Reconnecting

 June 2026

Hello friends,

It's been a long time, too long, since I sat down to create a blog post. I'm reconnecting with my passion for antique fashion, specifically women's Victorian & Edwardian attire of the Gilded Age.

Life has a way of getting one sidetracked. My detour began right around the Covid virus in 2020. My relationship and business took a total nose dive. I began having health issues and was struggling to do my job. I had developed an autoimmune disease, which really slowed me down. It sounds simple on paper. It was anything but simple, it was very complicated and overwhelming. I gave the business over to my partner and left MA to focus on my health, and my family, in PA. With that said, all of my interests took a back seat for two years. All of my energy was focused on trying to navigate my new normal and simply getting through the day. 

I used to present historic fashion programs several times a year, traveling all over the east coast. After everything happened I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to present another one. I had more not so good days than good days, physically and emotionally. 

In 2022 I got offered a job at the Pittston Memorial Library. At first I was hesitant, but I knew that I needed to get outside of my four walls if I was ever going to begin to heal. Books have always been a source of inspiration and delight for me. I was really looking forward to working in a library setting. Soon I got involved in the Friends of the Library planning committee. I was asked if I would present a "Gilded Age" Victorian & Edwardian fashions program at a ladies afternoon tea. I debated the decision. I was still struggling. Could I do it? I remembered many years ago when I was going through one of the most difficult times in my life. Taking a step out of my comfort zone and letting Victoriana Lady Lisa take the lead brought me out of my depression. I was willing to take the chance that it would work again. (It did!)

The library hosted the tea social on May 25, 2022. It was wonderful! We had a sold out event of 125 ladies. I'm happy to say that I was inspired not to pack my traveling museum trunks away. 😊

My ensemble is a circa 1900 Edwardian traveling suit. The hat is a vintage piece that I embellished with vintage flowers and Ostrich feathers.

All clothing & accessory pieces on display are authentic antique and vintage from my personal collection.

Greater Pittston Memorial Library Tea Social Program June 25, 2022

with author/historian Victoriana Lady Lisa

Ocean Grove is a quaint Victorian town in NJ. Many years ago our family vacationed there. If someone blindfolded you and dropped you off on one of the streets you would think you were in Cape May, NJ. However, unlike Cape May, numerous bed & breakfasts are beach front with lovely views of the ocean. There's nothing like a sunset over the ocean! Imagine my delight when I was contacted to present my traveling museum program for Ocean Grove's Illumination Night August 13, 2022. 

Victoriana Lady Lisa presenting Fashions of "The Gilded Age" in Ocean Grove, NJ August 13, 2022

My ensemble is a circa 1900 Edwardian summer tea dress. My hat is a vintage piece that I embellished with vintage flowers and Ostrich feathers. 

All clothing & accessory pieces on display are authentic antique and vintage from my personal collection.

Victoriana Lady Lisa presenting Fashions of "The Gilded Age" in Ocean Grove, NJ August 13, 2022

Illuminated Victorian homes in historic Ocean Grove, NJ

In 2023 I was invited to present a Victorian & Edwardian fashions program with my antique traveling museum in Scranton, PA. The Everhart Museum was celebrating their 115th anniversary.  It was an honor to be a part of the Everhart history community day celebration. 

My ensemble is a circa 1900 Edwardian traveling suit. The hat is a vintage piece that I embellished with vintage flowers and Ostrich feathers.

Author/historian Victoriana Lady Lisa at the Everhart Museum's 115th community day celebration 

May 20, 2023

In August of 2025 I was invited back to Ocean Grove, NJ for their Victorian weekend celebration. 

Anytime that I can be surrounded by 1800's architecture I'm in my happy place.

Victorian Weekend Ocean Grove, NJ

                                       Beautiful gingerbread style Victorian homes abound

                                                                 in Ocean Grove, NJ

Sunset in Ocean Grove NJ

Clarks Summit, PA is a wonderful area full of culture. One of the town gems is a fantastic place for community, arts and education called The Gathering Place. 

 https://gatheringplacecs.org

In January of 2025 I had the pleasure of joining their committee of volunteers. They have numerous events for the community and also feature a permanent art gallery which features various local artists. I've enjoyed lectures, art shows and creative workshops. (I recently taught a workshop on making journals.)

When the committee asked me to present a "Gilded Age" fashions program I jumped at the chance.

June 6, 2026 Victoriana Lady Lisa at The Gathering Place, Clarks Summit, PA.

All photos are of my maternal ancestors.

My ensemble is a white cotton lawn shirtwaist with a lace insert skirt, circa 1900. 

"Lucy" on the dress form is a lovely floral tea dress with matching slip, circa 1900.

               The hats are vintage pieces that I embellished with vintage flowers and Ostrich feathers.

All clothing & accessory pieces on display are authentic antique and vintage from my personal collection.

I still deal with health issues, unfortunately.

Someone very dear to me once said, "To do is to heal." 

 I do what I can, when I can. 

Besides, I'm Irish, we're survivors. 💚

Thanks for catching up with me.

Warm regards,

Lady Lisa 

 

A Victorian Tea With A Contemporary Flair

On Saturday April 22, 2017 at 12:00 noon the Kenilworth Historical Society presented a unique afternoon tea event called A Victorian Tea With A Contemporary Flair featuring nationally acclaimed speaker and author of International Steampunk Fashions Victoriana Lady Lisa. Lady Lisa, aka Lisa Griffiths, is also an award winning host of the syndicated TV show All Things Victorian.

