#edwardians

[english-history-trip]

[inky-duchess]

Etiquette of the Edwardian Era and La Belle Époque: A Day in the Life of a Socialite

This is a new set of posts focusing on the period of time stretching from the late 19th century to the early 20th Century right up to the start of WWI. I'll be going through different aspects of life. This series can be linked to my Great House series as well as my Season post and Debutant post.

The socialite depending on her rank and country of origin, is the heart of the social world within this time period. It is she who hosts grand balls, attends them, hosts dinners where couples fall in love. But what does she get up to on a regular day?

Morning

The morning of the socialite usually began early - if she hadn't attended or hosted a ball the night before. Around 9, the Socialite would be awoken by the arrival of her hot water by her lady's maid. If she was married, she would have the luxury of staying in bed to eat breakfast. After she has eaten, she would ring for her lady's maid to help her dress. If she is not married, she would dress first and head downstairs and have breakfast with her unmarried sisters, her brothers and father. After breakfast, the married socialite would withdraw to her business of the day, such as meeting with the chef to discuss menus for the following days. She might look over paperwork and letters concerning the house, her social circle and for charities she supports. The unmarried Socialite might just jump straight into her charity work.

Midday - Afternoon

Luncheon would be served around 1. After luncheon, the ladies of the house may travel to appointments such as fittings or paying calls to friends. Paying calls means dropping in, leaving one's card at the door and being admitted for a chat or some tea. Unmarried socialites might be attended by a lady's maid. Socialites may attend charity meetings, board meetings at this time. Tea would be served around four. After the tea is finished, the children would be brought down to spend time with their mother. This might be the only time a Socialite mother saw her children.

Evening

On a quiet evening at home, around 8, the butler would signal the start of supper giving the family and any staying guests, 15mins or more to get ready. Lady's maids would already be upstairs at this point, helping their mistress with dressing. When the Socialite head downstairs, linger in the drawing room to chat with the family snf any guests they might have. She would withdraw to the drawing room for coffee and tea with the other ladies while the men stay in the dining room to drink and smoke. When the men have finished, they join the ladies before going up to bed for cards and such.

On evenings, she would be a guest, she would repeat most of the steps above but instead, travel to dinner in her carriage. She would arrive, be announced and then escorted to the salon to greet her hostess and her fellow guests. If unaccompanied, she would be accompanied to dinner by an eligible male guest who is know to her. She wouldn't stay over if she's unmarried but head home afterwards.

On evenings that she's hosting an event (must married), she would repeat all the steps from a quiet night at home but everything would be larger, grander. She would be downstairs early to see to the details, waisting in the drawing room to greet her guests.

Hobbies

Socialites don't work so they will usually spend their day keeping busy. Married Socialites of course have a household and family to run. But all Socialites had an array of hobbies to keep herself occupied. As mentioned before, a socialite would patron charities. These usually involved little to no actual labour, it was more about raising awareness, raising money and occasionally visiting - often censored - the places they were supporting. The socialite would often spend the day shopping, this was the era of the rise of the department store. She would also attend a dressmaker's for fittings and consultations. She might enjoy physical pursuits like tennis, horseback riding or taking the air, all of these will of course be moderate hobbies. Watercolours, music and embroidery were popular hobbies of the time.

[yowlthinks]

For all you Edwin fans in and around London or planning a trip there soon:

The Edwardians: Age Of Elegance exhibition is on at the King's Gallery (Buckingham Palace) 11 Apr - 25 Nov 2025!

[chuckbbirdsjunk]

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

[from my flickr files:: My Grandfather’s photo albums]

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Today Oh! kangaroos, sequins, chocolate sodas! You really are beautiful! Pearls, harmonicas, jujubes, aspirins! all the stuff they've always talked about still makes a poem a surprise! These things are with us every day even on beachheads and biers. They do have meaning. They're strong as rocks. “Today," by Frank O'Hara, from The Selected Poems of Frank O'Hara. © Vintage Books. Reprinted with permission. [Writer's Almanac]

[autumnrose11]

"If you really like an argument ... we should see more of each other." ~ Matthew Crawley

[chernobogina]

Edwardian ruby bracelet.

[historylovers]

Unknown Woman with a Kodak Camera in the firsts years of 1900s.