This “Ladies’ Blouser” looks to be a bust enhancer that would help women achieve the signature S-bend corset silhouette popularized by the Gibson Girls of artist Charles Dana Gibson. Some padding in the front did wonders for enhancing the illusion.
By the way, I learned something new today. According to Merriam-Webster, “Natty” means: trimly neat and tidy. Dictionary.com says: neatly or trimly smart in dress or appearance; spruce.
"A Ladies' Fancy Waist"
"New Belts, Collars and Bags"
"Ladies' Kimonos, Two-Piece House Dresses and Dressing Sacques"
"A Ladies' Jaunty Rolled Brim, Telescope College Sailor"
"New Styles of Dresses for the Little Ones, Made to Withstand the Rough Usage of a Child."
"Five Extraordinary Shirt Waist Values"
I hope you enjoyed seeing some of this lovely Edwardian catalog! I’m not sure what became of Todd-Smith & Co., but I did find an interesting article from 1909, the last year I could find mention of the company, about a suspicious fire in the Kesner Building in Chicago, where Todd-Smith & Co. had offices.
Although there were several companies doing business out of the Kesner Building, one article I found suggests that Todd-Smith & Co. suffered the biggest loss, a total of $15,000 (close to half a million according to the inflation calculators!).
Apparently police had opened an investigation and were questioning employees of Todd-Smith & Co. I wonder whatever came of the investigation? Was this fire the demise of the company? I think it is likely. If I come across any other information, I will post an update for the curious.
But for now, I will settle for enjoying the gorgeous images of Edwardian fashion and dreaming of owning all of the beautiful clothing and accessories.