Hello everyone and happy Thursday! Today we are going to venture out from the wonderful book from Ms. Jessie Carney Smith and take a look at the world of fashion. Per special request I have found some information about the beginnings of African-American influence in the fashion world. The links I have found should be really informative and there are a couple of books that will prove useful for more information.
Elizabeth Keckly, born a slave, became a skilled seamstress in her time. Elizabeth Keckly supported herself and her family through her dressmaking and design skills. She bought her freedom and moved to Washington D.C. She was famous for the inaugural gown she designed for Mary Todd Lincoln, wife to then president Abraham Lincoln. This dress can be viewed today at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. The wives of Robert E. Lee, Stephen Douglas, and Jefferson Davis were also clients of Elizabeth Keckly. A respected independent business woman, she worked towards the abolition of slavery through her well-connected white clients.
This is a picture of the dress that Keckly designed for Mrs. Lincoln.
For more information look here:
http://www.whowearemagazine.com/2009/11/blacks-in-herstory.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Kecklyhttp://www.historyofquilts.com/keckly.htmlhttp://www.burwellschool.org/about/ElizabethKeckly.php
For ordering information on the books look here:
http://www.amazon.com/Behind-Scenes-Lincoln-White-House/dp/1451503970/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297373229&sr=8-1http://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Lincoln-Keckly-Remarkable-Friendship/dp/0767902599/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1297373229&sr=8-2
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