This is SO satisfying! I've learned the reason the extant dresses are almost all small is because they were often special occasion garments belonging to young people who grew out of them and put them away, never to fit into them again. The normal adult sizes medium through XXL (Queen Vicky) were, as you noted, worn until they fell apart or the person was buried in them! Special to find one like this (spectacular).
Well you asked for a comment. I suddenly had all sorts of things to say!! I love looking at the construction of garments. I find it fascinating to discover how things can be done. Like recently seeing hook and eye tape and thinking, Oh, never seen that before. Then today seeing that I could make my own if I wanted. Seeing you follow that seam across the sleeve, I was thinking It looks like they took a normal sleeve pattern piece and just added another piece at the top, but no, that seam suddenly zoomed up to the shoulder. How there is all that pleating at the shoulder, but somehow the garment still looks delicate. That back hem point. That was both sharp and on a seam. amazing work. I suddenly wanted to history bound and watch over the shoulder of the seamstress. Seeing that gorgeous and perfectly executed hand stitching on the boning. There is so much to love.
Agreed on all counts! So many of these antique pieces are just exquisitely made, and it's crazy to think that most people knew how to make things like that. It's a (mostly) lost art.
@@LadyRebeccaFashions When you look at the workmanship. It is mind blowing. To get that now, you have to pay many thousands. And then, of course, the garment is kept and treasured. Which is why perhaps the one you have is available. But, the difference is expensive modern gowns are usually only worn once or twice. Where is historical gowns were worn multiple times. Altered, or passed down. Lasting many years. The workmanship proved it's worth. As I said earlier. I would love to watch over the shoulder of the seamstress. With all our modern equipment we don't produce that functional yet beautiful workmanship today. Your videos are important. Thanks for going to the effort if making them.
Hi Rebecca! Thanks for posting this. I appreciate hearing your take on how these garments might have been constructed and what you find unusual and/or super special. More, please!
What a lovely piece! I'm currently making a 1895 bodice (for a ball gown, but still), so it was really nice to see so many details on this one, thanks for sharing!
Just recently found your videos in my recommended list.....love them! I've been reading your Diary of a Costumer blog for the past few years. Its been enjoyable and fascinating to watch your process for making the historical garments you have. Please continue to share with us your collection of extant period clothing. It's interesting to see how things were done back then.
I'm glad you found me on here! I need to do a better job of keeping up with my blog - I've definitely been slacking lately. And don't worry, I'll have another video like this coming out in a couple weeks!
Reminds me of the time I scored an amazing 100 year old quilt for $10! It’s been passed in the family and the owner didn’t want it because it was stained. 🙄 I almost passed because the colors made me think it was a re-creation.
vague eBay listing are really where the good deals are lmaooo. I got a gorgeous green silk bodice for 27€ not a long time ago lol. Such a gorgeous piece you got, really love the details and color!
Hello! I've hust found your channell and I think this kind of videos are great. Please do more :) It's truly fascinating how these authentic pieces we're made. And by hand!
Thank you! I will definitely be doing more - probably one per month. I'm thinking next up will be an Edwardian bodice, since the closures on those are always so fascinating to me.
I love it when we can get these bargains when people don't realise what it is they are selling. My favourite buy was a couple of years ago when I bought a late Victorian bodice - I can't place yet whether it is 1870's, 80's or 90's - but it cost me a whole English £5.00!!! Ridiculous!! It is quite damaged as there is shredding on the shoulders and the back seam is ripped open and had been badly repaired with some fabric that just didn't match, (It was a modern repair not a period one so I have taken that out), but I love it. I can only assume that it was so unbelievably cheap because of the damage, but I don't care. There is so much about it that isn't damaged, particularly the frill around the bottom and the piece at the back that goes over the bustle.
Thank you I just found your channel and I really enjoyed this video. I wonder if the grommet in the boning was to hold a sweat pad?? I couldn't see, is there one on the other side? Just a thought. Thank you again Have a wonderful day and God Bless
Grommets in boning is actually super common! You see it in boning that was manufactured, and I think it was so the bones could easily be "sprung" when they were sewn into the bodices.
That’s kind of similar to how I bought my ca 1899 dress. The pictures were grainy and blurry, with almost no description. Imagine my surprise when it’s a beautiful, in near mint-condition silk faille gown for $60
@@LadyRebeccaFashions Yes. I messaged the seller asking for additional pictures (just to see if I was roughly in the ballpark of correct) and they explained that they were in their 80's and not tech-saavy.
