Posted by Jessamyn on September 11, 1997 at 00:26:34: In
response to Mourning, written by Kelley on September 10, 1997 at
09:31:23 ] Widows were supposed to mourn for at least two years,
during which one was expected to wear all black. After a while,
she could wear half-mourning, which had black stripes on it.
Many chose to wear widow's weeds all their lives (like Queen
Victoria), which may be what Mrs. D. is doing (though I don't
know how much time passes in S&S). ] Children should mourn their
parents for at least a year, but I'm guessing that they could
follow the half-mourning idea as well. ] Men were luckily
allowed to wear black armbands only if they so chose, but women
had to wear full black. Was it the men in Persuasion who talked
about the armbands? People in the Regency counted so many folk
as their "close" relations, and death was so much more common
than now, that fashion plates actually included fashionable
mourning garments. But for the less-than-wealthy, getting up
enough proper clothing in a hu