Daniel Odysseus
Guest
What did men and women wear to go to the gymnasium, turkish bath, or swimming pool on Titanic? I assume they wore something else for each one... Any ideas?
-Daniel Odysseus
-Daniel Odysseus
What did they wear
- Thread starter Daniel Odysseus
- Start date
Randy Bryan Bigham
Member
Daniel,
Here goes:
GENTLEMEN'S DRESS
Gymnasium - Most men would have been in trousers and a sport coat (or cardigan) over a button-front shirt (with collar and tie) or else a Norfolk suit worn with a tie. Caps of the snap-brim variety or other casual styles would have been worn. For strenuous exercise, a man would have removed his coat/cardigan, and collar and tie, naturally. Mind you this was shipboard so consideration would have been paid at all times to the necessity of walking through corridors where one might encounter blushing ladies. So no man, excepting a die-hard athlete, would have actually walked through the ship in a sleeveless shirt and shorts. The chilly weather also would have (hopefully) prevented this lapse in decorum
.
Another choice of attire for a fashionable male in the gym would have been a pullover sweater and trousers. The possibilities really would not be very unlike clothes which a particularly natty golfer might wear today. The difference would be only in the details. For instance, trouser legs were narrower and shorter (so that socks showed). Suspenders were worn quite often. Collars were stiff and removable. Materials were finer - tweed, cheviot, mohair, heavy grade cottons, and pure linen.
Turkish Bath - A man would have entered the Turkish Bath in normal dress, whether sportswear or street clothes. He would then have undressed completely (or at least down to undergarments) and gone into the steam-room robed.
Swimming pool - Again a man would have arrived at the pool in sports clothes, undressed, and emerged in a bathing suit, then a snug, dark-color, one piece affair generally, short sleeved or sleeveless, with trunks about thigh-high, sometimes longer.
LADIES DRESS
Gymnasium - Women would have worn either a casual shirtwaist (blouse) and skirt, covered by a loose sport-jacket or coat, or else a sports dress of a light wool or linen which would have been open-necked, three-quarter sleeved, simply belted or sashed, the skirt being of moderate width, perhaps pleated, and reaching to the ankles (or just above after the fashion of lady tennis players). A tie or flat bow or some sort of a jabot or fichu would likely have trimmed the neck of the blouse or dress bodice. Bloomers of jersey or satin and a light linen shirtwaist would have been the choice of very health-minded ladies. Hats and caps of simple shapes and materials would have been worn.
Turkish Bath - Women would have arrived in street or sports dress, removed their clothing (or as much as modesty would permit), and reappear robed.
Swimming Pool - Again women would have entered the pool area fully dressed and changed into a bathing dress which then generally consisted of a three-quarter sleeved, low necked bodice, the waist marked by a sash or belt. Knee length shorts would have been surmounted by a gathered skirt ending just over the knees. Most women did not as yet go bear-legged into a pool where there was "mixed bathing" (as I assume was the case on Titanic), so they would have worn silk or lisle stockings. They also wore flat heeled satin bathing shoes that laced up the leg. On their heads they wore caps or bandeaux.
If I were able to load a picture or two, I could show you examples of the types of dress I've described.
To see some great images of Edwardian clothing log onto http://www.costumes. org
Randy
Here goes:
GENTLEMEN'S DRESS
Gymnasium - Most men would have been in trousers and a sport coat (or cardigan) over a button-front shirt (with collar and tie) or else a Norfolk suit worn with a tie. Caps of the snap-brim variety or other casual styles would have been worn. For strenuous exercise, a man would have removed his coat/cardigan, and collar and tie, naturally. Mind you this was shipboard so consideration would have been paid at all times to the necessity of walking through corridors where one might encounter blushing ladies. So no man, excepting a die-hard athlete, would have actually walked through the ship in a sleeveless shirt and shorts. The chilly weather also would have (hopefully) prevented this lapse in decorum
Another choice of attire for a fashionable male in the gym would have been a pullover sweater and trousers. The possibilities really would not be very unlike clothes which a particularly natty golfer might wear today. The difference would be only in the details. For instance, trouser legs were narrower and shorter (so that socks showed). Suspenders were worn quite often. Collars were stiff and removable. Materials were finer - tweed, cheviot, mohair, heavy grade cottons, and pure linen.