Sorry for a stupid question but what exactly is the definition of a bodice? When I google it I get info on corsets . How is the bodice different from a shirtwaist for example. Was a bodice always boned and was it part of a dress. Sorry for all the questions. I have a 1907 dressmaking book and part of it deals with skirts then other half bodices. The bodice part sounded like instructions for corsets. I’m confused 🤨
Not a stupid question! Bodices, at least historically speaking, are the structured outer garment that goes on your torso. So pretty much anything other than a shirtwaist or blouse, or besides something that is strictly worn as outerwear in addition to the bodice, like a jacket or coat. Everything else would be a bodice!
@@LadyRebeccaFashions Thanks that’s good of you to clarify and very exciting because it means when I finish my skirt I can use my book to teach myself to make a matching bodice. The reason why I was confused is because I’ve only glanced through the bodice section and saw stuff about boning. I am saving all my brain power and effort to work on the skirt section /project. I’ve got a bit of a pot belly and had to work through various mock-ups to find the most flattering gore proportions. I love that there’s people like you around to help and inspire the rest of us. Much appreciated.
Modern sizes vary so much that it's hard to say for sure, but I checked where a 33 3/8" waist falls on an Old Navy size chart, and it's right between a size L and size XL.
This is SO satisfying! I've learned the reason the extant dresses are almost all small is because they were often special occasion garments belonging to young people who grew out of them and put them away, never to fit into them again. The normal adult sizes medium through XXL (Queen Vicky) were, as you noted, worn until they fell apart or the person was buried in them! Special to find one like this (spectacular).
Well you asked for a comment. I suddenly had all sorts of things to say!!
I love looking at the construction of garments. I find it fascinating to discover how things can be done. Like recently seeing hook and eye tape and thinking, Oh, never seen that before. Then today seeing that I could make my own if I wanted.
Seeing you follow that seam across the sleeve, I was thinking It looks like they took a normal sleeve pattern piece and just added another piece at the top, but no, that seam suddenly zoomed up to the shoulder.
How there is all that pleating at the shoulder, but somehow the garment still looks delicate.
That back hem point. That was both sharp and on a seam. amazing work. I suddenly wanted to history bound and watch over the shoulder of the seamstress.
Seeing that gorgeous and perfectly executed hand stitching on the boning.
There is so much to love.
Agreed on all counts! So many of these antique pieces are just exquisitely made, and it's crazy to think that most people knew how to make things like that. It's a (mostly) lost art.
@@LadyRebeccaFashions
When you look at the workmanship. It is mind blowing. To get that now, you have to pay many thousands. And then, of course, the garment is kept and treasured. Which is why perhaps the one you have is available.
But, the difference is expensive modern gowns are usually only worn once or twice. Where is historical gowns were worn multiple times. Altered, or passed down. Lasting many years. The workmanship proved it's worth.
As I said earlier. I would love to watch over the shoulder of the seamstress.
With all our modern equipment we don't produce that functional yet beautiful workmanship today.
Your videos are important.
Thanks for going to the effort if making them.
Yeah, the fast fashion industry today is really quite a shame. And thanks!
OMG, so happy it went to a good home !
Right? I'm glad someone didn't buy it thinking they could wear it to a ren faire!
That was a super cool find. Thank you for sharing.
I love seeing these!
Hi Rebecca! Thanks for posting this. I appreciate hearing your take on how these garments might have been constructed and what you find unusual and/or super special. More, please!
Yay, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I will definitely share more! 😊
What a lovely piece! I'm currently making a 1895 bodice (for a ball gown, but still), so it was really nice to see so many details on this one, thanks for sharing!
Thank you! I hope you share lots of pictures of your gown when it's done!
Wow, what a fantastic steal!!
Right?! I love finding weirdly mislabeled pieces.
Just recently found your videos in my recommended list.....love them! I've been reading your Diary of a Costumer blog for the past few years. Its been enjoyable and fascinating to watch your process for making the historical garments you have. Please continue to share with us your collection of extant period clothing. It's interesting to see how things were done back then.
I'm glad you found me on here! I need to do a better job of keeping up with my blog - I've definitely been slacking lately. And don't worry, I'll have another video like this coming out in a couple weeks!
