Monthly Archives: March 2015

1840s Walking Dress

1840-60 - Victorian, , ,

1840s walking dress

I’m wearing my black wool bodice and skirt, a paisley shawl (here’s a picture of an 1840s dress with shawl, and of an 1850s and 1860s paisley shawl), a starched cotton batiste and lace collar, my antique victorian brooch, brown leather gloves, and my DIY 1840s black bonnet trimmed with a pink satin ribbon. The skirt is supported by four cotton petticoats. Continue reading 1840s Walking Dress →

1910s Hairstyle – The Recamier Coiffure

Historical Hairstyle Tutorials, , , ,

edwardian hairstyle

For the 1910s hairstyle I followed the coiffure lesson for ‘the now fashionable Recamier style‘. It says that the fashionable woman no longer wears a huge pompadour hairstyle or an exaggerated swirl. It calls the Recamier the smartest hairstyle which every woman can make herself. Additionally, a hairpiece is no longer needed for this new style. Continue reading 1910s Hairstyle – The Recamier Coiffure →

18th Century Spiral Lacing

18th Century, , , ,
18th Century Front Lacing Stays Spiral Lacing
18th Century Linen Stays

18th century clothing was often closed with pins – like the bodice of the 1780s “The Watercress Girl” – lacing, buttons or hooks & eyes. If lacing was used, it was usually spiral lacing, not crisscross lacing. For spiral lacing, two of the lacing holes at the beginning and end are spaced closer together. Continue reading 18th Century Spiral Lacing →

18th Century Hand-Plaited Straw Bergère Hat

18th Century, , , , , ,

Hand Braided 18th Century Straw Bergere Hat From Scratch

Bergère hats were popular in the 18th century. A bergère is a hat with a low crown and wide brim and was usually made of straw. Despite the name – bergère means shepherdess in French – bergère hats were also worn by rich women.

Inspired by antique 18th century straw bergère hats like this 18th century straw bergère hat at the MET museum, I made this straw hat from scratch! I used wheat straw, soaked it in water to make it bendable, braided it into a long braid and then stitched the straw braid together with invisible stitches. Continue reading 18th Century Hand-Plaited Straw Bergère Hat →

How To Make Satin Roses – Edwardian Tutorial (1910)

DIY Crafts, , , , , ,

How To Make Satin Roses - Edwardian Tutorial

Handmade silk and ribbon roses were very popular in the Edwardian era. They were used to trim dresses and hats, and as hair accessory.

‘One of the most charming fashions is the use of silk or ribbon roses. […] Since the work has become popular, some women take lessons in rose-making, but the clever worker will be able to teach herself the pretty art’. (Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, 1910-2)

Continue reading How To Make Satin Roses – Edwardian Tutorial (1910) →

Edwardian Summer Hat

1900s - Edwardian, , , ,

Edwardian Hat

For a ‘garden or porch party […] the summer girl may wear her most picturesque, most be-flowered, most lacy millinery possession […] a picture hat of some fine open-work straw trimmed with roses to match the flowers in the dress. Or it may be a lingerie hat of lace’ (Evening Star, 1904).

In the Edwardian era, summer dresses were often worn with a matching summer hat made of thin fabrics and trimmed with lace, ruffles and flowers. Continue reading Edwardian Summer Hat →