This is my Victorian corded petticoat. It’s just a short petticoat – about knee-length. Usually, stiffened underskirts, such as (horsehair) crinolines and corded petticoats, were shorter than over-petticoats in the mid-Victorian era: 1858 painting, ca. 1835 short whalebone crinoline, and mid-19th century crinoline. This 1840s short corded linen crinoline has about the same length as my corded petticoat. Continue reading Victorian Corded Petticoat
Some years ago, I turned a modern cotton blouse into a Victorian-style blouse. It resembles this 1860s cotton blouse with pintucks. As it’s a modern blouse cut, it hasn’t the sloped shoulder seams – typical of Victorian bodices – but this isn’t seen if the blouse is worn with a zouave jacket. Continue reading Victorian Blouse Makeover
Just for fun I dressed up as a Victorian reaper. Continue reading A Victorian Reaper
The right underwear is very important for historical costuming – even more important than the dress – because underwear provides the structure for the dress. Without the correct underwear, the dress looks cheap and shabby.
Victorian women wore many layers of underwear: chemise, drawers, corset, petticoats – to name just a few. Mid-Victorian underwear was usually very plain – unlike late Victorian or Edwardian lingerie with their lace frills and flounces.
Here I’m showing you how a middle or upper class woman would’ve dressed in the 1840s or 1850s. Continue reading 1840s/ 1850s Underwear – Dressing The Victorian Lady
Victorian working women wore practical clothing – suitable for working. Learn how a Victorian working woman would’ve dressed. Continue reading Dressing The Victorian Working Woman
In the Victorian era, women usually wore a woven wool scarf or a knitted sontag, but sometimes they wore a crocheted scarf. Continue reading Victorian Grey Wool Crochet Scarf
In the Victorian era, petticoats were starched to make them stiffer for the fashionable bell-shaped skirt silhouette, and to make them dirt-resistant so that they’d need less frequent washing. Continue reading How To Starch A Victorian Cotton Petticoat
My late 1850s or early 1860s brown taffeta day dress is inspired by this beautiful 1855-7 brown silk day dress which is trimmed with black velvet bands and fringe. Continue reading 1850s/ 1860s Copper-Colored Taffeta Day Dress
Victorian working women often wore black wool stays instead of corsets. A while ago, I sewed black wool stays for a Victorian working woman outfit but I didn’t like the shape of the stays anymore. Continue reading Victorian Working Woman Black Wool Stays
This is the first corset I’ve sewn some years ago: a boned 1840s corset. Continue reading 1840s Boned Corset