Christie Stratos
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christiestratos.bsky.social
Christie Stratos
@christiestratos.bsky.social
830 followers 150 following 460 posts
Victorian fantasy and suspense author.
19th century researcher with a passion for Northeastern U.S. history 1840s-1890s.
Coffee and chocolate nonstop.
https://christiestratos.com
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christiestratos.bsky.social
Christie Stratos @christiestratos.bsky.social · Nov 16
It’s time for an introduction, what with so many lovely people joining Bluesky recently!

I’m Christie Stratos, author of historical suspense and historical fantasy.

*My works take place between 1840s and 1880s in the US.

*I collect all things Victorian era.

*Coffee and chocolate are food groups.
Photo of a white woman with brown eyes, and open-mouthed smile, and medium-length brown hair that is puffed on her head and curled over her shoulders. She is wearing a white Victorian-style shirt with lace trim at the neck. A gold and pearl brooch is pinned on her shirt at the center of her collarbones. She wears cameo earrings. Behind her is a bookshelf loaded with disorganized books.
Reposted by Christie Stratos
noethematt.bsky.social
"I DON'T NEED YOU TO FUCKING REWRITE WHAT I'VE JUST WRITTEN!"
October 28, 2025 at 10:46 AM
christiestratos.bsky.social
1880s two-piece pumpkin silk velvet plush with bombazine bodice and back skirt panel. Cast metal center-front button closures.

1880s two-piece maroon silk velvet plush with smocked purple silk satin center-front panel over glass and metal button closures.

—Augusta Auctions

#19thc 🗃️ 🗃️🪡
October 15, 2025 at 10:58 PM
christiestratos.bsky.social
Late 1880s three-piece cinnamon silk faille dress

Dinner bodice w/iridescent beaded & corded passementerie applique

Day bodice w/ciselé velvet reveres & flared cuffs, cream silk center-front plastron, scalloped silk satin ribbon ruffle to hem

[Augusta Auctions]

#19thc 🗃️ 🗃️🪡
October 5, 2025 at 5:49 PM
christiestratos.bsky.social
1856 two-piece cocoa-brown silk taffeta day dress

Dusty-rose silk braid terminating in hand-knotted fringe as applied collar, bell sleeves, and peplum

Center-front two-tone cloth-covered button closures

Trained skirt, cartridge-pleated center-back

[Augusta Auctions]

#19thc 🗃️ 🗃️🪡
October 2, 2025 at 11:59 PM
christiestratos.bsky.social
Happy October!

Fashions from the October 1847 issue of Graham’s Magazine.

#19thc 🗃️ 🗃️🪡
A page from Graham’s Magazine with color illustrations. One lady sits and wears a white off-the-shoulder dress with a pretty pink flower and green leaf design that runs shoulder to shoulder as well as down either side of the front of the skirt. The motif is also reflect in her hair. One lady stands in a long-sleeved light pink dress with one pink bow at the center front and a few draped with the top skirt down either side of the front. She wears a white bonnet with a teal feather and teal ribbon tied in a bow under her chin.
October 1, 2025 at 10:56 PM
christiestratos.bsky.social
June 1870 Godey's Lady's Book

Left: Walking suit. Underskirt of lilac grenadine, trimmed w/fringe & satin; the upper skirt of black silk, trimmed to correspond. Short sacque, w/revers of satin, w/coat sleeves & hanging sleeves over them. Lilac crape bonnet, trimmed w/lilac flowers.

#19thc 🗃️ 🗃️🪡
September 30, 2025 at 1:05 AM
christiestratos.bsky.social
Bronze-green silk satin day dress.

Yoke ruffle and below-the-elbow ruffle over shaped sleeves. Silk box-pleated ribbon trim around cuff.

Center-front hook & eye closure.

Fitted inset waistband with cartridge pleating at center back.

Possibly Quaker.

[Augusta Auctions]

#19thc 🗃️ 🗃️🪡
September 20, 2025 at 10:46 PM
christiestratos.bsky.social
One of my squirrel friends had babies! Here's one of them. Look how little she is!

@gallifreygamgee.bsky.social, here's the most adventurous one!
September 20, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Reposted by Christie Stratos
voodoovintage.bsky.social
#FashionHistory
"The fashions during this time allowed the textiles to stand out because of the vast surface areas of the skirt and a relatively minimal amount of excess trim."
September 6, 2025 at 2:04 PM
christiestratos.bsky.social
Left: 1870s two-piece day dress. Tan, black & white striped cotton. Bone buttons. Gored skirt. Gathers at center back.

Right: 1904 two-piece afternoon dress. White pina fiber w/embroidered black dots. White lace & black velvet ribbon trim. Center back waist bow.

