Costume Cupboard

One of my greatest loves in life is historical costume. Along with my longing for a society gone by, is a deep-rooted adoration of their costume. Everything was so proper, so elegant and above all so feminine. I am fascinated by the days when a woman would mould herself with whalebone from a young age, and there was a proper dress for every occasion. The course of a normal day would require several costume changes, morning dress-, day-dress, walking-out-dress, riding-dress, evening-dress and so on.

The bustle was, in my opinion, one of the most wonderful fashion inventions of the period. The line it created was flattering and elegant, and gave a certain presence to the outfit.

The incredible shapes that fashion suggested women should contort their bodies into are astounding! Tight laced corsets were the cause of many medical complaints. they restricted the expansion of the lungs causing a shortness of breath - this may have been largely responsible for the Victorian Lady's habit of fainting at dramatic moments! Corseting also caused massive distortion of the internal organs. Ever wondered why so many women of the era died in childbirth? As well as the lack of hygienic hospitals and the like, corsets were behind a lot of it! They crushed and distorted the womb and led to many complications in child-birth.

But practical considerations aside, the costume of the Victorian era was at the peak of style, sophistication and elegance. Our 21st century dress is a sad and pathetic attempt in comparison with the elaborate dress of days gone by. No longer do we require the service of a few ladies' maids just to put on our underwear! The Victorian age was the ultimate peak of costume. Sadly, I doubt we shall ever reach anything like it again.

These pictures are of Lillian Gish, a silent movie star. I have included them here because I think the costumes are just exquisite!

A few of my own designs

I do not claim to be an excellent artist, but here are a few of my simple ideas that I wanted to share with you. I like to just surround myself with reference books, pick up my sketch pad and colouring pencils and create a costume wardrobe for a heroine of a long-lost era..

This lovely indoor gown in shades of vibrant green is perfect for spring mornings. The simplistic design and bold colours attract the eye of the onlooker, while the soft lace on the bodice ensures that it remains delicate and feminine.

For those occasions when one must venture out into the world, one can make sure of presenting a good impression in this ensemble. Again a simple design but in rich fabrics, this skirt and jacket of scarlet and crimson is eye-catching and splendid. With a matching hat topped with roses and feathers, what more could one wish for in a travelling dress?

I must confess, this is my favourite outfit! My role-play character is an avid rider, and loves nothing more than cantering across her fields in this charming white and gold riding habit. Of course, she will always select a white horse to complete the pure and angelic look. Its only drawback is that it can be somewhat dazzling to fellow riders on exceptionally sunny days!