Dressing up a Victorian lady ( 1868-72)
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- Another in our Dressing up series!
this time we are looking at the transitional fashions, spanning the exciting period between the crinoline and bustle eras.
YOu have seen this dress in the Overview of Victorian Fashions video, in a timelapse mode - so here's a slowed down version, with the information on each layer, as well as some dressmaking details!
Enjoy!
This dress is a part of our new book, The Victorian Dressmaker, launching in June.
Follow us on FB for more details - the book will be avaialble from our online shop
www.priorattire.co.uk
To think that the Victorian lady's "Impractical" clothes had pockets that most modern women's styles lack! Thank you for another wonderful glimpse into both history and the artistry needed to make these clothes.
seriously there is nothing impractical about victorian clothing. based on the actual time worn each layer of clothing had a reason and a purpose. it MIGHT be impractical in modern times but even now the reasons for each peach can be applicable to modern wear.
i always wondered how they kept the ground-sweeping gowns clean at the bottom.
The balayeuse she mentioned in the video. You can just take it off the skirt and launder it (or replace it entirely). In later periods it was common to have hem bottoms that could be easily removed and replaced once they were too dirty and worn, too.
Ummm yea
The woman who is helping you, I notice her skirts arent nearly as voluminous. Would you ever consider making a video on how Victorian working class such as her? Your videos are so in depth and are teaching me a lot, so thank you for sharing them
"most skirts of this era had pockets" - and yet here I am, in the year of our lord 2019, unable to find a dress with pockets.
*Illumanati music*
"You ladies want the vote? Fine, but we're taking your pockets!"
Ladies scream when they find a prom dress with pockets, this means something.
You mean jeans right?
Tell me about it. :(
I cannot imagine sewing this in 30 days let alone 30 hours! It’s really a masterpiece!
So. Many. Pleats.
I hate sewing just one round of box pleats for a skirt, so hats off to you for ALL of these!
Very elegant. Today's dresses just cant compare with this beauty.
I wish some comment of mine could convey all the appreciation I have for your hard work! I don't make dresses but I have several hobbies that are time consuming and I always find it unfair that I spend hours and hours making something and then people look at it for five seconds and say, "That's nice."
What things do you make?
I do a lot of random crafts involving hours hunched over a paintbrush and a glue gun. 😂 I used to edit videos, which takes ungodly amounts of time. Used to spend hours editing pictures. Used to make thread bracelets and beaded jewelry. In high school I would spend days writing a poem.
I just adore how you make these clothes really come to life. They turn from history on pages of books into real life people.
I would not have had the patience nor the tolerance for this. Its absolutely beautiful. I love anything Victorian era.
I love the shoulder action of the maid as she struggles to button up the front!! You go, girl!
My gosh, it would be a childhood dream fulfilled to dress up in full-on Victorian fashion! Bucket list!
The dress is absolutely beautiful. I wish we still dressed like this; at least for a party.
*Party in the Duat bro* 😀😀😀😀
I'll leave now
if you enjoy., WEAR it. no reason not to, no one stopping you. :) totally doable & great fun
wow
was a singing student of opera and we put on a show regularly with these type of costumes which we made ourselves...great fun...I used curtain material like Scarlett did in " gone with the wind..." as it is thick and ornate while gumdrops on the clothes with a dash of varnish looked like gemstones under the flood lights
Love the added closeups of details. You put so much hard work into these gowns!
I find it fascinating to see exactly what it all entailed to get dressed back in those days. The styles were absolutely elegant.
Corsets must give good back support. I have scoliosis and it's painful for me to stand for more than a few minutes. I'm thinking a corset must have actually been beneficial for women who had to bend and lift heavy things all day. So it would make perfect sense for a working woman to wear one in those days, even if it hadn't been the fashion.
I think people had much less backpain back then.. they didn’t sit all day in front of a computer… A corset wasn’t very healthy for the inner organs I think…
@@miral9241 Well a lot of women had to carry heavy stuff, especially working-class women. They definitely did benefit from the support of the corset.
@@miral9241 The idea that corsets damaged people's internal organs is a myth.
Ahhh, that was exquisite! Thanks for adding the information on how you made it, there at the end. It was quite fascinating!
