Dressing up in a 1865 Ballgown

Dress and hair: Nikita Ivanovsky
Model: Elena Safronova
Video: Olga Akulich
Crinoline by Anton Priymak

[@acertainhuman9726]

people need to bring back ballroom parties so all of us could wear 1800’s gowns and spin everywhere

[@xavierob]

there are actually many groups with people who are passionate and enthusiastic about past periods who organise historical balls where you'd come dressed in outfits of a particular period in history. You just need to look for them ;).

[@user-by1gn5tg7j]

@@xavierob TELL ME WHERE. MY LIFE WILL NOT BE COMPELTED 🥺

[@nolabelsneeded17]

Avalon ball in los angeles. I'd imagine there are many others like it!

[@maeleelouise5608]

Rt, pls i wanna be a princess 😭😭😭

[@Olga_Ovechkina]

Look for the historical reenactors and historical dance schools. There are lots of them all over the world!

[@normabumbaugh6929]

I’ve never been so thankful for zippers in my entire life!

[@liebemoi_please7777]

Fun fact! Zippers haven't even been on our clothes regularly for 100 years!! They only started becoming popular on clothes in 1925, I believe

[@MLMLW]

Lol!! I know, right? 🤣😂

[@Creatorsan]

Those things are lifesavers.

[@aubreyfrost8163]

Or jeans!😅😂

[@laureenchristensen9622]

And pants

[@janazivkovic6472]

But like...i would lowkey wear this-

[@Creatorsan]

I'd only wear it to prom or a Victorian themed wedding :/ But.. nah I wouldn't wanna ruin the dress.

[@toni-annlynch1121]

Me too

[@mayrasanchez4348]

If only I can wear it 😭😭

[@doomsday4357]

@@Creatorsan Bro, I would wear this when going to the store, if just to piss people off.

[@iluvlana4ever]

@@Creatorsan same hah

[@omega4244]

Imagine having to go to the bathroom with all that on, that would be a nightmare

[@lucasmcinnis5045]

If you used a toilet, you would face the wall part and lift your skirts in the front. There were no underwear that covered the crotch, only skirts or crotchless drawers, which you could spread apart with your hands. Thousands of women did it throughout History.

[@lucasmcinnis5045]

@the super family ost Women dressed themselves all the time. This was just for the video so she could stay still

[@wenkachan6180]

@@lucasmcinnis5045 and if you were rich, you had someone to help you

[@shevaunhandley1543]

Check Prior Attire out. She has a couple of videos on this very subject.

[@theamydim]

@the super family ost u can't...dress urself? not every single person had a maid back then, working class dressed themselves up, the upper class had at least one person to help them dress up, but c'mon, i'm quite sure it's not impossible if so many ppl did it

[@Blue-rl5dp]

Goodness, I see a lot of questions regarding "bathroom" duties in a dress like this. Allow me to describe... There is a piece of furniture called a wash stand. It has a flat space to accommodate a basin and pitcher for washing. Often there's a mirror on the back. Below is a cupboard. Open this cupboard and there is a "close stool" inside. Again, this is a wood furniture looking item sometimes called a commode. In richer houses it's very nicely carved and polished. Usually round, but could be hexagon or even square. There's a handle on the front so you can slide it out of the cupboard into the room as far as you'd like. From fairly early on they actually had wheels. You slide the stool out and lift the hinged lid. Inside is a chamber pot. The lady backs up to the stool, lifts the back of her skirts and petticoats, and drops them behind the stool so that it is under the skirts with her legs. Then she lifts one side of her skirts and, as she sits, uses her hand to be sure that the split crotch of her drawers opens wide enough to avoid soiling. Then she does her business. After applying use of a drying cloth she stands, lifts the back of the skirts again, and steps away. A properly oiled hinge to the lid will let the trailing edge of her skirts drag closed the lid behind her, otherwise the maid will take care of everything. With no immediate maid present a proper lady will nudge the stool (or commode) back into the cupboard with her foot, but leave the door open to indicate to an arriving maid that disposal is needed. Any cloths used are dropped into a basket left for such purpose. Once permanent indoor plumbing was invented guest toilet facilities were normally further from the wall than they are these days specifically to accommodate hoop skirts. Some modern wedding venues I've seen are still this way with a toilet one or two feet forward from the wall so that wedding dresses can be dropped down behind the pot instead of bunched up behind.