Victoriana Lady Lisa presented a program entitled, "Welcome To Steampunk Fashion, Where What's Old Is New Again!" Lady Lisa, dressed in Steampunk attire, shared antique clothing and accessories from her personal traveling museum collection, explaining how the steam era history of the Victorian era inspired the modern Victorian fashion style referred to as Steampunk style. (The Steampunk aesthetic is not just about fashion but encompasses art, literature, furniture, music, and much more.)

The committee of the historical society pulled out all the stops decorating for the tea, It was pure eye candy, from hand painted teapots to lovely centerpieces and bookmark favors, all in Steampunk style, of course. The ladies really did their homework, bravo for a great job in decorating from floor to ceiling!

The refreshments were just as wonderful with traditional scones, tea sandwiches, and pastries galore. The hand decorated gear shaped cookies were especially impressive and almost too pretty to eat!
Again, bravo ladies!

The tea was held at the Kenilworth Gospel Chapel in Kenilworth NJ.

Victoriana Lady Lisa- Bringing history to life since 2003

To book a program please contact me - Victorianaladylisa@gmail.com

 References available upon request

Victorian Fashion Revival Article With Recollections.biz

Victoriana Lady Lisa's Victorian era great-great grandmother Ella Mae Martin, standing, and sister Lucy, seated, circa 1890. This photo was my inspiration as a child which encouraged my love of historic fashions. Ella Mae & Lucy's father Samuel J. Martin was a Quartermaster Sergeant in the Civil War. Sadly Lucy passed away at age 25 from Influenza, her sister Ella Mae named her daughter Lucy in her sister's honor. Namesake Lucy was my beloved great grandmother.


Greetings friends,
I'm honored to be featured in this informative Recollections article among such knowledgeable people in the industry. My very first reproduction gown was from Recollections when I started catering afternoon tea parties back in 2002. So many wonderful things have happened since that time.

If you enjoy the Victorian & Edwardian era you can watch episodes of my award winning community access TV program All Things Victorian 1623 Studios posted on Youtube. For Steampunk fans you might enjoy my book International Steampunk Fashions by Victoriana Lady Lisa. 

I encourage you to make a cup of tea and set aside some time to peruse the fabulous articles on the Recollections blog pages. Cheerio!

http://recollections.biz/blog/victorian-fashion-revival/

Victoriana Lady Lisa- Bringing history to life since 2003

To book a program please contact me - Victorianaladylisa@gmail.com

 References available upon request

The Wild Violet circa 1863

THE WILD VIOLET
Beautiful Violet, daughter of May
Blooming so modestly out of the way
Under the tangle and down by the brook
Upon the hill-side in some shady nook
Always and ever trying to play
Hide-go-seek with the sun's golden ray.

Beautiful Violet, welcome thou art
Bringing sweet music to a weary heart
For the memories full, thy coming seems
And gazing upon thee, back come the dreams
That haunted me once in love's bright day
When life and life's hopes were an endless May.

Beautiful Violets, when I am laid
Under the Willow-beneath its cool shade
Will you not come then, and bloom by me there
Filling with sweetness the soft evening air?
Say will you not come and over me lay
Your mantle of blue, fair daughter of May.


(This was found in a journal from 1863 from my personal collection. It was very common in the Victorian era to speak of death in poems. Not to be morbid, but because the life span was often short due to sickness and disease. The Victorians accepted this reality and spoke of it freely, which helped them deal with their grief.)

Victoriana Lady Lisa- Bringing history to life since 2003

To book a program please contact me - Victorianaladylisa@gmail.com

 References available upon request

Victorian Era Born Harry Gordon Selfridge

 

 Harry Gordon Selfridge, Sr., born in the Victorian era, was an American-born British retail magnate who founded the London based department store Selfridges. He married Rosalie Buckingham from a prominent Chicago family in 1890. They had a son Chandler who died shortly after his birth, daughters Rosalie, Violette, Beatrice, and a son Gordon Jr.

The Selfridge's lived lavishly at Highcliffe castle for a time. To read more-
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/features/snapshotsofthepast/10162049.Highcliffe_Castle__the_very_British_home_of_Mr_Selfridge/

 Rosalie, shown with 4 of her 5 children. Mrs. Selfridge died in the Influenza pandemic in 1918.

Harry Selfridge coined the phrase, "The Customer Is Always Right. "He was the first to promote Christmas sales and started the saying, "Only _____ shopping days until Christmas!" Others included:
"People will sit up and take notice of you if you will sit up and take notice of what makes them sit up and take notice."

Handsome actor Jeremy Piven plays the character role of Harry Gordon Selfridge, the department store magnate.

 The store opened on March 15, 1909, near the end of the Edwardian era, at the western end of Oxford Street in London. There was nothing like it. Selfridge created a place where people wanted to shop, enjoyed it in fact, as opposed to shopping out of necessity. The store carried the best of everything, and it was on display where shoppers could experience the products, not just look at them under glass. Harry wanted it that way. The store was a destination with restaurants, a library/reading room, and special reception rooms for French, German, and American customers. If only I had a time machine to go back and shop for a day!

                    Fashions circa 1909 from Victorian Lady Lisa's private collection.

Due to the Great Depression, his gambling, and a penchant for free spending on show girls, Selfridge died almost penniless, living with his oldest daughter Rosalie at the end of his life.

Harry Gordon Selfridge was born January 11, 1864 in Ripon, Wisconsin. He died May 8, 1947 in  Putney London, England of Bronchopneumonia. He's buried in St. Marks churchyard Highcliffe, Dorset next to his wife Rosalie who died in 1918, and his mother Lois who died in 1924.

To read more about his death and burial- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=13731901

Victoriana Lady Lisa- Bringing history to life since 2003

To book a program please contact me - Victorianaladylisa@gmail.com

 References available upon request