This old woman looks almost regal sitting in a rattan chair in from of her house, at least I imagine it is hers. She offers familiar markers of age—hair drawn back into a severe bun and a brooch at the high neckline. Her waistline has also moved up quite a bit to accommodate the menopot that comes with age.
However, what drew me to this photo were the small white dots on her dark dress—perhaps even a navy blue dress. Fashion advisors in the early 1900s, when I believe this photo was taken, told older women to stick to dark colors and very small prints so as not to draw attention to a shape that had not changed for the better with age.
At first I assumed that these were polka dots, a perennial favorite. They aren’t. Instead, they are small rice shaped figures set at angles, giving the pattern a little more movement. It just goes to show that even within the narrow strictures set for older women someone could make things a bit more interesting.