[@elizabethcherry3933]

Such a helpful comment, thank you! I'm a historic fashion enthusiast to a degree and this is so cool!

[@Blue-rl5dp]

@@elizabethcherry3933 The question kind of answers itself once you've seen the antique furniture and know "Oh, that's a potty!". Even with bustles or rushed and bowed backs on the dresses or long trains you can see you need only approach the close stool sideways instead of backwards because lifting the back hem up and over is more complicated.

[@debmacie1612]

Yes, and often times they approached the commode from the front. Just raising the front edge of the gown And sitting down by straddling the seat . When finished, stand and back away. I watched a you tube about this awhile back. That is why they had the type of underwear that had no underneath bottom seam. Nothing had to be pulled down to access the important anatomy. That might have been on Bernadette Banner’s site, or Foundations Revealed.

[@leticiapaulinaolguinnavarr2243]

Wow!! Thanks so much for the explanation. Very interesting and enlightening!!!

[@Blue-rl5dp]

@@debmacie1612 That would be the easiest in a dress that had a lot of pleating or bows and such down the back. But most times ladies were not encouraged to spread their legs apart- as exampled with side saddles. Even when I was little my Grandma got all grumpy over the girls sitting straddle on a rail fence while we watched the calves. Even in pants we weren't allowed to ride a boy's bike with the central bar to straddle. (And we were far from highfalutin rich ladies.) As far as private relations with a husband... that wasn't talked about nor ever even admitted. lol

[@bethkrager6529]

At first I was confused by the 3 petticoats. Then I realized the 3rd was the gown when you put on the red bodice.

[@Sarah.aerialist]

Me too haha

[@shevaunhandley1543]

I still feel like there should be more to the dress 😂

[@jloubelle]

I was still waiting for an overskirt up to the end!

[@southernbelle8920]

Same as me. I kept waiting for a beautiful red skirt to go on next.I finally realized the last white petticoat was actually the skirt.

[@ah5721]

Same!😅

[@alyupde9337]

I bet this made abstinence easier for the teens. “How do I get this off of you?”

[@alyupde9337]

For any smarty pants, yes I do know that lots of teens were actually married and had children back then.

[@christineewetzker3597]

I think the split drawers didn't help abstinence

[@alyupde9337]

@@christineewetzker3597 very true!

[@erinb4237]

You don't, you lift it. Or make sure she has fun while you hide under her skirt. There's room 😂

[@erinbathie-moore8478]

@@erinb4237 XD

[@glamam3914]

I honestly think the 1800s were so beautiful as far as fashion goes

[@nanad319]

100% agree

[@notavailable1174]

toooootally agree

[@solitarylady_14]

Agreeeee

[@lephung5772]

They are gorgeous, should bring them back

[@velvet3784]

I agree!

[@rainyreverie8550]

Everyone’s talking about how complicated the dress is, I just wanna talk about how beautiful she looks at the end!!!

[@Blue-rl5dp]

I grew up in the 50's. This explains why, even then, nearly everything a woman wore went on over the head. I remember my mother teaching me to dress and asked why I couldn't just step into a poodle skirt and then step into the petticoats that went under it. She was appalled. "Because this is the way it's done." I was told. Even now there are women who pull a modern narrow skirt down over their head instead of stepping into and pulling it up.

[@AgnesIona]

I have to put them over my head otherwise they don't fit over my hips.....

[@Blue-rl5dp]

@@AgnesIona Ah, you carry your weight in the hips. My DlL is that build. I carry mine in the tummy. Skinny little legs and hips but make up for it in tummy. LOL Still, as a six or seven yr old and Mom helping me dress, everything went on over the head because that was what was proper, and no better reason than that.

[@AgnesIona]

@@Blue-rl5dp It is nice to learn the reasons behind so many traditions. So many make sense-at least in their conception.

[@wibblewobble489]

@@AgnesIona How do you wear a skirt if it doesn't go over your hips? Go up a size? I'm so confused LOLOL If you can't step into the skirt then pull it up and fasten it then its too small...or so i was always taught. Over the head is only for dresses.

