Category Archives: Historical Costumes

Edwardian Straight-Front Linen Corset

24th August 20241900s - Edwardiancorset, edwardian, finished historical costume, lace, sewing, tutorial, underwearLina

Because I didn’t like how my last Edwardian coutil corset turned out, I made another one. But this time, I used linen blend coutil fabric from Italy which is even more expensive than traditional corset coutil! 😉

Related: Edwardian Coutil Corset

I used historical correct sewing details: such as a corset hook on the front of the corset, cotton Valenciennes lace & silk ribbon trim and a single layer of fabric. I also completely re-drafted and readjusted my old Edwardian corset pattern. And even though it’s a heavily boned corset with a wide stainless steel corset busk, it turned out surprisingly comfortable! 😀 Continue reading Edwardian Straight-Front Linen Corset →

Corset Models – Secrets Of Edwardian Photography

21st August 20241900s - Edwardianarticle, corset, edwardian, underwearLina

As you probably know, photographs – even portrait photos of ordinary people – were heavily retouched in the Edwardian era. But I didn’t expect that fashion advertisements in the Edwardian era were already as fake and unrealistic as today’s fashion photos! 🤣 I found an interesting article about corset models from the turn of the century. Continue reading Corset Models – Secrets Of Edwardian Photography →

7 DIY Edwardian Sweaters – Refashion, Knit & Crochet

19th August 20241900s - Edwardiancrochet, edwardian, finished historical costume, knit, resource, sewing, sportswear, tutorial, upcycling, victorianLina

I love late Victorian and Edwardian sweaters! 😀 Over the years I’ve made various Edwardian-style sweaters: some are refashioned from modern sweaters and some are hand-knitted and crocheted. Below are 7 of my historical sweaters including tutorials on how I made the sweaters.
Continue reading 7 DIY Edwardian Sweaters – Refashion, Knit & Crochet →

Victorian Stockings With Replaceable Soles

19th July 20241840-60 - Victorian, 1900s - Edwardian18th century, edwardian, finished historical costume, knit, sportswear, underwear, upcycling, victorian, wool, working womanLina

Unlike today, clothing in the past was made to last. So I was intrigued when I found a pattern for knit stockings with replaceable soles from the 1910s! 😀 There are some patterns for socks with replaceable toes and heels. But I couldn’t find a modern knit pattern for socks where the toe, heel and sole are replaceable. So I was eager to try making the historical wool knit stockings with replaceable soles. Continue reading Victorian Stockings With Replaceable Soles →

18th Century Leather Stays

17th June 202418th Century18th century, corset, leather, underwearLina

I was surprised to find out that leather stays were often worn by poor and working class women in the 18th century. I thought that leather would’ve been too expensive for lower class 18th century women. But leather stays were obviously the cheapest stays for 18th century working women. If other types of stays were too expensive, then leather stays were worn. Continue reading 18th Century Leather Stays →

Edwardian Plaid Walking Skirt – From 1.5m Fabric

16th June 20241900s - Edwardiandress, edwardian, finished historical costume, sewing, tutorial, upcycling, woolLina

For my Edwardian plaid walking skirt I only had a limited amount of fabric: only 1.5 meter by 1.5 meters! For Edwardian skirts you usually need way more fabric! 4 meters of fabric are usually not enough for Edwardian skirts! 🤣 But I wanted to try if I could make a short Edwardian walking skirt out of this beautiful plaid wool fabric that I used as a Victorian wool shawl before. Continue reading Edwardian Plaid Walking Skirt – From 1.5m Fabric →

How To: Modern To 1890s Sweater – Refashion Video Tutorial

16th June 20241900s - Edwardian, Refashiondress, edwardian, resource, sewing, sportswear, tutorial, upcycling, victorianLina

If you love the look of late Victorian and Edwardian sweaters, but don’t want to knit a whole sweater with those big leg-o’-mutton sleeves: here’s my tutorial on how to turn a modern into an Edwardian-style sweater!

My refashioned 1890s sweater is inspired by the famous 1890s cycling sweater at the MET museum! 😍 I’ve always wanted a sweater like this with those voluminous sleeves without having to knit the whole sweater! Continue reading How To: Modern To 1890s Sweater – Refashion Video Tutorial →

Edwardian Lingerie Dress

10th May 20241900s - Edwardian, Lace & Embroiderydress, edwardian, embroidery, finished historical costume, hand sewing, laceLina

‘Time to think of the cool, sweet mornings and their gowns of crisp figured lawn; time to think of the drowsy afternoons with their hammock dresses of voile taffeta, mull and batiste; time to think of the summer evenings and their veilings, their silvered chiffons, their wonderful tissues and their transparencies. Time to think of summer dress!’ (San Francisco Call, 1903)

I started my Edwardian lingerie dress about 10 years ago and I’m so glad that it’s finally finished! 😀 Despite the name, an Edwardian lingerie dress is a proper dress for summer wear: it was usually made of thin cotton or silk fabrics and was embellished with lots of lace inserts, pintucks and ruffles. In the 1900s, it was called “lingerie dress” because it was inspired by Edwardian lingerie with its lace, frills and sheer fabrics. A lingerie dress is the typical dress that you would wear to an afternoon garden party in the Edwardian era! Continue reading Edwardian Lingerie Dress →

Staycation In The Edwardian Era

16th March 20241900s - Edwardianarticle, beauty recipe, dress, edwardianLina

‘In July, when all the world and his wife are supposed to be on holiday, there must always be a certain proportion of people who have to stay at home. When others are holidaying in quiet country lanes, taking part in the crowded life of the beach, or touring through the quaint old towns of Normandy, there are many hundreds of working men and women who see no prospect of going away from home.’ (Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, 1910-2)
Continue reading Staycation In The Edwardian Era →

The Edwardian Motoring Girl

16th March 20241900s - Edwardianarticle, edwardian, leather, outerwear, travel, woolLina

‘This season’s auto girl is a bewitching creature. She has discarded the clumsy leather coat and disfiguring face mask and in their place for short rides she wears a fetching silken wrap and a filmy veil of shaded chiffon. […] she nowadays spends quite as much time selecting her motor headgear as she does her garden party hat. […]

If she is a very fashionable young person, her motor wardrobe is a large one. She has costumes for long tours, raincoats and dust coats, silken motor wraps to slip over fluffy organdie frocks, to say nothing of hats and caps and veils in great variety.’ (Los Angeles Herald, 1904) Continue reading The Edwardian Motoring Girl →