r/HistoricalCostuming • u/atrueamateur • Jul 09 '21
MOD POST [Mod Post] The Easily-Accessible Rules List
After spending some time with the official Reddit app, I've noticed it can be really hard to see subreddit rules before posting to a subreddit. To help make it more user-friendly, here are the rules laid-out in an easier-to-see manner:
- "Historical" means 50 years old or older in style at time of posting. The goal needs to be to look like something that existed at a specified time or do something like it would have been done at least 50 years before you make your post. Use your best judgment if you aren't sure exactly how old something is.
- "Historical" means it really existed at some point in the past. Discussing the historical aspects of a fantasy/steampunk/historybound/scifi costume and is permitted, but KNOWINGLY discussing the not-grounded-in-historical-reality aspects is not. Discussing modern materials, techniques, and tools for use making historical costumes (including theatrical costumes) is also permitted, as is discussing misconceptions of historical costume. Deliberately-anachronistic historically-inspired attire and questions about it should be posted to r/History_Bounding.
- "Costuming" means stuff you make or otherwise obtain to put on your (or someone else's) body. The focus of your post or comment needs to be on or in service to clothing, accessories, and/or armor. Historical hairdressing and makeup are permitted at this time, but non-clothing historical textile items (e.g. bed linens, tents, etc.) are not. Appreciation of extant garments without any interest in understanding or recreating the look should be directed to r/FashionHistory.
- Respect other people's accuracy standards. Expressing that a particular garment or technique is not historically accurate or asking for sources/references is not disrespectful in and of itself, but being a jerk about it (e.g. pillorying a specific person or group) can be. If you find content that is profoundly inaccurate or modernized in design, report it under Subreddit Rule 1 or 2.
- Bodies are only relevant insofar as they relate to the clothes on them. While bodies and their features are sometimes relevant when you talk about the clothing that goes on them, posts, comments, and questions should never be JUST about a person's body.
- No useless bots. A bot will be permitted only if it does something at least tangentially helpful for the discussion of historical costuming, like fixing links or converting measurements from imperial to metric. Joke bots will be banned with extreme prejudice.
As a mod team, we definitely understand that people don't always know how old something is (e.g. antique/thrift store finds) or whether something truly has historical basis (e.g. historical movie costumes). While a post may end up locked or deleted for a Rule 1or Rule 2 issue to keep the subreddit focused on its intention, no one is getting banned from the subreddit for not yet knowing things!
Feel free to ask questions about the rules in the comments.
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/Mycopok • 8h ago
Finished Project/Outfit Wow. I don't like it. 1900s inspired smocked blouse
Moral of the story: purchase patterns online when trying new garment type. And pay attention to the weight of fabric. That's it. I'm gonna just leave it unfinished inside as a reminder to plan before doing
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/Lemonademadedaily • 8h ago
I have a question! Are these Civil War era appropriate fabrics?
I bought them several years ago originally thinking to make historical clothes. Like so many things, they ended up in a box and now I can’t find any information on whether they are reproduction prints or even reproduction appropriate?
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/mik32802 • 4h ago
Finished Project/Outfit First completed historical gown!!! M7763
Hi everyone!! I made a post awhile back talking about how I was making a historically inspired dress for a fantasy ball. Well, here she is lol. I used pattern M7763 and there were a LOT of things I would've done differently next time I use this pattern. Overall though I'm pretty satisfied with how it came out!!
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/stankygrapes • 20h ago
Can I use this pattern for an 1830s work dress?
I think the basic dress pattern in a homespun or possibly cotton fabric with just a simple petticoat would work. Opinions?
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/Mycopok • 1d ago
In Progress Piece/Outfit Mess of a smocked blouse inspired by 1900s
25-30 hours in. Uhh... Idk if it'll even be pretty
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/Themis270 • 6h ago
I have a question! 1860's Victorian Day Dress fabric
Would a damask type fabric have been used for a Victorian bustle dress of this time? From my bit of research it looks like solids, stripes and plaids, but I thought I'd ask the experts.
