Victorian Costume ideas

JuC

In a few weeks I have to dress up for our towns Victorian Evening. I don't have a clue what to wear so looking for suggestions please! Posted here as don't want to spend much.

It will be outdoors so need to be warm and also free to move around as will be helping out on a stall.

Thanks, Julie

mum2one

I would say long dress,or skirt, shawl, maybe get a white sheet and make an apron to go on top, and cut some into a washer woman hat......

that way you can layer up underneath and keep warm, good luck xx

Renoir77

The Paradise on BBC One Sunday evening's is set in the Victorian era . Although almost everyone dresses quite classy and posh which looking at the fashion might be hard to find...unless of course you could borrow/hire something from an amateur dramatics group which would be fun. Otherwise I think I would follow Mum2one's idea and create something that is more like reality of the era. The good old working class people :j Hope you enjoy it should be good fun ....

Broomstick

The BBC's Victorian Farm programme seems to be available on youtube and lots of the costumes used for women are practical, working clothes not the more expensive posh stuff.

Do you have the ability and means to sew a plain, gathered long skirt on a waistband (old curtain, worn blanket or charity shop fabric maybe)? The same on an elasticated gathered waist made from an old sheet would make a petticoat. Add an ordinary plain shirt, pref with a high collar and maybe a brooch, and any kind of warm woollen fabric wrapped over as a shawl and crossed in the front tucked into a belt, some kind of head gear, thick dark-coloured tights and ankle boots if you can get hold of some, maybe a wicker basket over your arm?

B x

whitewing

Check out your local antique shop. I found an apron and mobcap there for less than the cost of a fancy dress costume.

Or your local theatre may hire out costumes cheaply for something more elaborate.

meg72

Have a look on Ebay.

maman

whitewing wrote: »

Check out your local antique shop. I found an apron and mobcap there for less than the cost of a fancy dress costume.

Or your local theatre may hire out costumes cheaply for something more elaborate.

I'd suggest charity shop! Try to find an old long skirt and a blouse/shirt. High necked blouses with a brooch at the neck were very popular. And unless you go with the mob-cap idea, get some sort of hat that you could decorate with flowers round the brim. Unless you wear a shawl, perhaps some sort of jacket too. And boots and thick tights!!

good_advice

hi, my DD had to dress in victorian clothes for school one day. I bought a charity shop dress and sewed an apron on the front. The hat was a baby's bob hat.. i pinned her hair up under the cap.
some kids wore fancy bridesmaid dresses.

maman

good_advice wrote: »

hi, my DD had to dress in victorian clothes for school one day. I bought a charity shop dress and sewed an apron on the front. The hat was a baby's bob hat.. i pinned her hair up under the cap.
some kids wore fancy bridesmaid dresses.

I adapted a bridesmaid's dress for my DGD as she said she wanted to be a rich Victorian not a servant!:rotfl:

I put a hoop in the petticoat then asked DD for an old school shirt. I cut the collar off and then dyed it with onion skins. Then I bought some cheap lace by the metre and faced the shirt and then put some frogging fasteners down the front. So she had a fitted lace jacket to go over the bridesmaid's dress. She wore it with a black velvet hat. It did look very much like the rich women in The Paradise.

It was a labour of love for me but it did need quite a bit of sewing know how and wasn't as warm as perhaps the OP needs.

JuC

Thanks for all your suggestions, some ideas I can follow up there. I am not that good with a needle and thread so will be looking for something that I either have already or can get from a charity shop.

purpleheather2810

Look for a long, ankle length skirt made of tweed, wool or similar. It won't matter too much what you wear on your feet as it will hardly be seen so layer up with leggings/tights and boots. As already mentioned you need a high collared blouse (you might be able to get away with a Grandad shirt), a cameo type brooch in the centre of the collar, plus some kind of shawl. Don't forget hat and gloves.