write about victorian dressing

[Petticoat Betty]

Hi all,

As you may know, I'm a member of the DWSA (Dutch Western Shooting Association) and they release a magazine every 3 months. They alsways ask the members to give them some copy to print. I was thinking of doing something about how a Victorian Lady dresses, so in other words, what did she put on and in which order...
I don't have any books to look into so I'd thought I ask you for a little help.
So far I have figured this out:
Pretending she is dressing up to go out

She starts with her chemise and drawers (or combination underwear), her socks, then puts on her corset and following her petticoats.
Next she will be putting on her underskirt, her overskirt and her bodice.
She will put on some shoes or lace up boots, put her hat on and her gloves, takes her parasol and reticule and she'd be ready to leave for a visit or a stroll in the park with her friends.

Am I forgetting something, or have I placed some pieces in the wrong order???

I will be posting pictures of the items with the writing so everyone will understand what I'm talking about...

Some advice or feedback would be nice!!!

PS I think I saw something with pics here somewhere, I think it was Miss Tabitha dressing PMS up during a convention or something, a link to that thread would be great too!!!

[Nellie Blue]

Betty,

One glaring thing I noticed....you HAVE to put on your shoes/boots BEFORE your corset or you're never reach them to put them on!! :rofl Might be a good point to make in the article for anyone who has never worn a corset. :kiss

[Lazy K]

Recollection.biz used to have an article about how may articles of clothing a Victorian women wore but it's not on their site anymore. Any body have a copy? The only thing you have "forgotten" is the corset cover. Oh, yeah, the bustle.

[Garnet Rose]

PS I think I saw something with pics here somewhere, I think it was Miss Tabitha dressing PMS up during a convention or something, a link to that thread would be great too!!!

http://www.carolinabelles.net/vb/showthread.php?t=724&highlight=photographic

[Petticoat Betty]

Thank you ladies, this all will be very helpfull!!!:ty

[Coffee Em]

I was going to make the shoes comment, but Nellie beat me to it.

In winter, of course, a lady would have some sort of outer garment--a wrap, or (in the natural form era, at least) a long coat (and darned if I can remember what they called that particular form of long coat!).

Good catch on the corset cover, K. I always forget 'em, because I'm too darned lazy to make myself one. Maybe I should start haunting the lace counters for incentive?

[Bloomin']

A nice write-up about the undies:

http://www.knowlesville.com/matt/vintage_fashion/lingerie.html

The 12-step plan (stockings and shoes are the first things on and they mention they forgot her gloves):

http://www.knowlesville.com/matt/vintage_fashion/getting-dressed.html

[Petticoat Betty]

Thank you so much BY, the last link is great and just what I was looking for!!!:ty :ty :ty

[Lazy K]

Here's another site about dressing sequence
http://www.staylace.com/features/sequence/sequence.htm
But they leave stuff out like, oh, SHOES and stockings. But they do point out that more than one petticoat may be worn.

[Manon Antoinette]

Hihi, I was going to say the thing about the socks and shoes :rofl I see I got beaten to it.

I love this site:

http://www.victoriana.com/index.html

[Drusilla]

Don't forget your hankerchief, fan a little $ for libations and some lip gloss in the reticule and small dab of perfume before heading out the door!
One of my pet peeves (if I may vent al little here) is ladies, don't forget you are LADIES. I see so many dressed up gals walking around like they are on a construction site! Being a lady is more than dressing up, one must carry oneself like a lady, upright, with grace and poise, NOT slumped over slouching and rushing like you are going to put out a fire. (shooting is another thing) There is nothing worse than seeing a woman all dressed up and acting like they were born in a barnyard with no manners or sense of pride in how they look or act.:tap Of course it helps if you have a gentleman on your arm.:-)

[Lazy K]

Well said! Of course a nice stiff corset solves my slouching:rofl

[Coffee Em]

Thank you for the reminder, Dru--I'm so inclined to lead with my chin when I walk! :rofl Yep, K, that corset is a better reminder even than my dad poking me between the shoulder blades (such a father thing to do!).

Gloves are where I get all grouchy and tyrannical. A lady wore gloves in public...in fact, anywhere but in her own home, or while eating. When I see beautiful period costumes in movies that don't include gloves---arrgh! They're hard to see in fashion plates, but they're there, usually tan ones, which were popular to wear with everything.

[Drusilla]

Yes, gloves are important. I can remember my Granny, who was VERY proper, never going out without her hat and gloves. She was such a lady, she took us out to eat and bought us little girls all our dresses and gloves (some of which I still have) on shopping trips to Bullocks Wilshire in LA, made us mind our manners and drink tea like little ladies.....she is gone now, but not a day goes by that I do not thank her for teaching me to sew and be a lady. And she rode horses and played polo! What a woman.

[Lazy K]

AAAAKK! You don't need to say that is a pic of your Gran. You look like her. It's the eyes.

[Coffee Em]

You really do look so much like her! What a beautiful picture. I love her scalloped collar and knitted tie--businesslike and feminine at the same time.

[Manon Antoinette]

I have linen handkerchiefs, a little box of perfume on me and a little box of vaseline (specially) for the lips. Seeing that picture makes me miss my horse.
Lovely picture though!