Velvet Satin

How do you dress modern Victorian era inspired clothes ?

Light colors such as pink, khaki, and white are good, but gray would also work as well. Think Victorian/1920s era clothing and you’re on the right page .the Victorian era -which was all about mute, understated colors in rich fabrics (like silk, cotton, satin, velvet).

I’m not understanding your question. First of all, the Victorian era lasted from the 1830s, when Victoria took the throne, to 1901, when she died. Then came the Edwardian Era (think: Titanic) and then WWI and the Roaring Twenties.

Before the mid-19th century, colors tended to be rather soft and dusty. Pink and black was a popular combination. Someone has pointed out that even colors that would seem strange to us paired together look fine from that time-period because everything was rather softly-color.

During the mid-19th century analine dyes were invented, and resulted in some REALLY shocking colors and color combinations. There were lots of magentas, bright purples, golds, and other really garish stuff. You see a lot of this in the late 1860s and early 1870s. If you’ve never seen a real magenta dress from this time, the color will shock you. The old fashion plates have faded; originally these colors were INTENSE.

The colors did get sort of earthy in the 1880s and 90s, then there was a lot of white, tans, blacks, etc. in the 1900s with the lingerie blouses and dresses (A lingerie dress is one of the very delicate lace-trimmed and tucked dresses of that time. They were called lingerie dresses because they were made of lingerie fabric: fine cotton and linen, not because they were underwear.)

Then in WWI there was a lot of khaki and military-inspired colors.

The Costumer’s Manifesto might have a list of appropriate colors for each era. You could check it out. I have a quilt book that also has appropriate colors, as the does the book Calico Chronicle by Betty Mills.

I like the 1910s inspired clothes from the Victorian Trading Co and those designed by Nadia. My “real” historic costumes for reenactments I make myself. There are some really great pattern companies. Past Patterns is my favorite, but there’s Sense & Sensibility, Laughing Moon (Corset), Wisconsin Historical Society, and Folkwear. Some of these offer “modernized” patterns that still have a Victorian/Edwardian feel. Of course, you can also still buy the “real thing” on Ebay….if you’re lucky enough to find an antique pattern in your size.

I hope this helps.

ABS by Allen Schwartz Velvet Dress with Satin Trim