Tag: petticoats

This is beginning to become a series, but I think it is good to show the amount of clothes and layers there is to most historic costumes.

Often you only se the gown and can only guess there are some foundation underneath, but exactly how many petticoats do it take to get that special silhuet, and how do you keep warm during coold winter weather.

So this time I will show you the different layers of a mid 19th century woman of everage wealth.

Let’s start fully dressed in: Gown, bonnet, cape and apron.

When you remove the outerwear we got more of a indor look in: Gown, apron and coif.

Then we remove the apron and bodice to find a warming undershirt (should be woolen but I make do with ordenary sporting clothes).

And under the skirt there is a warming quilted petticoat. You can also wear additional petticoats on top of the quilted one for warmth and to ad more widht to the skirt.

Beneath the petticoats there are a hoopskirt and a bumpad – which both helps the skirt to get the desired shape. (I use a modern bridal hoopskirt, but you should really use one made for this purpose).

And as the layer closest to the body we find the chemise, the corset, blomers, stockings and lacing boots.

Because the mid 1800s are a relativly new era to me, I’m still in need of the proper corset and chemsie. But for now, the late Regency (1820-1830) undergarments I do have works just fine.