OPEN TUESDAYS IN DECEMBER – Book now!

Teddy Bear Teas - Sat., Dec. 5th 4:30*-6pm *Please note: this tea starts one-half hour later (due to Santa’s schedule!).

Sun., Dec. 13th 4-5:30pm

Sat., Dec. 19th 4-5:30pm

Tues, Dec. 22nd 4-5:30pm

Vianne’s 7th Annual Dickens Festival
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009!

"VIANNE’S TEA" in 3 courses:
Scones, Tea Sandwiches, Savories & Canapes,

Ending with Dainty Tea Desserts

Christmas Teas with each course!

Seatings: 10:30a and 2:30p

$26.95 per person + tax & gratuity

Dickens era decor, A Celebration of Christmas, Dickens Style!

Dramatic Readings, Live Singers, Costumed Staff,

Patrons are encouraged to costume,

Viannes.com for easy costume suggestions!

CHRISTMAS PAST FESTIVAL on Girod Street – Sat., Dec. 12, 2009

Shopping! Entertainment on two stages on Girod Street!! Carriage Rides, Costumed Actors, Santa, Scrooge Shouting & Costume Contest!

OUTSIDE on the Sidewalk in front of Vianne’s Gruel (Bowls of Chili), Grub (Hot Dogs), Wassail (Hot Apple Cider), Hot Teas to be sold at nominal prices!

Winter on the Water Parade & Caroling, Lakefront 4-6

OldMandeville.biz
For more information.

DICKENS CHRISTMAS COSTUME TIPS
Dressing the part of a Victorian lady or gent can be as easy

as pulling together pieces hanging in the back of the closet. Or it could be as fun as finding a vintage dress or suit in a thrift shop or antique store. Or even have a costume custom-made! Here’s a quick guide to the basics of Victorian Dressing.

Ladies’ dress

1. Every lady wore a hat. Outside, ladies usually wore bonnets of some kind, trimmed with feathers, flowers, ribbons and bows. Create a bonnet easily from an old straw or felt hat from a thrift shop. Indoors, ladies often wore small lace caps that can be fashioned today from lace handkerchiefs, a flower and a few small ribbons. Domestic servants wore mopcaps.

2. A Victorian dress usually had a high neckline, sometimes with a collar and fitted bodice, three-quarter length full sleeves and a very full, long skirt worn over layered petticoats or a hoop. With a few amendments, such as adding more fullness to the skirt, accenting with ribbons, braid, lace and flowers, and even adding a collar, any thrift-shop find can be transformed into a lovely Victorian dress. Keep in mind that solids and small prints were more common, but stripes and plaids also were popular. Cotton, lightweight wools or any fabric that looks like silk or brocade would most resemble period cloth.

3. If choosing a long skirt, accent it with ribbons, lace and a full petticoat or hoop. A high-necked blouse with a cloak, mantle, shawl or pelerine jacket completes this easy outfit.

4. A working class woman would wear simple dress with narrow sleeves and a dark material, with no petticoats. She might wear a bibbed apron over the dress, with a shawl tied over her shoulders.

5. Dark stockings and slipper-type shoes or ladies’ boots were worn during this period. To complete the outfit, a lady would add a bonnet to match her dress, gloves, a fan and a small purse.

Gentlemen:

1. Hats are a must. A gentleman always wore a hat of some kind when he was outside. Even working-class men are pictured with battered top hats or lower-crowned, broad-brimmed hats. Tweed skimmers were more sporty versions of Victorian attire.

Stovepipe hats are available at Vianne’s $12.95.

2. A plain white shirt can be given a period look by turning the collar up. Add a ribbon, scarf or fancy cravat and knot in front. A working man would wear a collarless shirt or smock, with sleeves rolled up.

3. A vest [or waistcoat] of brocade, velvet or silk will help create a gentleman’s costume. A waistcoat of wool in bright colored strips or plaid will make any 21st Century man a sporting 19th Century chap or shopkeeper.

4. Tapered pants in black, grey or buff with a strip of ribbon running down the outer seam were a gentleman’s normal attire. A working man would wear a baggy pair of pants in wool or corduroy.

5. A frock coat or tailcoat is easy to create, using a dark overcoat or raincoat. Trim the collar with velvet, silk or brocade, and move the first button to mid-chest, causing the coat to fall in a cutaway fashion. A laborer, fisherman or stallkeeper would have a wool coat with a scarf tied around the neck.

Children:

1. Boys wore trousers, shirts and coats as grown men did. A cap or small top hat also was common. The younger boys wore knickers, and the “young men” wore trousers.

2. Girls wore low frocks fastened behind, and short sleeves. When they went outside, they put on a cloak or shawl. Upper-class parents dressed their girls like miniatures, reproducing on a small scale each detail of puff, frill and elaborate decoration. The more commonfolk tended to be thrifty, and would reuse garments to make their children’s clothes.

3. Babies were dressed in layers of flannel or cotton petticoats to combine warmth and ease of washing. Caps, with rows and rows of lace, looked dear around an infant’s face. It was fashionable to drape baby in a simple circular cape while outside.

For additional tips on Victorian dressing, visit a public library for books about costuming. Search through old magazines kept on microfilm from the turn of the century and study the clothing pictured in the magazines. Rent an old Charles Dickens classic turned into a movie, such as Oliver or A Christmas Carol, and try to duplicate the clothing worn by the actors. Remember, a Victorian costume can be custom-made by a professional dressmaker, or pieced together with elements found in many closets or thrift shops. Dressing in Victorian fashion for our Dickens Gathering is a start of a tradition and adds to the overall enjoyment, and makes wonderful memories as everyone is a part of the celebration instead of mere observers.

NUTCRACKER TEA
Sat., Dec. 19, 2009 10:30 am

Guest Speaker The Ornament Lady from Das Schulerhaus Christmas Shop & Gift Gallery on Girod Street.

Learn about the history of the Nutcracker and the stories of over a dozen Christmas Ornaments! Full meal Vianne’s Tea Experience - $24.95 per person + tax & gratuity

Great for adults and young people alike!

Life is a Tea Party!

Sunday, Dec. 27th 3-5pm

Meet the last 6 years of fascinating monthly Tea Talk speakers at our New Fashioned Tea Party Celebration. Includes unlimited teas and festive holiday desserts. $15. + tax & gratuity

Vianne’s is the winner of 2007 & 2008 Old Mandeville Exterior Holiday decorating contest. Come see us this year!

"ROYAL TEA" Seating times: 10:00-12:00; 2:30-4:30 $44.pp 5 courses: Soup, Salad, Scones, Tea Sandwiches, Savories & Canapes, Variety of mini tea Desserts. Gourmet Christmas Teas!

COURT TEA Seating: 7:00pm; $50.pp, a 6th course, entrée of Prime Rib added to above courses.
Both Royal Tea & Court Tea prices include tax & gratuity.

Patrons will enjoy Victorian Decor, Dickens theme: writings, sayings, history. Costumed staff, Patrons are encouraged to costume, see below ??? (or wherever placement you deem necessary – see attached) for easy costume suggestions!

OUTSIDE on the Sidewalk in front of Vianne’s Gruel (Bowls of Chili), Grub (Hot Dogs), Wassail (Hot Apple Cider), Hot Teas to be sold at nominal prices!

Dickens & Christmas Past photos!:

This is all that is scheduled at this time...
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