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Late Victorian Era

History

The late Victorian period (circa 1875 to 1900) was time of the industrialization of Great Britain and the United States. With the machines came leisure time and affluence and the affluence was shown off by the “gingerbread” on the Queen Anne architecture and “more is wonderful” on clothing. The basic top was trimmed with lace, fringe, and fancy buttons. A basic 7-gore skirt was topped by an apron in the front and bustle of ever increasing sizes in the back. Instead of increasing the hip area in the round or elliptical manner that was seen during the Civil War, it now became fashionable to have a flatter front and more out the back. At one point, the back bustle extended so far out you could balance a plate on it! However, for as much as the clothing sometimes went to extravagant levels, society set strict and sometimes very restrictive rules for women’s wear.

Garment Details

The blouse and apron pictured here were made to complete an outfit for a Victorian event. The skirt had already been made by the wearer in the same material as the blouse. This material is a 100% cotton with a green background and a purple and gold print. For this blouse, the client wanted to make sure that the pattern was going down “like chandeliers.” The ruffle shown in the third picture is purple velveteen with a purple cotton underling; the same purple cotton that was used to make the front apron. The blouse has a peplum in the back with a purple cotton lining (not shown) and a high collar. The apron has an off-white ball fringe around the edges. The middle picture shows detail of the lace used on the front of the blouse. The completed outfit would be worn over a chemise, corset (of slightly different style from the Civil War corset), a pillow, ruffle or cage bustle.

Pricing

As pictured above (blouse and apron).................................$95
Full outfit in 100% Cotton.................................................$150 - $250 and up (dependent on trim and bustle choices)

Full outfit in high-end fabrics(taffeta, satin, silk..................$250 - $500 and up (dependent on trim and bustle choices)

The prices stated above are guidelines for this garment. Each garment is custom made for you. Prices will vary depending on fabric choice and sewing technique. Hand sewing is available for additional charges. Once initial consultation is completed and fabrics have been chosen a final price will set. Please allow at least 3 weeks from receipt of measurements for completion. 

Late Victorian Era Day Dress


History

This is another example of the late Victorian period (circa 1875 to 1885) style of day dress. The blouse in this period emphasized a small waist and the corsets worn under the clothing were intended to pull the waist in as far as possible. If you have a small waist, as our model is blessed with, the fashion brought attention to what was considered a very fine attribute. However, just as today, many young women did not fit the “profile” so they would go to their doctors and ask them to remove the bottom ribs on both sides of their rib-cage in order to “be fashionable.” So you see, fashion has taken a toll on women’s bodies for centuries!

Garment Details

This outfit consists of a blouse, underskirt and apron. The blouse has a high collar and contrasting front insert (to make it look like a jacket and vest), three quarter length sleeves and a peplum skirting on the back of the blouse. It fastens down the front (meeting flush at the middle) with hooks and eyes. The underskirt is a basic 7-gore walking skirt that has contrasting front pleats added. The apron is a simple front pleat with a hook and eye fastener in the back (hidden by the blouse peplum). The material used is a 100% cotton calico print with a light blue background and a dark blue cotton broadcloth for the contrast. Dark blue fancy gimp outlines the edges of the sleeve, part of the collar, and the seams on the back of the walking skirt (to emphasize the additional material needed to go over the bustle. It is being worn over a simple 100% off white cotton broadcloth petticoat and a pillow bustle. The young lady is now dressed in the proper way to be out in public at a summer Victorian picnic.

Pricing

As pictured above.............................................................$150

The prices stated above are guidelines for this garment. Each garment is custom made for you. Prices will vary depending on fabric choice and sewing technique. Hand sewing is available for additional charges. Once initial consultation is completed and fabrics have been chosen a final price will set. Please allow at least 3 weeks from receipt of measurements for completion. 

Special thanks to our model Jennifer

1890's Day Dress and Apron

History

This is an example of the late Victorian period (1890's - sometimes referred to as the "Belle Époch") style of day dress. It has a modified Bustle style back which can accomodate either a small, ruffled bustle (as is worn here) or a larger pillow bustle. This style was comfortable for wearing around the house or anywhere that physical work would necessitate "freer" movement. Our model is portraying the part of the Shopkeeper of the General Store at the Ohio Village, a reproduction 1800's Village which is part of the Ohio Historical Society's Central Museum in Columbus, Ohio.

Garment Details

This outfit consists of a one piece dress and a "working" apron that ties at the back. The dress has a slightly pointed waist in the front but is straight across the waist in the back, a high collar as was the fashion, and buttons down the back. While this particular dress has three-quarter length sleeves, it could also be made with straight long sleeves or even long sleeves with a slight "pouf" at the shoulder. The dress is slightly flatter in the front with most of the gathering along the back of the dress, as well as being a bit longer in the back, to accomodate the bustle underneath. It is made of cotton which would be the most practical material.

The apron is a simple apron which ties in the back and has two pockets for keeping things in (such as your hankies, or dustcloth). It is made of bleached muslin, or could be made in unbleached muslin, again the most useful material as it would withstand many washings.

This outfit could be enhanced, and the look changed slightly, with the addition of a jacket, an overskirt, and/or a larger bustle if need be, to make it acceptable for visiting your neighbors or entertaining visitors at your home.

Pricing

As pictured above.............................................................$175

The prices stated above are guidelines for this garment. Each garment is custom made for you. Prices will vary depending on fabric choice and sewing technique. Hand sewing is available for additional charges. Once initial consultation is completed and fabrics have been chosen a final price will set. Please allow at least 3 weeks from receipt of measurements for completion. 

Special thanks to our model Laura

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This Page Last Updated December 2nd 2012

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