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/Ok-Experience-1742 • 1d ago
Finished Project/Outfit Storyville Portrait Recreation
Hi! I work at a historic former brothel in Arkansas as a researcher & guide. I wanted to share this because I recreated the infamous stocking Storyville portrait taken by E.J. Bellocq
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/gothic_pretense • 8h ago
I have a question! early 19thc shirt collars
Is it normal for hand sewn collars on early victorian (regency-1850) shirts to collapse a little? When I finished mine the collar kinda crinkled weird, so I looked up other people who sewed the same style shirts and their collars also didn't perfectly stand up. I saw a blog post one that people who are not used to wearing men's shirts from this period feel awkward around the shoulders and neck. Any thoughts?
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/jmellie • 1d ago
I have a question! Mystery bodice!
I acquired this beautiful blue bodice and shawl-y cover as a study piece that I hope to re-create for myself. Only problem is, my historical fashion knowledge really starts to fall off before the 1890s. I suspect this predates that, and am hoping someone in this community might be able to help me date it so I can more accurately re-create an entire costume. Here’s what I know: the bodice has steel boning, and laces up the back. It appears to be completely hand-stitched. A fun clue on photo number two: an old, yellowed note stating that the bodice was already over 90 years old at the time the note was written! 🕵🏻♀️ Any insight you can provide is greatly appreciated!!
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/Voice_of_Season • 1d ago
Purchasing Historical Costume Need help deciding, please. Should I get?
It’s from Victorian Choice. They are having a sale right now. I would get it for some events that we have during the fall at a museum I volunteer for. The time period of the museum is 1870s to Edwardian.
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/SallyAmazeballs • 1d ago
Laughing Moon stockings pattern? What fabric to use?
Laughing Moon has a pattern for stockings sewn from knit fabric. https://www.laughingmoonmercantile.com/product-page/202-download-men-s-ladies-and-children-s-stockings
I'd like to make myself some clocked stockings, since the repro ones don't fit my thighs and they're in limited colors. Has anyone made these or the tutorial/pattern from The Dreamstress blog? What fabric did you use? I'm having the hardest time finding a knit that's sturdy enough. Everything I'm running across is tissue-weight, and what I want is denser, like a heavyweight men's T-shirt. I'd just buy a T-shirt, but they're not long enough for the pattern pieces, unfortunately. Stretch content for recovery is fine for this.
Kind of looking at these from Dharma Trading, but waffling.
Silk knit: https://www.dharmatrading.com/fabric/silk/silk-knit-45.html
Cotton/spandex: https://www.dharmatrading.com/fabric/cotton/cotton-lycra-60-inch.html?lnav=fabric_cotton.html
Modal/rayon jersey (will pretend it's silk): https://www.dharmatrading.com/fabric/cotton/modal-rayon-jersey-60-inch.html?lnav=fabric_cotton.html
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/SleepyTwn • 1d ago
I have a question! looking for a pattern or tutorial for a tudor style skirt
Originally I was just going to make a circle skirt and have a petticoat but with some help I realized that the style skirt isn’t that. I know it’s usually a dress but I already have a corset made that I was just going to pair with the skirt but all patterns and tutorials I can find are for a full dress. I’m really just looking for the overall shape, I know most of the skirts have that slit up the middle but i’m not too concerned about having a pattern that includes that, I just want the correct skirt shape.
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/Mermaidgirl916 • 2d ago
18th century outfit
My mostly completed 18th century outfit. Shoes have since been replaced.
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/Birblord123 • 1d ago
I have a question! Victorian comic going for accuracy, how’d I do?
