There is a low heeled boot called Emma in multiple colors on Orthofeet that I think you could cheat for anything post civil war. The toe will be OK peeking out under long skirts. This brand is orthopedically comfortable for people with wide feet or various foot conditions. I could sew a really good costume and then have terrible trouble approximating the right kind of shoe if I had to wear this lovely costume any place other than a ball room for 2 hours. It's $116 now for Black Friday and comes in various colors. Not an ad for the vendor but I think a solution for some people with hard to feet costume feet. Just fyi. Free returns to vendor also.

I started sewing about 8 months ago. I starting with T tunics and trying my hand at Reconstructing History's Zupon pattern and finally made something I'm actually feeling proud of. It's a modified dress shirt pattern that I believe was modeled off of the Irish grandfather shirt.

Which leads me to a question, was there a point in history where this style of sleeve is from, or are they anachronistic?

I'm planning to make a prom dress that utilises traditional couture techniques in corsetry and draping

Ive seen these corsets known by different names, Elizabethan, Funnel, 17th or 18th century stays and Vivienne Westwood corsets.

If anyone has any tips on couture techniques for corsetry, fabrics, boning, materials or any tips to begin drafting the pattern for the corset, it will be much appreciated.

I'm not really trying to be historically accurate, I'm only looking to cope a similar shape.

I want to draft it from scratch to improve my drafting skills and it isn't in my budget to buy a pattern. The idea is to not have any bust shaping but just a funnel looking shape from the side

Thanks in advance.

https://preview.redd.it/wmnsa8trlb4e1.jpg?width=375&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5baefa40ae6670fe315121808431eeb815d00bde

https://preview.redd.it/d5kjssvrlb4e1.jpg?width=579&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=36c27ab4716e062ee5bd40609de108dbec04a4d5

https://preview.redd.it/l0pa59trlb4e1.jpg?width=486&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5711504658da57a33d6be9fdfeb086904960d59f

I'm trying to recreate this gown to wear as my wedding gown next year christmas time and am trying to source velvet in ivory/cream that will have a similar look and drape.

Found on Etsy via Pinterest: \"1840s/50s Velvet Crinoline Evening Dress/Ballgown\"

I've read in some threads in this sub and probably some blog posts that in contemporary fabrics cotton velveteens have a more similar drape to historical silk velvets vs the rayon/silk velvet that is sold as "silk velvet" today.

So my question to this community:

What type of velvet (available today) would you use to recreate this gown?

Where would do you recommend for buying?

I've already looked at silk velvets from silk baron ($37/yd they don't have ivory/cream, only a bright white, I'm considering going non-trad and using their chai colorway) and prism silks (I got ¼ yd cuts of their cotton velvet in ecru and silk velvet in ivory - $30/yd and $50/yd respectively).

I've also looked at puresilks.us but got a bit overwhelmed by the site.

My fabric budget is around 1500 USD and I am US based. Don't mind shipping costs just don't want it to cut too far into the budget.

Also think it's important to say that I've worked with velvets before so I know they're a challenge but I'm committed to it for this project and will not be dissuaded :)

Hi all. I have an event this December and am looking for an Edwardian-era costume that I can purchase or rent. My character is a "wealthy American socialite" and the year is 1905. Any suggestions are appreciated!

Where are the dashed lines ??? Reconstructing History patterns = poor quality patterns !

The coat-cape goes hard as fuck. Honestly any information that could help build this outfit would be appreciated.

Hello! I am a big 18th century costuming fan and I've made costumes for myself and friends now. I have run into a stalling point in making a costume for my female friend that only wears men's clothing. She does not feel comfortable in women's dress but does want to participate. I feel confident in making her men's outerwear but I don't know what kind of undergarments to make. Stays? Regular men's undergarments? I believe she could be comfortable without bust support but what would women who need bust support wear?

I know there are stories of Anne Bonny wearing men's clothing and then exposing her breasts as she made a kill to show the man she was killing that he was bested by a woman. To me, that implies she was not wearing stays because it would not have been that easy to whip them out mid-battle.

Searching for a historically accurate 1700s pirate/sailor shirt pattern. PDF if possible. I'd rather not use a video tutorial. TIA!

