Victorian working women

Although fashion did not embrace the look of trousers on the female form until the late 20th century, history saw working women wearing them a hundred years prior. From Victorian coal miners who rolled up their skirts around their waist to reveal soot-covered pants underneath to today’s terrible backlash of factory-torn denim, spandex jeggings, and bedazzled bums, women’s pants have undergone quite a transformation. Let’s take a look at the early fashion of women’s pants from the festooned…

Julia Deane. Photographer: Sarony Studio, NY. @1898

the Chatelaine attached to her belt looks to be so heavy that she needs a reinforced belt!

Back in the day when a shilling was a weeks wages, when even the 'Pure' (Dogs Dung) was a valuable source of income, poor Victorian 'street' people were living by whatever means they could. No homes, no income and no benefit system for support. Thieving, cheating, prostitution and even child selling, were sometimes the only options these unfortunate souls had. Working the most degrading jobs in the world, in the drains, the sewers, cesspits and mortuaries for little or scant reward. ~from…

summertime75.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/victorian-maids-4/

When we think of the Victorian era, we usually think of lace and silks and cashmere shawls, of crinolines and bustles. That’s because rich people can afford to have their portraits painted. T…

Just for fun I dressed up as a Victorian reaper. I’m wearing an antique Victorian or Edwardian linen chemise, my black wool stays, cotton petticoats and a blue cotton skirt. My inspirations were: 1857 painting of a female reaper, 1849 painting of a girl with a rake and a female 1856 Worcestershire reaper. My hairstyle … Continue reading A Victorian Reaper →