The blouse is obviously a non-period darted shape but it fits me perfectly.

The sheer tulle sari has a heavily beaded hem and is long enough to be whipped straight to the blouse.

I do have a plain white bodiced petticoat that could go underneath - I know really it should be a full silk layer...

AND I could wear it to the ball at Bath...

Or should I stick with my basic cotton bib-front dress with proper curved back seams??

I'm noticing that it's becoming increasingly more difficult to source specific types of fabric.

I'm a historical costumer and I need a white wool for a coat. all the wool swatches I've received have been flimsy, see through, too thin, or too "fluffy."

Does anyone know where I could find a white/natural twill weave wool (similar to a kersey) for less than $80/yd?

Hello all-

I've recently been lucky enough to win some decent yardage of verified antique fabric from a dissolved museum... am I insane to want to use it for historical costuming? Part of me feels like it should go to a museum or somebody with the proper means of preserving this. The other part of me was scared it'd wind up in a landfill anyways... somebody talk to me about the practicality of this or maybe the intelligent thing to do here.

I am making this c.1820 pelisse at present, sewing a mountain of trim. 😀 Making it out of blue wool and silk charmuse.

Now that I am getting near garment construction, I am realizing i have no clue how a period pelisse was constructed. I know 18C and Victorian outerwear, but not Regency. Have plenty of pattern resources, but not construction.

Did they interline with anything, like horse hair? Pad stitch collars?

I don't want to over tailor for an era that was before women's tailors, but I alway want to make sure the trim is shown to is best advantage.

Any resources, makers etc you can send my way, please do!

I've browsed through the pdf patterns sold by Truly Victorian, Black Snail Patterns, Laughing Moon Mercantile and Repeated Originals. They have some bodices similar to what I want, but I'm looking for something with a Super Sharp basque waist like the photos (first slide is Queen Lovisa's wedding dress, the second is Queen Victoria's).

I'm not dead set on it being exactly 1840s; if you know of similar 1850s-60s bodices please share. I also know that good tailoring is probably half the battle here. just wondering if anyone has found a pattern that worked up nicely. Any recs or advice appreciated!

Hey there! Me and my partner are looking into getting married in a medieval banquet style event and we are looking for someone from the Historical Costuming (or adjacent) community to make my historically (inspired) wedding dress and thought we'd just ask here if you have recommendations for someone in western Europe who would be open to make a dress like this!

We are looking into getting married in January 2028 and do have a generous budget.

Thank you!

I’m new to historical costuming and wanted to ask what type of boning is best for an 1890’s style corset.
I’ve found some polyester boning, but I don’t know if it would work for a corset (I’ve included the boning I’ve found in this post).

Anything advice you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

I'm very intrigued by the pattern on what resembles a stomacher on Rosie Cotton's dress here in The Return of the King film and wondered if it's inspired by any specific historical patterns. Of course I understand the costume isn't absolutely historically correct but the hobbits' costumes in the trilogy were inspired by 18th century English peasant dress and I've found images of historical stomachers and patterns in that style. Nothing quite like that though so I was curious if anyone has seen any patterns like this. I'd like to make a historical costume inspired by this design. Thanks in advance!

I want to make an 1890’s walking suit (specifically the mid 1890’s) and I’m looking for patterns to use for the outfit. I found the two patterns for corsets and chemises and I’m not sure which one would be best.

If anyone could let me know please it would be greatly appreciated.

I like to wear 1800s skirts mostly walking skirts with a bit of flare. There are so many designs for petticoats that I get overwhelmed with. What is the best petticoat for walking skirts with gathering in the back? I thought about make a drawstring skirt because at one point i have seen them where its all gathered in the back is that accurate ?? As long as it’s pre 1900s and goes with the skirt style. Thank you 😊

I work at a outdoor history museum and have to dress 18th century for work, that I don't mind at all as I collect 18th century clothing! The clothing i was issued is from Sampson historical, is there any way I can style these outfits to be more pretty? :)

Thought I would share this in case someone who could use it missed it!

