Look for corsets on specialty outlets online. If you’re trying a corset for the first time, don’t lace it as tightly as you can just yet. Let your body get used to the slight constriction. Lace down about 1 inch (2. 5 cm) and leave it for about 2 hours. If your body feels OK, lace down another inch; if not, take the corset off and try again tomorrow. [2] X Research source Most Victorian women didn’t wear their corsets very tightly, contrary to popular belief, so don’t feel pressured to slim down your waist to painful proportions. If you choose to wear a corset at all (they’re not required!), simply fit it so that it’s comfortable around your chest and waist.
For a simple-to-make take on an 1800s dress, buy a full-length, long-sleeved dress online and fill it out with petticoats, which you can buy or make yourself. You can also pair a full-length shirt with a plain, button-down shirt for a similar effect. In the mid-1800s up to about 1865, women wore bell-shaped skirts with voluminous petticoats. In the late 1800s, the front of the skirt became flatter as emphasis shifted to the back, with lots of flounces and ruching. The bodice area of dresses stayed relatively the same throughout the 1800s, tightly-fitted with high collars and sometimes sloping necklines for evening wear.
If you are tall and have thin and long arms, then longest opera gloves will look great on you and accentuate your beauty even more. You can buy long gloves online or in party stores. If you can’t find a longer pair, shorter-length gloves will work too.
Look for an old-fashioned pattern, like simple stripes, small flowers, or even a bolder plaid. Try to find one that matches the color scheme of your dress. You can find knee- or thigh-high stockings at most clothing stores.
You can find lace-up leather boots in most shoe stores that can look quite accurate with the right dress and accessories. You can also go with shorter, heeled booties for a later-1800s look.
If you don’t want to curl your hair, try putting it in a bun, leaving 2 thick chunks on the side free. Pull these loosely back towards the bun and pin them to create interesting loops. Victorian women also liked to experiment with braids and styles like crimping, so feel free to get creative. Straight hair left down is a good look for younger girls dressing Victorian-style, but women over the age of about 20 should always go with an updo. The Victorians didn’t consider it appropriate for older women to have their hair down in public. [8] X Research source
You can also carry around a parasol, which Victorian women used as another layer of sun protection. If you want to embellish your look with makeup, keep things very simple—the Victorians thought that wearing very visible makeup was inappropriate. Instead, simply powder your face lightly and add a bit of blush to your cheeks, plus a very subtle lipstick and eyeshadow.
For the most historically-accurate style, look for solid, dark colors for both pieces. If you want to get more creative, choose a lighter blue color or an old-fashioned pattern, like flowers or birds, which a pioneer woman might have worn on a special occasion. If you don’t have a button-down shirt, a plain long-sleeve or three-quarter-length shirt will work as well. You can pair your skirt with a petticoat if you want, although it’s not necessary; pioneer women needed to move around more easily, so they often wore less fabric beneath their skirt than Victorians.
If you’re trying a corset for the first time, don’t lace it as tightly as you can just yet. Let your body get used to the slight constriction. Lace down about 1 inch (2. 5 cm) and leave it for about 2 hours. If your body feels OK, lace down another inch; if not, take the corset off and try again tomorrow. [12] X Research source
You can find long aprons online, or make your own by cutting a piece of fabric about 3/4 of the skirt length and the same width around the waist. Gather in the top edge and cinch it down to about half of its length. Sew a ribbon to the top edge of your apron to make a waist tie.
You can find leather boots and high stockings in shoe stores and online.
You can also braid your hair simply down your back. For younger girls, two braids is another good option.
You can also tie on a handkerchief or bandana in place of a bonnet, or try making your own by looking up a sewing tutorial online.