ETA: the pattern can be modern, in fact, modern patterns welcomed, as long as it results in a reasonably accurate replica of a 1700s sailor shirt. Thanks everyone!

I have a Great Gatsby themed banquet in January and want to make an accurate 20s dress but I have 50 inch hips that are wider than anything else on me. Should I go for a pattern with 44inch hips and do a mockup to expand the hip area? Am I shit out of luck?

Hey there! I'm interested in historical accuracy, particularly around 1st century Judea. I've been working on a project for a while, and I've tried to do research on clothing Jewish people in the 1st century would've worn in Roman Judea. So, here is a drawing I made of Jesus based on the information I've gained.

So I basically want to make sure, if there are any people that know about this stuff, that this picture is accurate. The reason is because I've done a lot of research and the information is kind of mixed and different in some places. Also, movies and shows that depict the biblical stories (The Chosen for example) show men wearing a tunic and then a "cloak" which has sleeves. So, how accurately is, for example, the Chosen portraying the clothing? Some sources claim that over a tunic they wore a himation, a rectangular piece of clothing, and wrapped it around the body, leaving one arm free.

However, some sources say something else, and shows like the Chosen show them wearing cloaks that have sleeves and are like jackets or coats, and they also claim that they've done a lot of work on research and tried to portray things as historically as possible. So in a nutshell: please help me understand if this picture is accurate and if the cloaks with sleeves are accurate. Thanks a lot!

Here's my drawing

Today is Black Friday in the US and I’m hoping to find some light to midweight wool to make a voluminous cartridge pleated skirt for myself.

I’d like it to be a winter skirt, but I live in Texas, so I’m still thinking light(er) weight.

I previously ordered a ton from Herts but my order was cancelled due to shipping costs skyrocketing after Brexit.

Halp!

Hello, I am looking for patterns for Landsknecht-style clothing. I am a total novice when it comes to historical costuming so I don't know where to look for these patterns. I've seen some patterns from Reconstructing History, but I haven't heard great things about their patterns. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

I've seen this asked before, but each time is answered differently. I'm incredibly confused. This is the answer I've got:

Doublets and jerkins were both close-fitting jackets worn by men in the 15th to 17th centuries, but they had some key differences:

• SleevesDoublets always have sleeves, except when they don't. Jerkins are usually sleeveless, but can sometimes have sleeves. 

• Wearing orderJerkins are worn over doublets, under doublets, or without doublets. Doublets are always worn with or without jerkins. 

• MaterialDoublets were often made of wool or kersey, a rough canvas material mixed with wool.Jerkins were often made of heavy wool and sometimes leather. 

• StyleDoublets were waisted and padded, and originally had skirts. Jerkins were often laced up the front. 

• DecorationJerkins were often richly embroidered with patterns like wildflowers.

So Jerkins and Doublets sometimes have sleeves and sometimes don't. Sometimes worn with each other and sometimes not.

Can anyone help me determine the actual difference? Preferably with some citations or picture references?

Thank you!

pretty much exactly what the title states… i’m looking for your favorite historical dress/dressmaking black friday deals! i’m really looking for some black medium weight fabric to make a walking skirt, but open to anything!!

https://preview.redd.it/7h6x6gwa0o3e1.jpg?width=2293&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dd9840416999063fcf42aa256443ad84cedee5fb

Please tell me what dress she is in specifically. I would very much like to have this dress, please help

Can anyone suggest a guide to installing a lace-up back for an 1840 evening gown? I'm mashing up a few different bodice patterns, and none have directions for a lace-up back (the historic, tight spiral lace). I keep finding info regarding modern bridal-type lace up backs.

My plan is to fit the bodice so that the finished back edges meet; install a boning strip at the edges; make eyelets just behind the boning at about 2-3 cm intervals; offset them for spiral lacing. The eyelets will go through the fashion fabric (silk taffeta) and the cotton canvas interlining. Photo of my practice eyelets -- I think the buttonhole thread (grayish) lays nicer than the brown silk ("size E" jewelry making silk).

Does this construction make sense? What kind of cord should I use? Will I need aglets to get the cord through the teensy little eyelets? Is there anything I'm missing?

Thanks!!