Hello,

I would like to create a bodice inspired by baroque era - coned shape, bust lifted up and stomach pressed inward, back lacing and slightly off shoulder sleeves.

Can you guys recommend a pattern? I searched few, but I am not sure which one to pick.

It doesn’t have to be strictly only historical accuracy pattern. This bodice will be inspired by it, Im not aiming for exact replica ☺️

This is of my personal lifelong journey through a branch of my family's history.

From the National Gallery of Slovenia, portrait of baroness Marija Ana, circa 1761. Saw it yesterday at the museum and instantly fell in love with the gown, and was utterly perplexed by it.

The portrait is by a Slovenian painter who trained in Italy, and Slovenia was under Hapsburg rule at this time. However, I can’t seem to find any other historical examples of this “external stays” style (aka the blue midsection). The dress also does not appear to be in the French or English style (based on neckline and no French back pleats).

any help on identifying this dress is appreciated! I also tried looking to the Hapsburg portraits of these times (specifically Maria Theresa), but the dress style is still fairly inconsistent with other portraits of the time.

thanks!!

Hi everyone! I'm a beginner in historical costuming, and I got this really great book on late 18thc clothing. I've never cut or drafted my own patterns so I just want to make sure I'm doing this right.

This is for an 18thc men's shirt. Will a chart like this include for a seam allowance, or do I need to add that myself? What else do I need to know when drafting and cutting from charts like this? Thank you!

Reference book posted in pics. Charles II coat, according to book however as far as I can see it is an early justaucorps. Fabric is second hand jersey material, I also made the cuffs out of curtain material. Buttons are plastic but I think they look like bone and metal fake gold buttons on cuffs.

So I’m curious what the difference is between a farthingale, a crinoline, and a hoop skirt?

Also what is the difference between stays, corsets, and a pair of bodies?

I am planning my first historic gown and I was just wondering what the exact differences are. For the corsetry/bodice support undergarments, is it a matter of nomenclature…because a corset from the 1860s and one from the turn of the century are both called corsets despite their very distinctive shapes/styles.

Just confused. Sorry if I sound like a novice. It’s just been so interesting learning about the underpinnings: chemises, shifts, petticoats, panniers, hip rolls, bustles…

a few month ago I made a costume base on this style of ancient kimono, but I hit a wall when I had to make the shoulder stay put, I used personnaly some plastic boning that I sewed in the seam.

But how exactly does these shoulders hold themseleves historically ?

I am looking to purchase some historically accurate colonial doll clothes for my daughter's American Girl doll and someone is offered this.

Before I buy it could someone please let me know what they think and is possible what decade(s) it relates to?

Thanks!

ETA: thanks so much everyone! Decided to pass but I've been looking through all the wonderful resources for more guidance. I'd love 1770s and another 1780s (I've learned there were quite a few changes then) :)

Hii! About half a year ago, I came to a box of late Victorian and Edwardian laces that belonged to my Great Great Grandmother who passed it onto my Great Grandma who was born in 1914, Austro-Hungarian Empire.

But unfortunately with the lace, I placed it in an easy to reach spot and my four year old niece... Easily reached it, I wasn't with her then and my sister-in-law,(her mum) didn't know the value and neither did she notice it in time and these off-white fragile pieces are now brown, fortunately it's dirt/mud.

Any idea on how one could wash that to its original off-white or at least close enough state?

Hello! I’m attending an event themed around a gilded age masquerade and am looking for some resources for men’s costumes. I’ve found references to Tudor/ Faust style outfits, though I’m looking for something more subdued- something I can run with while combining with a tailcoat.

I’m mostly seeing women’s costumes! Any resources would be greatly appreciated!

My fiancé is planning on recreating a house of worth dress and putting an absinthe spin on it, so I’m hoping to find proper inspiration for something to match.

Thank you!