Page 37 - Wallingford Magazine Issue 52 Winter 2025

tached. A sewing kit, keys, match
purse, would all be useful for a
maid, housekeeper, or matriarch
of the home. These items were
attached by a chain or ribbon, put-
ting everything you carried within
easy reach.

Upper class Victorian and Gild-
ed age women took this practical
piece of their servant’s wardrobe
and used it as an opportunity to
personalize their fashion and again,
show off their wealth. Instead of
carrying keys and matches, they
could attach a small reticule purse
for pin money, a fan, watch, or
Tie on pocket gloves. The chatelaine could also Chatelaine

reticule and what material it was be used to display leisure activities, sity, and an everyday part of an
made from was determined by like a deck of cards. ensemble.
your wealth. Upper class women
would opt for a more expensive Of course, the tie on pocket floated During WWII when women began
bag, using it as an opportunity to in and out fashion, still being used working in factories, along with
show off their means. White reti- occasionally underneath skirts and pants, large pockets were brought
cules made from satin, silk, or cro- dresses up through the Edwardian back into fashion. This was not
cheted would flaunt their position only due to war time rationing,
among the elite. Spectacles, pin making material for handbags
money, gloves, or a fan were a few harder to come by, but also as a
of the common things carried in method of convenience. Big pock-
the reticule. ets were easy to fill with essentials
during an air raid siren, and you
The Wallingford Historic Preserva- needed to move fast. Fashion post
tion Trust has two silver and bead- WWII quickly saw the demise of
ed reticule bags on display at the the functional pocket for women,
Johnson Mansion. These particular with many designers choosing faux
bags are designed to be attached pockets, or none at all.
to another Victorian pocket solu-
tion, the chatelaine. Functioning as Thankfully in the 21st century,
an early sort of lanyard combined people have a variety of options
with a keychain, it was attached to to choose from when on the go.
the waist, where we would wear a Whether you prefer to carry a
belt today. Reticule purse, lanyard, keychain, or just
era. When fashion changed after shove what you need into a pock-
The chatelaine was originally used WWI, structured undergarments et, you are always connected to a
by head servants or the woman of like corsets or stays, and petticoats piece of history!
the house as a practical tool for the were swapped for bras or soft gir-
job. Everything you would need to dles and crinoline. Handbags be-
run your home could be easily at- came the trend and out of neces-

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