[@Miranda-js7su]

@@wibblewobble489 if you have a small waist but big hips the ones you can pull over your hips will be way too big in your waist

[@sweetmother2406]

I am clapping for him for doing ALL that lacing up!👏👏👏

[@natasha-ut7si]

@@cloclo2840 He didn't tight lace the corset so she would've been able to breath just fine, and even if he had tight laced she probably still could've breathed, just with slightly more difficulty. And the corset would actually have helped distribute the weight, and the clothing is all made of light enough materials so it wouldn't be too immensely heavy. Just because it's not modern does not mean people didn't think about things other than looks, they did design a lot of clothes with breathing and moving and living in mind, so they made sure people could breathe and move in clothes without too much difficulty.

[@cloclo2840]

@@natasha-ut7si I’m sorry 😓 I don’t really know that much about past clothing

[@natasha-ut7si]

@@cloclo2840 Oh don't be sorry, it's perfectly fine if you don't know very much, a lot of people don't and there's no real reason that they should. Everyone has things they dont know! I'm sorry if my reply seemed like I was angry, I just wanted to tell you because it's a common misconception and it's always nice to learn new things. I hope I didn't sound rude or annoyed, but I if I did, sorry about that!

[@cloclo2840]

@@natasha-ut7si oh it’s truly fine you don’t sound like any of those, I’m just one of those people who say sorry a lot after I think I’ve done something wrong or said something wrong

[@natasha-ut7si]

@@cloclo2840 Oh ok, thanks for telling me, I have a habit of accidentally sounding more annoyed than I am without realizing. I can also be one of those apologetic people so I know what u mean 😅

[@claudia_in_colour1562]

A slow clap for not messing up the beautiful hairdo while putting on all those layers. I cant even put on a T-shirt without messing up my hair!

[@aisa734]

I wanna wear a dress like this before i die 😍

[@foamer443]

Depending where you are, look for local reinactor groups. They may have specific periods, countries or genres they prefer, but it's a place to start looking. Taking an interest in sewing and fashion too.

[@nellielovett7934]

Same

[@jnnakle101]

Me too! That’s why I started making one!!

[@hummingbird9221]

I made such a ball gown as this for my Daughter. 10 yards of material just for the dress. Making all the petticoats was a nightmare! The pantaloons were the easy part.

[@user-th2gb7jr1w]

Same 🌚❤

[@user-zh1oi4uj4t]

НЕТ СЛОВ!!! ОДНИ АПЛОДИСМЕНТЫ!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@user-hg7ls4we6j]

Как же красиво выглядели женщины!!

[@user-hq8rz3kd7j]

Великолепно.Очень понравилась девушка.Руки изумительно красивые.Живой человек,а не скелет,ходящий по подиуму.

[@firefly1277]

Gosh dressing up in 1800s ballgown is literally one of my dreams! The dresses are so beautiful ☺️

[@hanphilnoffz8827]

Well me wearing this is like fuck you to modern weirdo crackhead

[@roxiepoe9586]

It would be delightful to have more information about the gowns. Reproduction? Original? Maker? Both are quite lovely.

[@eleonore59830]

I believe OP made the dress

[@P0nyl0ve]

Description

[@nikitaivanovsky9887]

This dress is made according to the fashionable picture of 1865 :) The author of this dress is me :)

[@yuhracataleya8411]

@@nikitaivanovsky9887 your work is fantastic

[@BabyMieuw]

@@nikitaivanovsky9887 I love your videos and I'm looking forward to see more of your work. As a small suggestion I would like to request if you could add one or more images of the original dresses or the fashionplate that inspired you to make a replica? Thanks in advance. Keep up the good work! :-)

[@pv6450]

Would love to see more close ups of the dress and hair.

[@robertcarter3768]

She is dressed perfectly for a lovely Valentines Ball!!!

[@caroljones151]

Thank you for the glorious music of Tchaikovsky accompanying the video.

[@user-kk2dj3sc9m]

Великолепно! Смотрю и восхищаюсь!

