Reviews for Victorian Costume for Ladies 1860-1900

The average rating for Victorian Costume for Ladies 1860-1900 based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2017-11-25 00:00:00 Jeremy Struthers I've checked out many books recently to create a costume for the Dickens Fair, a large holiday festival that recreates 1860s London. I knew only the basics of Victorian era styling: clothing shape that echoes the line of underlying corsets, high necklines, lace and velvet, and hair tied back off the face. I was amazed to learn how fashion changed between the 1860s and 1900s, and how out of place a bustle or puffy sleeves would have been in 1860s London. This book, more than any other, broke the era down into 9 parts, each with its distinct styling, and made the differences clear through short written discourses and numerous photos. Of the many books that I perused, Victorian Costumes for Ladies is the most useful for novice costumers and those unfamiliar with the changing clothing styles during the Victorian era. One of the book's major strengths is the liberal use of actual 19th century photos. There is no disputing the truth of how women looked in these pre-Photoshop pictures. Most books feature either modern photos of recreated Victorian costumes, or worse, hand-drawn illustrations where the body shapes look like 21st century supermodels with a bit of padding, unnaturally tall and thin and simply not Victorian nor achievable. Each photo has a description of the hair and/or outfit, and a bit about the woman herself if known. The location of each photo is also cited. The author obviously did a lot of work gathering the images and choosing them to illustrate the notable characteristics of each sub-era's style. There is no steam punk or 1980s Victorian nouveau here! In addition the photographs of women (and an occasional husband), and the breakdown of the Victorian era into characteristic parts, author Linda Setnik discusses the topics of undergarments (the basis of all Victorian fashion), casual wear, sports clothes, common dress, evening attire, clothing manufacture, laundry, personal hygiene, and cosmetics. Overall, she provides a solid basis for a would-be costumer to understand the era and how a typical woman's lifestyle differed from today. Understanding Victorian customs and lifestyle is essential not only for good costuming, but also for acting one's role correctly while wearing the costume at a period event. At the very least it helps the re-enactor to know when she is wearing or doing something out-of-period. I recommend this book wholeheartedly to anyone who wants to learn more about women's clothing and customs throughout the Victorian era. Fans of early photography will also find some fascinating examples of the variety of styling and techniques used in 19th century formal portraiture, along with a guide to dating Victorian photographs based upon the pose, setting, card stock, and photographer's imprint.

Review # 2 was written on 2020-08-29 00:00:00 Garrett Turner This volume is a delightful reference for anyone interested in Victoriana, especially Victorian cosplay. I often spend the entire weekend corseted and dressed in period fashion and my F/F partner truly loves it! Be sure to get this 2nd Edition as it is expanded from the original. You will not be disappointed. XOXOXOs to Linda Setnik for creating this wonderful book:)