Turkish Bath - A man would have entered the Turkish Bath in normal dress, whether sportswear or street clothes. He would then have undressed completely (or at least down to undergarments) and gone into the steam-room robed.
Swimming pool - Again a man would have arrived at the pool in sports clothes, undressed, and emerged in a bathing suit, then a snug, dark-color, one piece affair generally, short sleeved or sleeveless, with trunks about thigh-high, sometimes longer.
LADIES DRESS
Gymnasium - Women would have worn either a casual shirtwaist (blouse) and skirt, covered by a loose sport-jacket or coat, or else a sports dress of a light wool or linen which would have been open-necked, three-quarter sleeved, simply belted or sashed, the skirt being of moderate width, perhaps pleated, and reaching to the ankles (or just above after the fashion of lady tennis players). A tie or flat bow or some sort of a jabot or fichu would likely have trimmed the neck of the blouse or dress bodice. Bloomers of jersey or satin and a light linen shirtwaist would have been the choice of very health-minded ladies. Hats and caps of simple shapes and materials would have been worn.
Turkish Bath - Women would have arrived in street or sports dress, removed their clothing (or as much as modesty would permit), and reappear robed.
Swimming Pool - Again women would have entered the pool area fully dressed and changed into a bathing dress which then generally consisted of a three-quarter sleeved, low necked bodice, the waist marked by a sash or belt. Knee length shorts would have been surmounted by a gathered skirt ending just over the knees. Most women did not as yet go bear-legged into a pool where there was "mixed bathing" (as I assume was the case on Titanic), so they would have worn silk or lisle stockings. They also wore flat heeled satin bathing shoes that laced up the leg. On their heads they wore caps or bandeaux.
If I were able to load a picture or two, I could show you examples of the types of dress I've described.
To see some great images of Edwardian clothing log onto http://www.costumes. org
Randy
Dave Gittins
Member
It was a different world, wasn't it!
Randy, bathing was segregated by sex. Women had from 10-00 am to 1-00 pm. Men had 2-00pm to 6-00 pm. These sessions were charged for. Men had a free sesssion from 6-00 am to 9-00 am.
Randy, bathing was segregated by sex. Women had from 10-00 am to 1-00 pm. Men had 2-00pm to 6-00 pm. These sessions were charged for. Men had a free sesssion from 6-00 am to 9-00 am.
Daniel Odysseus
Guest
I have another question, which I forgot to post here with the rest...
What did men/women wear when they went to the squash court?
-Daniel Odysseus
What did men/women wear when they went to the squash court?
-Daniel Odysseus
Kris Muhvic
Member
I could be wrong, but I believe men would have worn a white flannel(?) outfit, essentially a suit, maybe in their shirtsleeves (but tie, vest, etc.) and canvas shoes.
Women, well, I'm not sure if they "squashed" in 1912. If they did, a linen dress, or waist and shirt, canvas shoes again; probably with a "headband", or wrap around the hair.
I do not know the hours of operation of said squash court, nor if it was gender specific. If it was a "men's only" thing; probably undershirts with suspender-held trousers would do.
Sorry- that is all I can give on this one!
Kris
Women, well, I'm not sure if they "squashed" in 1912. If they did, a linen dress, or waist and shirt, canvas shoes again; probably with a "headband", or wrap around the hair.
I do not know the hours of operation of said squash court, nor if it was gender specific. If it was a "men's only" thing; probably undershirts with suspender-held trousers would do.
Sorry- that is all I can give on this one!
Kris
Daniel Odysseus
Guest
Also, another question... What kind of undergarments did men and women of the Titanic-era wear?
Randy Bryan Bigham
Member
You know how to ask questions but you don't have very good manners. How about a thank you for the info you've already been given? I'm not a robot and I don't think Kris is either. Besides there are a couple of fashion threads you might want to look at here on ET already.
Daniel Odysseus
Guest
Okay, I'm very sorry. You're right. I didn't mean for you guys to keep answering the questions... I'm sorry. I had to do a paper on the guilded age clothing, and I couldn't find anything on any of these three things... I should've said thank you earlier, but thank you for all of the information. It was really helpful.
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