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victorian & civil war costume sites

Victorian / Civil War Costume Sites

• 1895 Skirt Pattern — From The Costume Gallery.
• 19th c. Etiquette — Not exactly costume related, but can help you with your persona.
• 19th c. Actors Photographs — From the Univerisy of Washington. A collection of over 600 carte-de-visite portraits of entertainers from the mid- to late-19th century.
  • Prior and Norris Troupe Photographs
• Behind the Simplicity Civil War Collection — Article about Martha McCain and the patterns she created for Simplicity.
• Bustles and Bows — Images from an 1873 "Harper's Bazaar," an 1882 "The Girls Own Paper" and period photographs.
• Cathy's Wee Victorian Fashion Page — A collection of fashion plates from 1830's through 1900's.
• Childrens Clothing Collection — From Wisconsin Historical Society. Images of extant clothing from 1800 through 1990.
• Clothing of the 1830s — Articles and pictures on reproducing clothing of this era.
• Commonwealth Vintage Dancers — Articles and period illustrations for mid-19th century through early 20th century clothing for men and women. Sections on day and evening dress.
• Corsets and Crinolines — "A Resource for collectors of period costume." Has timeline, tips, and sells vintage clothing.
• Costumers Manifesto: Victorian Links
• La Couturiere Parisienne: 1800s — Lots of portraits and patterns from the 19th century.
• Demode: Real Victorian Clothing — Photos from museums of women's clothing from mid-19th century through Edwardian period.
• Demode: Victorian hairstyles — A visual overview, year by year, of hairstyles of the bustle era (1870-1899). Also includes "how to" advice.
• Dictionary of Victorian London — "A guide to the social history of Victorian London." Covers a multitude of topics, including clothing and fashions.
• Digichromatography: Photographs of the Russian Empire — Lots of images taken in the early 20th century of Russian scenery & nobility. Not tons of pictures of people, but interesting none-the-less.
• Dressing Baby, 1850s Style — Nice article with period illustrations, on how children were dressed in the mid-19th century.
• Elizabeth Stewart Clark — Elizabeth specializes in the period 1840-1865. The site has lots of great information about women's and children's clothing from this time span.
  • Elizabeth Stewart Clark - Great Aunt Maude's Compendium — Free patterns and patterns to purchase. Also tips on fitting, gauging, etc.
• Fashion Plate Collection — from Univ. of Washington. Plates from 1806 through 1915.
• Free Patterns — "These patterns are reproduced from original period patterns and from cutting diagrams found in English, French and American publications of the 19th and early 20th centuries."
• The Gentleman's Page — "A Practical Guide for the 19th Century Man." This site, by the Lively Arts History Assoc, has sections on "Behavior," "Attire" and "Resources."
• Godey's Lady's Book — By Hope Greenberg. Full and partial books from 1852 and 1855 through 1858. Site is searchable.
  • Godey's Lady's Books: related links
• Godey's Lady's Book Online — From Univ. of Rochester. Copies of Godeys from January through November 1850.
• Hair lessons from "Girls Own Paper" and "Womans' Magazine" 1911
• Helpful Hints and Timely Tips for Civil War Reenactors — by Fanny and Vera. Has sections on men's, women's and children's clothing. Lots of "quick and dirty" costuming projects.
• Historically Dressed — 19th century plates, pattern & book reviews, etc. Diaries on various projects she's done.
• Hurrah for the Homespun Dress — As of 08/2007, page seems to be gone.
  A site about Confederate homespun dresses, including an in depth examination of a period garment.
• Katherines Dress Site — Regency thru Edwardian, fashion plates, etc
• Karen Vershoors photo album — Lots of photos from the Galveston Dickens Ffair
  • Karen's 1835 Costume — Gorgeous!!
• Ladies Treasury of Costume & Fashion — Victorian & Edwardian articles, patterns, etc. Antique needlework patterns, too.
• The Lafayette Negative Archive — Tons of photos of Court dress from the late 19th and early 20th century.
• Lively Arts History Association — Living history/dance site — includes mens victorian costume page
• The Mantua Maker — Sells mid-19th century clothing, but also has photos of extant clothing: dresses, hats, shawls, etc.
• Photos of the Devonsire House Ball of 1897 — This site has photos taken at a fancy dress ball. Interesting to see the Victorian idea of historic costume! (Site often exceeds its daily bandwidth, so be patient...)
• Roughly date a Victorian/Edwardian Lady — Photos year by year.
• Shooting Star History - Reference Room — By Marna Jean Davis. Articles about Western 19th c. clothing: parasols, gloves, hats, earrings, hairstyles and more.
• A Stitch in Time — Sewing projects by Miss Anna, from a Regency corset to an 1870's bustle gown.
• Stone's Neat Stuff & Emporium — Victorian knitting patterns & buttons.
• Univ. of Washington Fashion Plate Collection — 19th century fashion plates
• Victorian & Edwardian photographs — The Roger Vaugh picture library has over 3000 antique photos, CDVs and postcards.
• Victorian Costuming — Images, pattern reviews, how-to's and resources. Doesn't seem to have been updated since 2001, though.
• What Victorians Wore — An overview of Victorian costume.
• Women's Fashions 1824-1840 — An article about women's dress, with information on fabrics, sleeves and collars, and more.
• The Workman's Guide — "This 1838 masterpiece of domestic instruction for the 19th-century homemaker is highly illustrated with patterns and drawings for hundreds of everyday apparel and household furnishings."

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