[@user-hu1gv6sv1g]

Это так красиво и грациозно ! Женщина одета ,как женщина...Браво!!!😀

[@amberklaire9419]

Imagine getting home late and having had a few drinks and needing to get this off

[@catrinlewis939]

That's what maids, sisters, and husbands were for.

[@xavierob]

This is fantastic! I'm a very passionate historical dancer and I so miss our beautiful historical balls!

[@malena5026]

Right?! I dont know why we stopped with the balls

[@xavierob]

@@malena5026 well, because obviously it involves prolonged very close contacts so that is clearly not going to be deemed safe.

[@101Sailorfan]

@@xavierob i think Malena meant as a standard tradition, not like right now because of covid.

[@xavierob]

@@101Sailorfan ooooh ok, thanks for helping clarify her comment! Then, yes, I really don't know why these balls have become a lot less common, I have become addicted to them; it's so pleasant to have fun in such a refined and elegant way!

[@melodyfussell829]

@@xavierob If you ever host one, call me XD I've always wanted to go to a ball, and junior prom just didn't quite cut it (even though my mom sewed a gorgeous red and black brocade/lace ballgown for me)

[@salvaann1402]

Being depressed at that time not being able to get up and get dressed must have been even more hell than it already is.

[@MLMLW]

Nah. They just put on one layer of skirting instead of 3. 😉

[@ah5721]

Not if you had a maid...

[@reginanoptii500]

I really want a corset soooooooo much right now!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@abbasturd]

I would love to wear one of these at least once in my life.

[@user-hf4mq8xv1k]

Красота наземная прелесть

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

Show this to your boyfriend the next time he complains about you taking too long to get ready for a night out. 😂

[@sophmv16]

Most women have had the opportunity to dress up like this at least once in their lives. Either at their wedding or a quinceanera. It is magical that day. That man did a wonderful job.

[@FlexibleFlyer50]

Getting dressed was no mean feat! Looks were everything. Il faut souffrir etre belle!

[@staceycandy]

Как красиво!

[@blancabautista8448]

I wanna wear this to the market. "Bow before me peasants!" 😂

[@nightmaremermaidanimations5649]

That Ball gown is gorgeous

[@user-th5hb8hv1t]

Всегда мечтала о прекрасном платье

[@lenaAlena-hh9iu]

Какая красота!

[@vivit3073]

Красиво,но внутри все прело и жарко,и тяжело все это было носить

[@Olga_Ovechkina]

@@vivit3073 Интересно, что те, кто пробовал такое носить, никогда не говорят, что что-то прело. Потому что знают, что это не так. А вот те, кто не пробовал и не знает, вечно кричат, как это было ужасно 😂

[@kayvonfoerster8436]

What an amazing gown and a beautiful young lady. Wow.

[@Ipaziamedico]

Wow! My compliments, Nikita, for your performance and your agility with you dress the girl! It's always a entertainment ti see all this kind of dresses!

[@frankcohen3069]

It's good that it only takes 3:01 to get dressed, and to such lovely music too. hehe

[@marycornwell2818]

notice how she doesn't literally die when the corset is put on please take notes, costume designers for 19th century movies

[@heyitsbells]

now i want to see her walk across a long room-

[@dmonaco1979]

Gorgeous dress, I'll never complain again whenever I need to dress up...

[@orsolaneri4246]

I swear I am learning how to sew just to change my whole closet to period fashion. As a side note this dress is so well made and beautiful if only there is a pattern on how to make it would be incredible

[@karenwright9123]

Just gorgeous!!!

[@escuela.conectarte]

Amazing and beautiful work!!!

[@Outlander_]

Какие молодцы !!!!

[@claudiamund-cooper8595]

Very practical. Those dressses doubled up as dancing floor sweepers. So Ladies of Leisure made themselves useful after all.

[@katerinakiakou1797]

Can you please do a tutorial on the hair?

[@nikitaivanovsky9887]

I will try to:)

[@katerinakiakou1797]

@@nikitaivanovsky9887 Thank youuu!! :)

[@janatrush]

I love it. Очень красиво! 🥰

[@Banjo362]

That must have been a lot of fun. This video is teaching me a lot.

[@user-by3uq1ch7c]

С ума сойти! Но красиво.

