Demorest's Family Magazine was THE source of fashion information from 1879 to 1899. There were also articles about household management, art, travel logs and stories...a glimpse of the world for the homebound woman. But it cost $2.00 a year, about $52.00 now, so it was aimed at the middle class housewife. William Demorest was an interesting guy. He is largely credited with using his wife's Ellen Louise Demorest's paper pattern designs. She was a powerful woman dedicated to woman's rights and was an abolitionist. Part of why they sold so many patterns was that she brought French fashions to American women. Here are some of those suggestions.


 
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