In the Victorian era, women usually wore dresses (a separate bodice with matching skirt). Another option was the Garibaldi outfit which was usually worn at home: CDV of Lady by Platt of Oberon, painting Reflection by Jerry Barrett and this great 1858 painting Past and Present, No. 1 by Augustus Leopold Egg. A Garibaldi blouse was sometimes worn with a zouave jacket or Swiss waist.

Here I’m wearing my cotton and lace Garibaldi blouse, my antique 1850s brooch, my black wool skirt and my handmade Carrickmacross lace day cap.

Some Victorian women wore a colorful silk ribbon at the neck like on this painting. I’m wearing a green dotted white silk ribbon.