Victorian & Civil War Costume Sites
- 1895 Skirt Pattern — From The Costume Gallery.
- 19th c. Actors Photographs — From the University of Washington. A collection of over 600 carte-de-visite portraits of entertainers from the mid- to late-19th century.
- 19th c. Etiquette — Not exactly costume related, but can help you with your persona.
- Abiti Antichi — In Italian. Lots of beautiful pictures of someone's collection of extant clothing from the 18th century through the 1930s. Easy to navigate, even if you can't read Italian. There is one page in English that explains the site.
- 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 — From the website: "A Resource for collectors of period costume." Has timeline, tips, and sells vintage clothing.
- Costumers Manifesto: Victorian Links
- Costumes by Kim — Kim's website with photos of costumes she has created: Renaissance fair through 20th 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 — From the website: "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 Updated! — Free patterns and patterns to purchase. Also tips on fitting, gauging, etc.
- Fashion Plates from The Ladies Pocket Magazine — Fashion plates from an 1834 issue of "The Ladies Pocket Magazine"
- Gentleman's Page, The Updated! — From the website: "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 Book Online — From Univ. of Rochester. Copies of Godeys from January through November 1850.
- Godey's Lady's Book: related links — By Hope Greenberg.
- Grand Ladies New! — Lots of portraits of "grand" ladies from late 15th century through the Belle Epoque, approx. 1914.
- 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.
- History Wardrobe, The — Two ladies who give in-costume presentations on 18th-20th century clothing.
- Hurrah for the Homespun Dress — A site about Confederate homespun dresses, including an in depth examination of a period garment.
- Illustrated History of the Formal Checkered Trousers — Pictures and information about men's clothing, specifically checkered trousers, of the 19th century.
- Karen Vershoor's photo album — Lots of photos from the Galveston Dickens Fair and other historic events.
- Katherine's Dress Site — Regency thru Edwardian, fashion plates, etc. She also has a section of patterns that she has taken from extant garments in her own collection.
- La Couturiere Parisienne: 1800s — Lots of portraits and patterns from the 19th century.
- Ladies Treasury of Costume & Fashion — Victorian & Edwardian articles, patterns, etc. Antique needlework patterns, too.
- Lady's Album of Fancy Work for 1850, The — Book published in 1850 about knitting, netting, crochet, braiding and embroidery.
- Lady's Resource CDVs, The New! — Site with images of CDVs (carte de visite, a 19th century photograph format), tagged by subject
- Lafayette Negative Archive, The Updated! — Tons of photos of Court dress from the late 19th and early 20th century.
- Mass Historia Updated! — Living history/dance site – includes men's Victorian costume page. (was Lively Arts History Association)
- Mrs. Murphy - The Mantua Maker — Sells mid-19th century clothing, but also has photos of extant clothing: dresses, hats, shawls, etc.
- Mustaches of the Nineteenth Century — As the title says, a collection of photographs from the 19th c. of men with mustaches.
- Period Clothing Patterns & Cutting Diagrams — From The Ladies Treasury of Costume & Fashion. Lots of patterns from period magazines.
- Photos of the Devonshire House Ball of 1897 Updated! — 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...)
- Prior and Norris Troupe Photographs — From the University of Washington.
- Roughly date a Victorian/Edwardian Lady — Photos year by year.
- Sewing Academy, The - Forum — Part of Elizabeth Stewart Clark's website, a forum on American Civil War era costuming.
- Stitch in Time, A — 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.
- Vintage Connection, The — "Your guide to historic, vintage, antique & collectible fashions." Lots of great stuff on this site, including old patterns on this site, from original period magazines.
- 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.
- Workwoman's Guide, The — From the website: "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."
- Worshipful Company of Glovers of London - Glove Collection — A collection of gloves from the late 16th c through present day.