I just purchased a 1890s bodice I’m so excited and it looks to be in really good condition ahhh
Ooh, exciting! Do you have any others in your collection too, or is it your first piece?
Lady Rebecca Fashions first piece, and definitely not the last
@@evec6751 That's so exciting! :)
Reminds me of the time I scored an amazing 100 year old quilt for $10! It’s been passed in the family and the owner didn’t want it because it was stained. 🙄 I almost passed because the colors made me think it was a re-creation.
vague eBay listing are really where the good deals are lmaooo. I got a gorgeous green silk bodice for 27€ not a long time ago lol. Such a gorgeous piece you got, really love the details and color!
Ooh, that sounds fantastic! And yes, I almost feel like the more vague (or off) the better, especially since those usually come at the best prices!
@@LadyRebeccaFashions I literally got stuff from a listing called "clothes from another time" like ok lmao
That is brilliantly vague! 😆
Hello! I've hust found your channell and I think this kind of videos are great. Please do more :) It's truly fascinating how these authentic pieces we're made. And by hand!
Thank you! I will definitely be doing more - probably one per month. I'm thinking next up will be an Edwardian bodice, since the closures on those are always so fascinating to me.
I love it when we can get these bargains when people don't realise what it is they are selling. My favourite buy was a couple of years ago when I bought a late Victorian bodice - I can't place yet whether it is 1870's, 80's or 90's - but it cost me a whole English £5.00!!! Ridiculous!! It is quite damaged as there is shredding on the shoulders and the back seam is ripped open and had been badly repaired with some fabric that just didn't match, (It was a modern repair not a period one so I have taken that out), but I love it. I can only assume that it was so unbelievably cheap because of the damage, but I don't care. There is so much about it that isn't damaged, particularly the frill around the bottom and the piece at the back that goes over the bustle.
Great find! And yep, one of my other favorites was also a mislabeled steal.
Love these videos, and what an awesome find!
Yay! I'm so glad you enjoy them!
Thank you I just found your channel and I really enjoyed this video. I wonder if the grommet in the boning was to hold a sweat pad?? I couldn't see, is there one on the other side? Just a thought.
Thank you again
Have a wonderful day and God Bless
Grommets in boning is actually super common! You see it in boning that was manufactured, and I think it was so the bones could easily be "sprung" when they were sewn into the bodices.
Fantastisch 🌸🌸💕
Thank you!
I wonder of the piece in the waist is a watch pocket? It looks like it might be the right size
Do you mean the bit that looks like it should be a waist stay?
That’s kind of similar to how I bought my ca 1899 dress. The pictures were grainy and blurry, with almost no description. Imagine my surprise when it’s a beautiful, in near mint-condition silk faille gown for $60
Wow, that sounds amazing! Was that an eBay find, too?
@@LadyRebeccaFashions Yes. I messaged the seller asking for additional pictures (just to see if I was roughly in the ballpark of correct) and they explained that they were in their 80's and not tech-saavy.
Sorry for a stupid question but what exactly is the definition of a bodice? When I google it I get info on corsets . How is the bodice different from a shirtwaist for example. Was a bodice always boned and was it part of a dress. Sorry for all the questions. I have a 1907 dressmaking book and part of it deals with skirts then other half bodices. The bodice part sounded like instructions for corsets. I’m confused 🤨
Not a stupid question! Bodices, at least historically speaking, are the structured outer garment that goes on your torso. So pretty much anything other than a shirtwaist or blouse, or besides something that is strictly worn as outerwear in addition to the bodice, like a jacket or coat. Everything else would be a bodice!
@@LadyRebeccaFashions Thanks that’s good of you to clarify and very exciting because it means when I finish my skirt I can use my book to teach myself to make a matching bodice. The reason why I was confused is because I’ve only glanced through the bodice section and saw stuff about boning. I am saving all my brain power and effort to work on the skirt section /project. I’ve got a bit of a pot belly and had to work through various mock-ups to find the most flattering gore proportions. I love that there’s people like you around to help and inspire the rest of us. Much appreciated.
what size would the girl have been in this ?
Modern sizes vary so much that it's hard to say for sure, but I checked where a 33 3/8" waist falls on an Old Navy size chart, and it's right between a size L and size XL.
Someone really looked at this and thought "Renaissance peasant top"?
Right? I have no idea how they got there.