitting Room

This is the one floor that focuses on whom the Ripper might be. Based on the elegant interior, it suggests that the Ripper may have been fairly well-off, perhaps a surgeon or an artist. Either way, this was possibly the second most disturbing room to be in. (In fact, my blog won’t even let me upload the photo.)

Third Floor – The Police Station

In this blue room, you’ll find Chief Inspector Frederick Abberline sitting at the desk with a map of the victims’ locations.

Fourth Floor – The Bedroom

From the landing on the third floor, you can already hear a young woman singing a pretty tune. Having watched BBC’s Ripper Street‘s series finale a year before, I recognised the tune as ‘A Violet Plucked from Mother’s Grave’. This was the song that many heard Mary Kelly sing the night she was murdered. Whilst you hear [Carys Macdonald] sing the song on repeat, you step into a recreated bedroom that could very well have resembled hers or the other women who lived in poverty.

Lower Level – Mortuary

This was the last floor I visited and the hardest one to walk into. Granted, I had initially misread that this was the mortuary where Elizabeth Stride’s body had been and shivered as I walked in. It turns out that the now derelict mortuary is in the churchyard of St George’s in the East, just off Cable Street. On one side of the wall are the original stained glass window and drawers from the mortuary. By the door are original autopsy photos of the victims’ bodies.

~*~

It is infuriating that we may never confirm the identity of Jack the Ripper. Yet I wonder if learning his (or even her) identity is really the most important thing.

130 years later we must ask ourselves if enough is being done for impoverished women, not only in Britain but around the world. Are not many still resorting to prostitution if they have not been forced to become modern slaves? Are not many addicted to alcohol (and drugs)? Are not many of them mothers, forced to be separated from their children?

What are we willing to do to make sure that another Jack the Ripper will not terrorise the poorest of the poor?

Address: 12 Cable St, London, E1 8JG

Hours: Mon-Sun 9:30-18:30

Tickets: £10 online or £12 at the door

Tips:

I would suggest going with at least one other person but not as a large group. Going alone can be quite frightening, going with another is good for company, but going with a large group can desensitise you from the experience. I think you want to feel slightly afraid to know how the women would have felt.

Go on a Jack the Ripper Walk to see where the five main victims lived and were murdered. There are so many tours to choose from, some free, some around £10+. My first tour took place during the day and was led by an enthusiastic Ripperologist who believed he knew whom the Ripper was. Although you can see a lot more during the day, it can be quite distracting with so many people around you. My most recent tour took place during the evening and was led by a local guide from Limehouse whose grandmother grew up in the same area during the Whitechapel murders. The main difference was that the focus was less on the mysterious and infamous Ripper but more on the women who had names, families, and identities. It was this tour where the names of each victim was seared on my memory.

{New Post} In memory of the Ripper victims 9 November 1888. The mutilated body of 25-year-old Mary Jane Kelly was found in her bed in 13 Miller's Court.

[ladyandtherose]

I’ve just been reminded it’s #WorldBalletDay! Répétition d'un ballet sur scène by Edgar Degas, 1874, at the @museeorsay. • • #ballet #degas #ballerina #ballerinas #dance #dancer #painting #impressionism #edgardegas #museedorsay #paris #art (at Musée d'Orsay) https://www.instagram.com/p/BodHHVdgY11/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jxt2xx4exrjb

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Princess Louise’s Diamond Fringe which can be worn as a tiara or a necklace. • • #kensingtonpalace #victoriarevealed #tiara #diamond #diamondfringetiara #diamondfringe #fringetiara #london #latergram (at Kensington Palace) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnsK2-uF0Ck/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1hw0gyn5hmp2n

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Imagine how the Fife Tiara would have looked on Princess Louise! • • #kensingtonpalace #victoriarevealed #tiara #fifetiara #diamond #london #latergram (at Kensington Palace) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnpOMToFXG2/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qr2cysl0dbxy

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There are three sparkling tiaras featured on ladyandtherose.com today, including Queen Victoria’s Diamond and Emerald Tiara! 😍 • • #kensingtonpalace #victoriarevealed #tiara #queenvictoria #diamond #emerald #diamondandemerald #london #dukeoffife #hrp #exhibition #latergram (at Kensington Palace) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnmPD-5FuYz/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=pzjfxixpuv0f

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Three Tiaras at Kensington Palace

{New Post} Three Tiaras at Kensington Palace

Not to be missed at Kensington Palace this year are three tiaras which previously belonged to Queen Victoria and her granddaughter, Princess Louise. These tiaras are on display in the last room of the Victoria Revealed exhibition.