[@imanirivera7801]

I would wear this. It's so pretty

[@justacutie.]

Love it❤️🥺❤️ I really like fashion of that time periods, my problem is where would I use stuff like that 😔😥 maybe I'll try for my wedding... Can't wait to see more! Wish you well

[@camillaaston2495]

You could probably find reenactments near you! If you have a Dickens Festival near you, you could wear something like this.

[@justacutie.]

@@camillaaston2495 I'm afraid where I live there isn't 😥(Portugal) or I never heard of it, may need to try and find. But thank you very much for the reply. Keep well♥

[@camillaaston2495]

@@justacutie. I’m sorry to hear that! I wish you luck in finding fancy dress parties or places to post on social media if you pursue your interest in wearing historical fashion.

[@alesmuron8613]

This dress is soperfectly made ... super !

[@merindymorgenson3184]

That dress is gorgeous and the color suits her so well!

[@yesiamyes2403]

I wouldn't be able to stand for as long as they do. I would most definitely pass out😆 props to the both of them they have legs is steel

[@honeylemon3081]

BROOOOO! This is the same song to the opening of my recital for my dance studio!! Whaaaat?!?!

[@floofgirl]

Yes it’s a very common song I’ve done ballet since 2012 and I probably have listened to this song about 20 times a day I’ve performed with the song about 18 times and it plays all day in my head O-O

[@floofgirl]

@navya bohra yeah I did

[@dianebenker3072]

That gown is so generous!!

[@moanajasmin5272]

She looks like a Princess 😍🤗

[@lcv3837]

Queria ter nascido nessa época pra usar desses vestidos.

[@nicolakunz231]

Just watched both your videos and was delighted. Did you make the chemise and the drawers as well, I'm assuming they are split drawers. I'd love a tutorial.

[@emmanord6814]

Finding/making a dress like this (and finding/making an occasion to wear it) is SOOOO on my bucket list

[@aivlysolleicled9771]

I am serious, I must simply have one. STUNNING GRAZEFULL

[@DaijaWatson]

My recommend really said ....you like fashion, you like history? Here ya go!

[@yippee8570]

The music is perfect. I wanted to see you waltz

[@humanbeing8338]

That is one hell of a beautiful ballgown!

[@user-uo9kq9fw4l]

Красота!!!Всегда было интересно из чего сотворены эти красивые пышные платья.

[@mariarodrigues1638]

Elegância 😍

[@sandieserrano2425]

When I got married in 1985 my dress was 7 layers..4 in the petticoat. And 3 in the dress and yes going to the bathroom was not easy

[@chubbybunny6975]

That's because your dress was all petticoats and no cage. The caging provides volume without needing as many layers, in-turn making the dress lighter, easier to walk in, and cooler to wear as the layers of skirt are not against your legs, but held away from your legs, letting in airflow, and thus making going to the bathroom and dancing, easier.

[@setting-sun67]

That dress is stunning.

[@Christina_Angel_2024]

OMG, I always loved such dresses🤩😍

[@mysticmusical]

How many layers would you like? Victorian Era: YES

[@MsVonruffy]

Thank you - I really enjoyed this presentation. The model looks absolutely beautiful but imagine the combination of tight corsets, multiple layers of clothing, packed ballrooms, dancing, little if any food and it is no wonder ladies of this time often fainted.

[@mom2natopotato]

Can you imagine dressing like this in the summer in Mississippi? That would be horrendous. I'm sure they had lighter summer weight fabrics, buy I know the corset was a must regardless of weather or season.

[@swimnwfishes]

In Kentucky they have re-enactment balls. You MUST dress appropriately for the period, which means, do not show up in a 1865 day dress for the Ball. They will have a fit if you do and I’ve heard entry may be denied and you certainly won’t be invited the next year.

[@lizv5750]

Really stunning gown and model

[@shondawarren3673]

Oh the layers & the heat! Yikes lol. Great Video

[@sisuguillam5109]

The hoop helps to keep everything cool, as does the linen chemise. Natural fibres in general regulate temperatures extremly well. I own a wool- silk mix dress and have worn it on a very hot day. I was the only one that wasn't sweating buckets.