[Augusta Auctions]

#19thc 🗃️ 🗃️🪡
September 2, 2025 at 10:37 PM
christiestratos.bsky.social
Autumn is coming! 🍂

1888 three-piece silk taffeta & velvet ensemble.

Bodice with velvet faux vest front.

Passementerie to reverse & cuff.

Dyed MOP buttons with silver inlay.

Matching velvet frock coat-style overjacket.

Skirt with pleated silk velvet godets.

[Augusta Auctions]

#19thc 🗃️ 🗃️🪡
Beautiful ensemble with a lovely large ribbon to tie the overjacket closed at the top. The color and material of the overjacket is reflected in the godets and the center-front material under the mother of pearl buttons. In this photo, the bodice and skirt are together, separate from the overjacket. We can see the puff at the top of the long sleeve, adding interest to the bodice.
August 25, 2025 at 12:45 AM
christiestratos.bsky.social
1860s black wool twill resist-block-printed paisley maternity wrapper.

Silk velvet-covered center-front button closures.

Free-falling collar in a V shape at center back.

Attached half belt, back peplum.

[Augusta Auctions]

#19thc 🗃️ 🗃️🪡
August 19, 2025 at 11:48 PM
christiestratos.bsky.social
PAISLEY STRIPED COTTON AT-HOME DRESS, 1860s

Paisley stripe printed cotton at-home dress.

Calico and glass center-front button closures.

Entirely handsewn!

[Augusta Auctions]

#19thc 🗃️ 🗃️🪡
This paisley-striped dress has the colors of rust, a lighter but still bright yet deep (not neon) orange, and beige.
August 1, 2025 at 1:19 AM
christiestratos.bsky.social
SHOT & STRIPED SILK TAFFETA AFTERNOON DRESS, 1863-1865

Three-piece burgundy and white shot striped silk taffeta.

Fitted bodice w/yoke and pagoda sleeves trimmed w/triple row of fawn silk velvet ribbon and cream silk passementerie w/incorporated beaded drop fringe.

[Augusta Auctions]

#19thc 🗃️🪡 🗃️
July 31, 2025 at 12:28 AM
christiestratos.bsky.social
WOW! Now that's a jewelry suite!

Exceptionally rare set of 19th century star jewels by Collingwood & Son in its original wooden box [The Jewelry Lady's Store]

#19thc 🗃️ #jewelrysky
The jewelry suite consists of a necklace with large star-like diamond pieces of jewelry that can dangle from the necklace if the wearer would like. There's also a tiara, eating, and a brooch, all in the same star-like design.
July 17, 2025 at 7:59 PM
christiestratos.bsky.social
PINK SILK SATIN AFTERNOON OR DINNER DRESS, c. 1880

Two-piece two-tone pink silk satin gown with metallic shanked center front button closures.

Knitted metallic gauze cuff overlay.

Elaborate ruching and pleating to skirt.

[Augusta Auctions]

#19thc 🗃️ 🗃️🪡
The darker pink skirt has pleating down the center front that is uninterrupted, while to either side of it is ruching at the lower thigh area.
July 15, 2025 at 11:28 PM
christiestratos.bsky.social
PRINTED COTTON DAY DRESS, LATE 1850s

Resist dyed and printed cotton calico day dress with tortoise shell center front button closure.

Cartridge pleated waist.

Hand sewn!

[Augusta Auctions]

#19thc 🗃️ 🗃️🪡
The dress is striped in two blues, one darker but not deep, still soft, and the other a lighter gray-blue. Up close, the darker blue has some very faint white slightly elongated dot-like stitches, and the lighter gray-blue has a more static-like elongated white stitching. On the stripes is a wavy pattern that adds a bit of interest. The wave is reddish pink on the darker color and white on the lighter one.
July 14, 2025 at 9:49 PM
christiestratos.bsky.social
TEXTURED SILK & LACE DINNER DRESS, EARLY 1890s

Two-piece pink and green textured silk dinner dress.

Bodice with forest-green tucked silk satin stock collar, yoke & center front panel overlaid w/chemical lace.

Skirt w/applied bias satin bands & velvet hem facing.

[Augusta Auctions]

#19thc 🗃️ 🗃️🪡
Two-piece pink and green textured silk dinner dress. The bodice is the pink textured material on the back and sides, with forest-green tucked silk satin stock collar, yoke & center front panel overlaid with off-white chemical lace. The skirt has three slim gracefully draped forest-green applied-bias satin bands. A closeup of the incredible chemical lace, which has the look of chain links leading down to snowflakes.
July 12, 2025 at 11:53 PM
christiestratos.bsky.social
MOURNING DRESS, EARLY 1880s

Black silk taffeta with black Maltese lace cuff and overskirt edging.