OMG, it's so beautiful! How fun to dress up in fancy dresses. You do absolutely beautiful work, and I hope you're very proud of your gorgeous creations.
I love how you showed part of the process of making them too! You should definitely add a video detailing the making of your dresses!
So many pretty dresses, so little opportunities to wear them nowadays...
I love watching the way ladies of bygone times dressed!
I absolutely love all the videos. You don’t realise what it took to get dressed in these times . So elegant and so many garments. Thank you for the education. Brilliant and the lady in the video suits all the fashions.
Extraordinary talent - you're truly gifted, and this dress is remarkable.
First, thank you for sharing. I must admit I had never heard of a balayeuse and I thought I knew my Victorian costume history!!! The Onedin Line was very good in capturing ladies' fashion over the several decades that the show covered but you kindly reveal how the mechanics of the understructure supported the marvelous beauty of the outerdress. The changing face of women's fashion is always fascinating from social, psychological and political perspectives and never more so than in Victorian times. I look forward to your book.
I am in absolute AWE of this breathtakingly beautiful dress! Simply magnificent!
This is probably my favorite dress from all your dresses.
I love the dress!😍 But I have a question. How did young girls (tennager) and childs used to dress?
I'm just an amateur historian, but from what I've seen in fashion plates, I'll tell you this. It all depended on the social class of the woman, somewhat. Even the poorest women tried their best to stay with the fashions, including crinolines and corsets, etc, but that's beside my point. So, children's fashion was basically a simplification of their parents' clothing. Girls, especially, had a code of how long they could wear their skirts, depending on their age. A toddler would wear a dress long enough to just cover their diaper. A five year-old to a ten-year old would wear a knee-length skirt, and then by 12, the skirt would be to the mid-calf. By 16, the skirt would be ankle length, and by the time they were 18, they were adults, so they wore what their mother wears. Girls would wear lots of underskirts, to give their dresses the correct shape, but I'm not certain of those who wore crinolines before puberty. At puberty, they'd wear crinolines/crinolettes/cages, like everyone else, and they'd begin to wear corsets.
Now, as for the poor folks, clothing was more expensive, so some women spent their whole preteen years to adulthood into the same few dresses, long as they're children, and slightly too short as adults, until the dress no longer fit. I hope this answered everything for you.
Teenagers as we think of them in the modern sense didn’t really exist. It wasn’t until after World War II that teenagers became a defined group within culture. A Victorian girl would often age out of children’s clothes into the more complex fashions of womanhood. The same goes for boys to men. Boys would’ve worn a short pant that stopped below the knee and around the age of 13 would adopt a grown mans pants. A woman would have a similar fashion change when she reached maturity in that she’d adopt a more formed silhouette
@@willrizer1644 thanks for the answer!
I’ve always loved this dress. It inspired me when I decided to re-imagine one of my cosplays into something a bit more historical. The pleats especially. I come back and rewatch this one when I lose motivation.
Gasp! Squeel! Repeat!! Oh how I love your outfits. 💜💜💜 Please keep me updated on your book release. I'm so excited to purchase it!
I need someone to make a playlist of these videos in chronological order of the fashions
Tardisin221B already did it.
Hello, I am from India and I love my country no deny, but I am so much attracted towards english culture. I am an English literature student and I read history too. I always wanted to see how english people live how are their culture today as well as in their past. Thank you so much for your mind blowing videos. My dream is to visit Europe especially England and Germany. Again thanks for your hard work and amazing videos.
Love from INDIA.
That is an absolutely gorgeous gown! I think its a new favorite of yours! I totally enjoyed the little progress shots at the end!
After Medieval style, Victorian style is my ultimate favorite look! Your gown is stunning!! It's very stately, elegant, and yet feminine and regal!
I looooovvvvvveeeee Victorian dresses corsets and everything it’s just so fantastic. Edwardian too ,any of the ladies fashions from 1600 to 1950
Oh thank you so much for this video. I want an 1870/1880s era dress so badly but was confused on a few of the finer points. Like that dust ruffle! Wow what a life saver. Silk is expensive!
I love this channel and you are an exceptional seamstress! Amazing and educational, thank you!
Dressing seems so difficault but they are like flowers ... All are perfect! Dressing is an art! Beautiful!