Diamond and Emerald Tiara and Parure

In 1843, Prince Albert designed a diamond and emerald parure for his wife. The parure comprises a necklace, earrings, and brooch.…

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Added three more photos to ‘Queen Victoria and Kensington Palace’ on ladyandtherose.com, including this elaborate embroidered pink silk jacket that belonged to Queen Victoria. It was displayed alongside a pair of matching embroidered slippers at Kensington Palace. (at Kensington Palace) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnkq63rF-j_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=2oxrso9eher4

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The Miniaturist airs tonight on Masterpiece PBS! Whilst the miniseries is set in 1686, here’s an exquisite 1660’s silver tissue and parchment lace dress from Fashion Museum Bath’s Lace History exhibition in 2017. • • #fashionmuseumbath #fashionmuseum #fashionhistory #17thcentury #17thcenturyfashion #historicaldress #historicalfashion #lacehistory #latergram (at Fashion Museum Bath) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bne22-hFX-5/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ah4aer1qci5

[ladyandtherose]

I also liked the green plaid dress by Caroline Charles, which Diana, Princess of Wales wore to the Braemer Gathering in 1982. Can still see someone wearing this today. • • #dianastory #hrp #kensingtonpalace #princessdiana #dianaprincessofwales #fashion #dress #plaid #carolinecharles #dianadress #exhibition #London #latergram (at Kensington Palace) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnaTGpQFXNP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=m2j18ypcibz3

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Updated my ‘Diana: Her Fashion Story’ blog post on ladyandtherose.com with 7 ‘new’ dresses and the Halo Trust outfit. These outfits were added in April 2018. One of my favourites when I visited in July was this 1980’s-does-1870’s (I think) dress by Victor Edelstein, 1986. • • #dianastory #hrp #kensingtonpalace #princessdiana #dianaprincessofwales #fashion #dress #eveninggown #victoredelstein #dianadress #exhibition #London #latergram (at Kensington Palace) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnYAwbKFoHp/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9wrnbwylh1tt

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Fashion Exhibition: Babes & Bathers

{New Post} #Fashion Exhibition: Babes & Bathers - A history of bathing suits from #IvanSayers' private collection

If you’re interested in the history of bathing suits for women and men, the ‘Babes and Bathers’ fashion exhibition is currently on tour at the Okanagan Heritage Museum until 3 September 2018. The exhibition features bathing suits and beachwear from the late 19th Century to the 1980’s from fashion historian Ivan Sayers’private collection, which had previously been on display at the Vancouver…

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“A thing of beauty is a joy forever: its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness.” - Endymion by John Keats • Keats House, formerly known as Wentworth Place, was the home of John Keats from 1818-20. It was saved from demolition in the 1920’s thanks to generous donations from the UK and abroad and opened as a museum in 1925. It was here where he fell in love and became engaged to Fanny Brawne. • • #KeatsHouse #JohnKeats #museum #Hampstead #London #Londonuk #travel #architecture #georgian #Regency #historicalbuilding #listedbuilding #cityoflondon (at Keats House)

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#latergram: Just three of six Neo-Classical villas designed by Quinlan Terry that are similar to Regency architect John Nash’s style. These were built between 1988-2004! • • #London #RegentsPark #Regentscanal #neoclassical #architecture #villa #mansion #house #travel #quinlanterry (at Regent's Park)

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Inverforth House (also known as The Hill) was once the home of the 1st Viscount Leverhulme, who had the Hill Gardens built. It was renamed in 1925 by the new owner after Leverhulme’s death. This Queen Anne Style house has been converted into multiple residences and is privately owned. The gardens are free and open to the public. • #London #Londonuk #thehill #hillgarden #architecture #listedbuilding #historicalbuilding #queenannestyle #fountain #garden #house #hampsteadheath #latergram (at Pergola and Hill Gardens, Hampstead Heath)

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#latergram: St Luke’s is the parish church of Chelsea and one of the first Neo-Gothic churches built in London (between 1820-24). The most prominent feature of this church is its 142ft tower! It was here where Charles Dickens married his wife, Catherine, in 1836. • #london🇬🇧 #londonuk #church #chelsea #neogothic #neogothicchurch #architecture #CharlesDickens #travel (at St Luke's Church, Chelsea)