‘As the appearance of many articles of dress depends greatly upon the skill of the washerwoman, it is thought that a few hints on the subject may not be misapplied; these have been collected from experienced laundresses’. (The Workwoman’s Guide, 1840, p. 234) Continue reading Victorian Laundry: Washing And Stain Remover Recipes
To protect themselves against rain, Victorians wore boiled wool coats, oiled silk capes, oiled silk umbrellas, or early rubberized coats. I’ve compiled Victorian and Edwardian recipes how fabric and shoes were made waterproof between the 1840s and 1910s. Continue reading Victorian Rainwear: How To Make Fabric And Shoes Waterproof
‘Now, there is a right way and a wrong way of putting on a corset, and as this lesson should appeal to every woman, young or old, it should be learned with care and followed scrupulously.’ (Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, 1910-2) Continue reading How To Put On A Corset
Traveling costumes were simple, warm and practical in the Victorian and Edwardian era. Beige colors were worn for travels by coach, while dark dresses were worn on sea voyages. Continue reading Victorian And Edwardian Traveling And Traveling Costumes
‘There was one blushing damsel, just budding sixteen, whose waist by a corset ne’er encircled had been, but whose mother insisted that on such a night one should find a place there, and the lacing be tight.’ (How She Felt In Her First Corset, 1887)
Tight lacing often was frowned upon in the Victorian and Edwardian era. I’ve compiled articles from 1800 till the 1920s which regard tight lacing as a danger to health. They say that tight lacing would produce diseases from cancer to consumption (tuberculosis) to abortion and even death. Continue reading Tight Lacing In The (Pre-) Victorian And Edwardian Era