Oh, my, what a beautiful, beautiful gown!!! I would love to wear a gown just like that!! I usually go in for hoopskirts and crinolines, but this gown is so lovely I would feel so special wearing it!! Love the music, too!! Tchaikovsky is one of my favorites!! Many wishes for a blessed Easter!!😍😍😊😊✝️⚜️
I would like to see a video of how Victorian ladies handled pregnancies. I love your channel!
I can't help thinking that a lady dressed in this way would appear to glide around the room. Perhaps a group of them would resemble those little baby walkers/bumper cars!
Lol
My fav era!! Stunningly gorgeous!!
Wow! Just wow! Quite remarkable! Thanks for sharing.
Love the music. It really helps to have familiar music of the time to immerse one’s self in the era.
I just wanted to say, I absolutely love your channel and Instagram account! When I found your account about a year ago, it really inspired me to explore my love of historical fashion. I started to work on my sewing skill and make basic historical dresses. You’re a very big inspiration to me and your work is absolutely amazing!
I love these victorian mini pleatings and the draping at the front of the skirt they are fun to sew and (I think) look very characteristic of second half of XIX century
The music, in case anyone is wondering, is the Waltz of the Flowers by Tchaikovsky.
Such a beautiful dress! I admire all your work.
Thanks for showing some of the details of sewing. So beautiful.
I wish I could dress that this every day.
sweetie if you LOVE the clothes -WEAR them.. there is NOTHING stopping you but you.. unlike the past there are NO rules that you cant. pick your favorite time period /style and Enjoy.. mix and match your styles. my favorite is the 1940s and 1815 BOTH of which i wear in public :) love them
@@cometkatt Yes, Resurrect The World's Faded History
@@Pharaoh_Tutankhamen faded?? hardly vintage clothing/vintage styles are awesome and a lot of it is totally suitable to todays wear with sometimes only minor tweeking..
@@cometkatt Sorry, I didn't mean that in a bad way, I completely agree. My Dream is to create a place where dressing in Clothes from the past is normal
I love the gown!! I also love how you added how long it took you to make it. As a painter who loves painting details, it is nice to know about another art form! My art usually takes me 40 hours plus depending on the size and medium. But if I were to try to see this -yikes! Take me months!! ❤️
I love the Waltz of the Flowers and I started loving that extremely beautiful outfit yours. Congratulations!
Only 30 hours to make?!!! Girl, you are fast!!!
That gown is *stunning*. The shapes, the style... And those colors are perfect on you 😍
BRILLIANT craftsmanship & ARTISTRY!!
Honestly, victorian era was my fav era of all time- mostly for the fashion
Thx for bring it to life!
Delightful. Brilliant craftmanship; thanks for the insight on the detachable details such as the balayeuse, the female equivalent of detachable collars and cuffs for men's shirts, I suppose!
Absolutely gorgeous!! I’m proud of myself when I get a button sewn on that stays. This is marvelous!
Really enjoying your videos, watched SEVERAL of them TODAY.. Loving the clothes.. Interesting how we went from wearing 10 layers of clothing to now most wearing barely or nothing under their clothes. I might add, I love your choices in music as well.
I love your video showing how to put on Victorian clothes. My favourite part is when you show how to make the pleats on your skirt ruffle! Such a lot of work! But worth it in the end! You look so regaland gorgeous in that outfit! ~Janet in Canada
Imagine having a 7 am class you woke up at 6:39 am and the dress code is this
**IMMEDIATELY GETS HOMESCHOOLED**
I would love it!
Having worn something similar to this in the past (more steampunk though, less elegant than this) it took me all of about 20 minutes. Once you get used to wearing this type of stuff you get quite fast at putting it on.
As long as the boys get to dress like this as well, I'm fine w/ it.
@@animequeen78 what-
One word- FLOOOOOOOOOOOOF!!!!!!! OMG I LOVE IT.
I love those hats! What a beautiful outfit, I am enjoying your videos, thank you!
This dress is just fabulous! So, so elegant and beautiful.
What a gorgeous dress and such rich colors and material. Beautiful
Absolutely stunning!! Such a talent to be able to recreate that stunning outfit. Thanks so much for sharing this bit of history.