[@shondawarren3673]

@@sisuguillam5109 after you mentioned the loop I thought "makes obvious sense" lol

[@sisuguillam5109]

@@shondawarren3673 😁

[@reginanoptii500]

OMG, she looks just so ... PERFECT!!!! 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 I really want all girls to dress exactly like this!!! 😍 Who agrees with me? 👇 (I hope everyone has a wonderful day! 😊🤗😘)

[@tat-yanayana7948]

Красота, страшная сила.....!

[@floral2875]

Looks like a pretty ballgown you would wear to a christmas ball!

[@howtooperatewithabrokenmin689]

Honestly losing my mind because part of the under skirt thingy wasn’t smoothed out and he just covered it with more stuff without fixing it 😩

[@Olga_Ovechkina]

Perfectionism 😆

[@PatriciaHummel]

I thought the same thing!

[@thifa5041]

One thing that I'm always curious about: How did these women are expected to sit?

[@catrinlewis939]

The cage crinoline collapses up behind. You just need to remember to leave room for it.

[@chubbybunny6975]

The cage is flexible and bends, you just gotta leave room behind you and the back of your chair when you sit. This is why a lot of women in photos at that time are sitting close to the edge of their chairs

[@catrinlewis939]

@@chubbybunny6975 And it's good for your posture.

[@brendamoody4829]

How elegant!!! LOVE it!!! Also I now understand why fainting couches were popular!!! Lol

[@violetv9037]

Can u imagine wearing those beautiful dresses every day

[@duchess8762]

Born in the right time for female rights, but born in the wrong time for fashion.

[@kailavanderwielen3588]

easily rectifiable with enough hoop skirts. i will be wearing one to my in-person college graduation. "if you're crushing my hoops, you're not social distancing! move back, move back, peasantry!" *sniffs in aristocracy* just have to figure out how to alter my graduation gown enough....

[@sisuguillam5109]

@@kailavanderwielen3588 great idea!

[@kindcounselor]

Oh my goodness! How did they ever go to the bathroom?

[@sisuguillam5109]

Split drawers... the undies have an open crotch.

[@ravens6286]

@@sisuguillam5109 yes, but lifting all that fabric & the hoops....wow!

[@sisuguillam5109]

@@ravens6286 it looks heavy... but I've been told it's quite easy.

[@pjourneys5337]

So pretty !

[@jingpurple597]

This is beautiful!!!!

[@r.a.silver4768]

I'm so glad we're not wearing this types of clothes anymore imagine being late to work and you have to wear this types or clothes. Or you're meeting your friend, she texted you she's OTW but she's not even dressed yet..

[@vivianarendt7989]

I can’t imagine how you’d go to the bathroom in that gown... I feel claustrophobic just watching the video

[@lucasmcinnis5045]

If you used a toilet, you would face the wall part and lift your skirts in the front. There were no underwear that covered the crotch, only skirts or crotchless drawers, which you could spread apart with your hands. Thousands of women did it throughout History.

[@szewing0923]

@@lucasmcinnis5045 omg how did u know all these

[@camillaaston2495]

They had split drawers. Check out Prior Attire, she’s addressed these things in one or two of her videos.

[@gretchenwebster6641]

Wow-so much work‼️‼️‼️

[@adamamato4889]

Those big dresses are badass

[@Chuck0856]

Except I don't think man would have been her dresser.

[@loonylinda]

How beautiful that dress is

[@TheOtherLewis]

Beautiful and complicated at the same time…but adore it!!

[@herexaltedroyalmajestyquee5638]

Simply gorgeous! Like so many Ladies, I LOVE wearing Crinoline Gowns, especially the very full ones.... Oh, and of course a gorgeous Robe over it! I'll see if I can post some images.

[@ihaveaname4109]

It suits you perfectly. Beautiful.

[@lavimel2591]

Not gonna lie this is beautiful gown😳💖

[@Blimpie1000]

I am not even into women's fashions, but just coming across this one: that is a beautiful ensemble. How many yards of material? Actually stunning; a woman going into a ball wearing this would stop the show!!

[@laurabandy4593]

I mean ignoring the shoes, this dress is amazing!!