The Single cape on the Shoulder

I'm a sewist for people in the SCA but some people are purists to historical context . Im not well versed in the ancient classical world of Greek and Roman people in the mediterian other than the general styling of various lengths of cloth being pinned and wrapped to the body and sewn tubes pinned to the body via old style safety pin things. Did normal every day people wear natural color wools and linen as undergarments? And colors as a top tunic/ chitton? Did people wear t tunic sleeves under their drappy clothes? Help! I usually only sew old norse stuff for myself and family ..

Edit: i am talking about more community-oriented connection and less individual or bringing a friend along to do an every day thing in costume. I cannot update the title but there’s more to what I’m specifically talking about than the title

Post:

Hello, mods feel free to smite me if this post not welcome! But… I’ve been lurking on this thread for some time, and it occurred to me that people might find it useful to a have a resource of costume communities in person; I have seen a few posts for specific events but I like community for more of an ongoing series of things where you’ll be able to see the same people more regularly— likeminded people who will appreciate them! I wanted to share this because I know I was not the first nor last person to have an interest in HC but feel like “why put in all the work to bring together a costume i love with limited opportunities to wear it?” As such, there is no applicable flair.

Chicago, where I am from, has the Chicago Historical Costume Society which is a pretty cool and open group. Additionally, New Orleans, where I live, has the New Orleans Costume History Enthusiasts (NOCHE). Both of these groups create opportunities for groups to gather in historical costume and do things together, on varying scales, and both are welcome to folks visiting their city who bring their costumes, even if they are not local.

I know other cities have communities as well, so feel free to comment with any org/groups that you know of .

With the cold weather fast aproaching (and the current black friday sales) I've been wanting to buy a pair of winter booties that will keep my feet warm, will last me a long time and will look nice with my history bounding wardrobe (which is a mix of Edwardian and 1950's inspired). I have been looking different options and sites, but in the end I kept going back to the Alpens by American Duchess and the Maria by Memery (see pics below). While I like both models in terms of looks I have a few concerns in both cases, mainly being:

1. The sole in the AD's looks very thin, maybe not even 0.5 cm (1/4 inch) thick. I know this model has rubber soles, so at least water/snow won't be an issue; but I worry they won't be warm enough for long walks (For reference, where I live winter temperatures tend to oscilate around 0 to -5 ºC/32 to 23 ºF). Also, although I love how it looks, I am a bit unsure about how well will the suede parts hold up the test of time.

2. The heel in the Memery's is a bit higher than what I normally wear and I don't know how comfortable Memery's shoes are since I don't have previous experience buying from them. I am used to ~4 cm/1.5 inch heels, which shouldn't be that different from the 5.5 cm/2.2 inch of Memery's, but it still a small concern I have if I want to be able to wear these for long stretches of time.

Does anyone have experience with this particular shoe models? And if so: Do you like them? How warm and/or comfortable are they? How long have you had them and have you had to do any major repairs so far?

Any feedback and opinions is welcome! Also if you know of other brands that have shoes in similar styles that you recommend I would be happy to know more.

American Duchess

Memery

Did medieval women wear underpants and what were they called?

Greetings fellow costumers

Last year I made this 17th century dress based on some artworks by Johannes Vermeer. Since it was such an important project to me I decided to document the entire process, from idea, through research and planning to the making of the bodice, skirt, coif and oorijzer. I wish to share it with the world, hoping it will bring useful information, interesting insight, spark interest and/or encourage others to dive into the world of 17th century costuming.

Since I can not post a pdf file here I will provide you with a link to the pdf file on google drive.
LINK https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UMnuOyeMbQkthFFCAs2z4ETnkbGrB4Zj/view

Hopefully one day I will update the petticoat and hip cushion and get to wear it again in a more perfected glory. If I havrme that luck I will be sure to post some pictures here and update the documentation with how I made a proper 17th century petticoat. In the meanwhile enjoy two pictures of the finished dress. (Photos taken by Cheyenne Olander (https://www.instagram.com/cheyenneolander/)

https://preview.redd.it/5zyxqu9wma3e1.jpg?width=3583&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ae8d1ede2f670e5ecee80265a6888b1700d91b06

https://preview.redd.it/syy8stwwma3e1.jpg?width=2415&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cf2858b30979ed4cacac442532d22c158894f3e4