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
For challenge 6 of the Historical Sew Monthly, I’ve made a Victorian corded corset. It’s the first corded corset I’ve made. Continue reading Victorian (1860s) Corded Corset
In the mornings, Edwardian maids wore striped cotton dresses – usually blue & white striped or pink & white striped. They only changed into the today’s known black & white maid costume – a black wool dress with white cotton apron & cap – in the afternoons.
Cotton dresses were much more practical than wool dresses for housework. They were lighter, cooler and could be washed in contrast to Edwardian wool dresses. That’s why these type of dresses were usually called ‘wash dresses’ or ‘tub frocks’ in the 1900s. Continue reading Edwardian Maid Dress – 1900s Pink Gingham Wash Dress
For my Edwardian maid outfit I made a plain white cotton apron which is inspired by antique 1900s aprons. Continue reading 1900s Gingham Wash Dress – The Apron
The shirtwaist of my Edwardian pink gingham wash dress is separate from the skirt which is typical for Edwardian dresses – especially for early Edwardian dresses. The pattern of my Edwardian pink shirtwaist is based on this antique 1911 and this 1916 free Edwardian shirtwaist sewing patterns. Continue reading 1900s Gingham Wash Dress – The Shirtwaist
For my Edwardian pink gingham wash dress, I made an Edwardian maid’s cap with long streamers. Continue reading 1900s Maid’s Cap With Streamers
Here I’m wearing an Edwardian working woman outfit. Continue reading Edwardian Working Woman Outfit
In the Victorian era, especially in the 1860s, walking skirts were sometimes drawn-up or looped-up: This made the long, voluminous Victorian skirts shorter and therefore more practical. It also protected the hem of the skirts from mud and dirt. Continue reading Victorian Porte Jupe Skirt Lifter – 1860s Looped-Up Walking Skirts
This is my 18th century lappet cap. It’s suitable for a mid-18th century working woman. You can see working women wear lappet caps in these two paintings by Chardin and Hendriks. The lappets can also be pinned up like here. Continue reading 18th Century Lappet Cap