Victorian, Civil War & Edwardian Period 1830s - 1910

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Victorian / Australian Colonial late 1820s - 1901 Welcome to our little patch of the 19th Century! We are a historical dance. costume and music group and in this chapter we specialize in civilian's clothing from the Victorian era. We are very particular about authenticity of our garments and try our best to make them the way they were made in Victorian times, with the exception of straight inside seams sewn on the machine if required to keep costs down for earlier period garments. If you have any questions or comments, you may email us. Garments of this period clearly indicated the wearer's social class. Wealthy women's fashion became very complex, dresses of many layers, fabrics, trimmings, gloves and bonnets. Bustlines rose and waistlines fell. Mutton-leg sleeves were popular in the first quarter-century, but were later replaced with fitted sleeves and then bell sleeves. Restrictive corsets were worn to promote an hourglass figure. Crinoline skirts progressed to hoop skirts which were then overtaken by bustled skirts. The invention of the sewing machine allowed women to design and make their own clothes. Men's fashions became more comfortable. An informal 'sack-coat' was worn during the day, whilst formal attire consisted of a top hat, dapper cutaway frockcoat, waistcoat, cravat and trousers. We have more information on clothing and dancing in the Victorian period on other pages.

Edwardian 1901 - 1919 The Edwardian period is named after Queen Victoria's successor Edward who ascended to the throne in 1901. This era is also known as the Belle Epoque - "beautiful era". Art Nouveau, which had developed in the 1890s, dominated the aesthetics of this era more thoroughly than any era before, not just in embroidery or cording, but also in the lines of the bell-shaped, trained skirts which were supported by silk petticoats trimmed with flounces. The popular hourglass figure so favoured during the Victorian period was overtaken in favour of an 'S' curve. Confining corsets  were thrown away for a new 'health corset' that provided support for the abdomen and spine. Ladies hats became larger. The 'Gibson Girl' image predominated as the image of a newly liberated women's movement. Women's fashions adopted elements from the men's suit style as they entered previously men-only professions. With women also participating in sports the fashions became lighter, comfortable and more practical - the skirts straightened and narrowed into what we now refer as the "Titanic style".

You may hire Aylwen to give a talk or demonstration to your group, to advise you on your next historic clothing project, to custom fit a garment for you, to help you develop a historical program for school children, to research correct clothing for your historic event, teach period dances to historical program participants or children, or to design costumes for plays or theatrical productions. Please feel free to contact us by email if you'd like to discuss how we can be of service to you or your organization!

Australian 19th & 20th Century Images at the National Library of Australia

A photo of Louisa Anne Meredith's eldest son George Campbell was believed to have been taken during the period that Charles and Louisa Meredith lived at Twamley, Buckland, Tasmania. The photo shows George Meridith seated under a garden arch.There is also a picture of Mr.William John Maguire, aged 22 - Dressed in Regatta Day outfit, taken in 1870. Some photos of young women in the late 1800s have also been found in the State Library of Tasmania.

We have started a collection of fashion plates from the 1800s that you are welcome to browse through. It is important to remember that not all films are historically accurate and that fashion plates are not always a true representation of what people wore in the 1800s, just as the clothes that are worn on the catwalks today are not always a true representation of what people like us wear. Both, though, are great sources of inspiration.

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