Faceted jet center front buttons closures.

Asymmetrical draped satin skirt with bustle back.

[Augusta Auctions]

#19thc 🗃️ 🗃️🪡
Beautiful black mourning dress with high collar. The material has a dull shine to it on the bodice, and more of a shine from hip to knee as well as on the sleeve cuffs. The faceted jet buttons down the center draw the eye. The lace cuffs at the end of the shiny material look complex.
July 12, 2025 at 1:33 AM
christiestratos.bsky.social
PLAID WOOL WRAPPER, 1860s

Blue & cream plaid wool wrapper, with applied black silk taffeta bands to center front, cuffs, patch pockets & hem.

Patterned silk-covered center-front buttons with velvet.

[August Auctions]

#19thc 🗃️ 🗃️🪡
This wool wrapper is in a bell shape, very comfortable-looking. The blue and cream plaid is wide, not a small plaid. The applied black silk taffeta bands down either side of the center-front buttons and perpendicular a couple of inches from the bottom, around the wrists, and across the tops of the pockets have a dull shine.
July 10, 2025 at 4:32 PM
christiestratos.bsky.social
Two-piece cranberry ribbed silk dinner dress with horizontal tucking, silk velvet cord to neckline, cuffs & cummerbund, c. 1895-1900

Two-piece cream floral-printed cotton house dress with pink cotton bias trim & piping, c. 1884-1887

[Augusta Auctions]

#19thc 🗃️ 🗃️🪡
July 10, 2025 at 1:16 AM
christiestratos.bsky.social
Silk Victorian afternoon and dinner gowns, late 1870-1890s

[Augusta Auctions]

#19thc 🗃️ 🗃️🪡
The dress on the left has large sleeves that end at the elbow and a high neck. Around the waist is a colorful fabric tied in a bow. The dress on the right is now a dark olive green, but some lighter coloring down the front indicates the olive color may just be how it aged. The buttons down the center front, in an upside-down V from the waist down, and in a V from the breast up are all a brighter green. This dress is long-sleeved.
July 7, 2025 at 12:42 AM
christiestratos.bsky.social
Some of my little squirrel friends!
1. Baby has been coming for food since she was a baby, and now she’s an adult!
2. Special Boy is blind in one eye. He’s new and cautious but has already warmed up to me.
3. Little One is only ~16 weeks old!
4. Dottie, my sweet OG squirrel friend. ❤️

#animallover
A squirrel with cream around her eyes, gray on most of her body, brow on her nose, and a white tummy. She looks up at the camera. A gray male squirrel with some brown on his feet. He’s shy but caught on quickly to the nuts I throw outside. The picture doesn’t show it, but he’s blind in the eye facing the camera. In person, this eye has a blue sheen over it. A small female squirrel with more brown than the others, looking right at the camera. Dottie, the first squirrel to trust me and the only to take from my hand. She stands like a person on two feet, her little hands across her chest. Her tummy is white and she’s a mix of gray and brown. She has a white dot of fur on the right side of her nose (her left).
July 6, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Reposted by Christie Stratos
madamegilflurt.bsky.social
When you’re styled like blancmange but you’re still #frockingFabulous. And let’s be clear, the stitching is exquisite. Handmade bubblegum pink silk taffeta evening gown, c.1855. Via Augusta Auctions. #fashionhistory
June 22, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Reposted by Christie Stratos
keristars.bsky.social
i have started on Penelope's Experiences in Scotland / Penelope's Progress (1898 - it has both titles) and am deeply amused that the American woman's appreciation for Scottish men in kilts was established even then.

Here's Francesca's ode:
We learned in what direction the soldiers had gone, and pursuing the same path found the young lady on the corner of a street near by. She was quite unabashed. ' You don't know what you have missed ! ' she said excitedly. ' Let us get into this tram, and possibly we can head them off somewhere. They may be going into battle, and if so, my heart's blood is at their service. It is one of those experiences that come only once in a lifetime. There were pipes and there were kilts ! (I didn't suppose they ever really wore them outside of the theatre !) When you have seen the kilts swinging, Salemina, you will never be the same woman afterwards ! You never expected to see the Olympian gods walking, did you ? Perhaps you thought they always sat on practicable rocks and made stiff gestures, from the elbow, as they do in the Wagner operas ? Well, these gods walked, if you can call the inspired gait a walk ! If there is a single spinster left in Scotland, it is because none of these ever asked her to marry him. Ah, how grateful I ought to be that I am free to say "yes, "...
June 21, 2025 at 1:18 PM