#the current overall Boston heat record was set in 1911. 104 degrees. that was an EXTREME exception back then

[marzipanandminutiae]

a misconception I see a lot- and have even believed myself! -is, "well, women in western history could only wear all those layers because there was no climate change!"

which is. not really the case, as far as I can tell?

obviously this varies from era to era, but I was looking into historical temperatures here in Boston from the earliest consistent records (1893) and I was surprised to see several 90+-degree days most summers throughout the 1890s (fahrenheit)

now, I am not at all a climate-change denier. extreme heat has been getting more likely and more frequent the world over- I'm fully aware that I'm posting this during what some scientists are calling the hottest July on record globally. that being said, the idea that our ancestors NEVER had to deal with the temperatures we're facing now is factually incorrect for many of the areas worldwide where the clothing we're talking about was worn (and most scientists aren't saying that, I know! this is a pop history commentary, not a scientific one)

the fact is that, in most of the western world, yes, our ancestors did wear That Clothing in These Temperatures. less often and for shorter periods of time, most years, but...it happened! and they found ways to deal!

#dress history #climate change #fashion history #wearing less clothing does not necessarily keep you cooler and that's an aspect of our present-day clothing culture that could be #worth examining #the current overall Boston heat record was set in 1911. 104 degrees. that was an EXTREME exception back then #it would be highly unusual even now #but like. people had to deal with that. in their usual 1910s summer garments