After we did our Victorian Strolls, I kept working on historical accuracy/appearance. Five looked fabulous in her costume, but it wasn’t super accurate, and I wanted to make a dress that better suited the period. The growth dress was perfect because it would last her a while since it’s designed to grow with her.
When I first posted about the Victorian Strolls I was getting ready for, I had plenty of ideas but hadn’t done much other than internet research. Once I got into the actual construction, things got labor intensive, but it was so fun. Click through to see how I dressed each person in the family and where we found the costume pieces.
One of the first things about historical costuming is that in order to get each time period’s look right, you have to start with the underpinnings – all the supportive undergarments that give your body the right shape. These underthings allow you to make clothes to fit their shape and look authentic.
For the 18th century, this means stays, and they seem to be the hardest thing to make. To procrastinate on making them, after an overstimulating couple of weeks researching my stays pattern options, construction, and hacks for the pattern I eventually chose, I freaked out and decided to make a set of jumps first.
I’ve been adding a bunch of boxy pieces to my handmade wardrobe lately, all while not wanting to look pregnant and being a little ambivalent about the style. I saw the Luna Jacket bobbing around in the Instagram sewing community during Me Made May, but it took a while for me to decide to give it a try because of that familiar, boxy silhouette.
One of the things that won me over is that the shape reminds me of an 18th century European bedgown. It felt like a natural stop on my foray into historical costuming.
When I first started pursuing costuming in earnest, I could barely find any events for costumers in my area, at least, not if you didn’t want to be a re-enactor.
I gradually started discovering events, like this one in Troy, NY, for steampunk folks.
But I always seemed to find out about the events days after they happened, and I knew I’d never be ready in time for the couple of other costume/masquerade-type of events I discovered locally ahead of time.
Then, I found not one but TWO Victorian strolls near our house scheduled within a week of each other in December.
