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New Zealand circa 1905. "Group of unidentified young women outdoors, probably Christchurch district." An interesting variety of countenances and coifs. Glass negative by Adam Maclay, Alexander Turnbull Library. View full size.
Stripey girl on the far left wins the most points for puffiness--biggest sleeves and biggest hair.
All the remarks about parting their hair in the middle; have you forgotten the 1970's already?
Strange how a group of women living together somehow manage to get their hairdos in sync.
The practice of random individuals gazing off-camera, so common in Civil War-era photos here in the US, was likely an attempt to animate and render somewhat less formal the effects of the long exposures necessitated by the plates of that era. Apparently, that affectation survived such technical limitations, at least in New Zealand, however the subjects there have learned to smile, an expression that few apart from Lincoln seemed to be able to hold for the requisite period during Matthew Brady's epoch.
[Ahem. Mathew, not "Matthew," Brady. -Dave]
I wonder if these girls came up with this hair parted down the middle in front and the rest put up like the fashion dictated at the time, or if there was some Kiwi fashion icon that wore it first. Except for the little blond in front on the left, I can see why it didn't catch on!
The young lady on the right in the second row, along with her distinctive taste in dresses, has a wonderful expression; she looks like she's up for just about anything.
Meanwhile, the pretty blonde on the lower left offers a fine (early?) example of a "Just take the darn picture already" face.
Lovely picture.
All hair will be parted in the MIDDLE !
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