THE LATEST COLORS FOR RIBBONS

ACCORDING to historian Judith Flanders, the first recorded coffee-house in the UK was set up in London in 1657 by a Greek! This guy worked for a merchant in London, and made coffee for him; people loved it so much, that the merchant advised the Greek guy to open a coffee-shop. He did so, in St Michael's Ally in Cornhill, London.

At the same time, coffee- and tea-houses are associated with women and women's freedom of movement, as they were some of the places women could legitimately go to in the 19th century. Women did not frequent the male clubs, of course; however, they frequented shops and department stores, which in turn featured tea- and coffee-rooms. These rooms were specially designed to accommodate women, featuring even restrooms and lavatories.

In the 19th century city or town, it was unusual for women to appear in public places. Few women, if at all, appeared at the City in London, in offices or in the business areas. Women were confined to the home. The department store provided a solution to this. Women were always in charge of the shopping for the home. Thus, appearing in shops, shopping areas and the newly formed department stores was permissible.

Jane Austen too records women gathering in the little village shops to talk, exchange news and have a look at the new bonnets and the latest colors for ribbons. 

One thing is clear, it seems to me. No matter what century you find yourself in, few things are more exciting than shopping and a good cup of coffee!!!