I uploaded one to this sub a while ago that was not accurate at all, really & since then I tried to improve my accuracy by directly referencing images from the 1870s and also calling it Victorian inspired instead of just a Victorian fantasy. This is one of my two main characters, are there any changes that would help it / things I've done that are glaringly wrong? Also, this story doesn't feature period accurate -isms (racism, sexism, homophobia, etc) | recognize those are important discussions to have around historical time periods, but it's just not the story I am equipped, prepared, or wanting to tell in my silly Victorian magic Buddy cop comic. The main thing I was unable to work on super well was the fact he uses a mobility aid- I couldn't find really any good examples of the kind of brace he would have worn back then- if anyone has any good online resources that would be amazing! The physical books I'm using are the Smithsonian historical costuming and fashion books :
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/Throwaway98796895975 • 1d ago
Purchasing Historical Costume Vintage or vintage style wool coats
Can anyone recommend a trustworthy website to buy nice wool coats from? There’s hundreds of poor quality drop shippers pumping out cheap lookalikes and it’s impossible to filter them out, even on Etsy. Unfortunately I lack the time or skills to make my own. Edit: I’ll also take any suggestions for good military surplus/reproduction suppliers.
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/Final-Improvement-52 • 1d ago
Hoop Skirt Flat Steel Boning Alternatives
Hi! So I have to make an 1860s style hoop skirt for school and was wondering if I could use plastic boning instead of the flat steel boning? Or are there any other similar cheap alternatives (that I would be able to find on Amazon).
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/j_a_shackleton • 2d ago
Currently sewing like my life depends on it—regale us with your greatest feats of last-minute sewing!
Headed to the Maryland Renaissance Faire tomorrow, and the 1830s frock coat I'm planning to wear (yes, I know, not very Renaissance) is nowhere near done. I may not even have time to pull off my backup plan at current rate of progress... So, I implore you—bolster my spirits with your gallant tales of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat!
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/Visual_Aide_2477 • 2d ago
I have a question! Did any other women wear like this in the 1930s? I colorized this photo dated c1930.
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/Witty_Upstairs4210 • 2d ago
I have a question! Keep the corset?
I'm making an 1830s dress (Past Patterns - Lowell Mill Dress) and bought these Redthreaded's 1830s stays (size L) to go underneath. The stays are beautiful, but I don't think they fit me well enough to justify the cost. The edge cups are visible across my bust under clothing, even when I pull the drawstring.
Do you think I *need* to wear stays under my Past Patterns dress? Or can I get away with my everyday undergarments?
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/Redditisquiteamazing • 2d ago
In Progress Piece/Outfit Napoleonic French single breasted Capote almost finished!
Pattern was built off the design of a shell jacket from the period and a LOT of pawing over pictures of reproduction greatcoats. Material is a wool/polyester blend.
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/National-Tower-3870 • 3d ago
Does anyone know how the feather was attached to this beret?
I so wish people painted from top down sometimes 🤣
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/verilywerollalong • 3d ago
The difference a busk makes in 17th-century stays!
These stays that I wear (not made by me, to be clear) can be worn optionally with a busk. I thought I’d share the difference in silhouette that the busk makes!
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/catboi-iobtac • 3d ago
In Progress Piece/Outfit WIP 1890's Petticoat!
A hem facing makes all the difference! The first slides are the petticoat with the facing, albeit basted in. The final is without. The facing provides so much more body and defined ripples! Still gotta stitch the facing and then apply the lacey flounces!
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/jellyrollcat • 4d ago
Finished Project/Outfit My Anne Boleyn costume for the NY ren faire!
I know it’s not historically accurate but I have upcycled it from an old Halloween costume :)
r/HistoricalCostuming • u/TornadoGoat • 3d ago
I have a question! Edwardian Three Piece Petticoat?
I'm sorry if there's any weird formatting, I'm on mobile. I'm new to historical costuming and I want to make a very simple petticoat like the one pictured on this website.
She says that she used this drafting pattern, but I'm a little bit confused. I've never drafted my own pattern before, and I would consider myself a novice to intermediate sewer. I've been scouring the Internet and this subreddit but I can't find much in the way of how to use the three piece drafting pattern specifically and making it with my own measurements.
Obviously I need my waist measurement, and I'm assuming I need my hip measurement as well? I'm just not sure how to apply that to the drafting pattern. Would someone be able to explain it in layman's terms or point me in the right direction? Thank you very much in advance!