I am watching this while wearing yoga pant and an old tee. And I cant be more grateful for living in this era, all these layers are a fire hazard.
This is gorgeous! I love everything about this dress!
Do you own any?
You have the most MAD skills! That dress is THE BOMB. We have a Victorian Days fair here by me in NJ, USA. I wish I could get a dress made by you!!! I'd sell a body organ to do it!
This is absolutely amazing. I have always wanted to know how they dressed and all of the layers. I wanted something like this for when I got married but opted for something that had a subtle inspiration instead. Thank you so much for sharing!
I absolutely love this. You did an amazing job! Absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing. I love all your videos. ❤❤❤❤❤
just becauce i've watched kuroshitsuji i absolutely love victorian era, i readed so much about it...and this dress is beautiful!
Same!
Same My friend
Same!
Wow, simply amazing.
I really adore all the dresses you have from the different periods.
You make these so detailed and it's gorgeous I must say... My mother makes outfits for the Victorian erra and she has made a few that I were I love to we're them over and over and never get tired of it and I just adore the work that you put into this you clearly look so happy wrreing each outfit and I'm glad you are thx for making such lovely dresses that amuse and amaze others
Beautiful! I love your videos, they bring me so much inspiration and joy of an Era that I wished to have been born in!
I absolutely love your channel! You’re extremely talented and have such an eye for detail! I love that you’re bringing the past to life! 💕
Beautiful! And I love the hat! I know its not practical today but I kind of wish people dressed more like this today. Is that weird
Jennifer Wilder nope I think it’s be awesome if we could dress like this and not be considered weird if we went out in public
when every day is a fancy dress day😱😱😱😱 amazing n informative video
You are beyond amazing: funny, brilliant, show outside and inside scenes, some how-tos, and gorgeous original authenticity. I'm just so grateful for all of your videos. Sometimes, I binge watch!!!!!
I stumbled on this too and I’m so glad I did-this was FANTASTIC!! Loved how you filmed the video and let us all in on the details! Wonderful work!
This is a magnificent gown. You look amazing in it. Thanks for sharing. ❤️Lynne
I look from Russia with great pleasure! There is a feeling akin to what I experienced as a child dressing up dolls. On the other hand, the pleasure of being able to immerse yourself in a historical era, better understand Scarlett's life from "Gone with the wind", for example. Thank you! I liked you very much! I feel a soul mate)))).
My favorite period. Thanks!
Big Big Kudos to you and all the folks at Priorattire!
Can't wait for the book! Unfortunately, it won't be quite in time for my birthday, but I'm sure I'll love it anyway. How much in USD?
Also, wonderful music. Love the dress, (though I can't say the colors are my favorite).
Absolutely stunning ,very elegant ..bet the original was expencive in its days too so much work on it ..love this one 🙂
You are an amazing dressmaker!
This video is absolutely amazing. I love this period and his style and I definitely fell in love with this outfit. Congratulations for the incredible work.
Thanks for showing the details you put into the work. Beautiful as always!
It's a lot of clothes but oh so pretty. I love the Victorian era .
Utterly fascinating. And what a beautiful gown. I must say that out of all the time periods I have seen you model, you absolutely embody this one!
I like that word "faffing". Must remember to do more of that as I'm getting dressed. You are so funny!!
I just love this suit..from a very long time.....i have to buy one like this
Heartachingly beautiful dress, all those bows and that bodice!
Superbly beautiful look for a fine lady that attire is. Congratulations Prior Attire!
Beautiful as always! The detail work is just amazing!
I would imagine an umbrella would be an absolute outdoor necessity in the warmer months in order to stay cool under all of that fabric.
Parasol not umbrella.
@@andrewpalframan4666 Yes , you're right. I couldn't connect with the word so I went with umbrella.
Natural fibres are great insulation. Hot or cold
I like how these pieces especially the gilded era would hint at fashion back in the 17th century. Like the way they wore their hats on their big but beautiful hairdos with the extreme detail on the dresses which look more draped then a la francais or a la polonaise. But the silhouette is very similar to riding gear of the 17th century
So very beautiful dress
I am so glad you do this. I often wondered how they made it through all the snow, rain and muck without getting dirty. Enter the dust ruffle!