Getting Dressed in 18th Century Working Class Women's Clothing

[@AdelaideBeemanWhite]

That gown is gorgeous! I’m so glad that you’re shining some light on what working class people would’ve worn. If I lived back then, I wouldn’t have been a queen, I would’ve been some sort of turnip farmer, and I would’ve worn something similar to this.

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

Same!!

[@JenamDrag0n]

I definitely would have worn something like this too since I take care of animals for a living.

[@barbaraferron7994]

What about clothing where we would wear underpants?

[@mastersnet18]

@@barbaraferron7994 it’s healthier without

[@bohemiansusan2897]

I love this. Its not easy to find historical clothing for normal mortals throughout history and deserves a bigger place. Thanks for expanding upon my knowledge. As a dressmaker/tailor/designer, I know about the intricate work of upper class clothing. Being of lower class doesn't mean that these women weren't interested in looking their best.

[@synteis]

I love these working class women's getting dressed videos!

[@BarbieandLana]

I love seeing the paintings of those clothing items during that time!

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

I really like being able to share some of the sources I use for research!

[@homeiswonderland]

Urrrrgh I love it! Give me videos on working class clothing ANY DAY!

[@sapphireseptember]

Such simple pretty clothing! That gown looks lovely, I'd love to wear something like that today. Also does anyone else love elbow length sleeves? I think they're so flattering and practical.

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

I agree! I love elbow length sleeves!

[@sapphireseptember]

@@TheCoutureCourtesan There was a brief period in the early 2000s when they were in, I had a a few tops that had elbow length sleeves with a drape-y bit of fabric hanging down and I LOVED them because they reminded me of Georgian style clothing. Shame I can't find anything similar to them these days! I'd like to have something made for me one day, that's Georgian in style but more wearable for modern times. I once saw a young woman in Oxford wearing a blue flowery dress that looked distinctly Georgian and I thought she looked amazing. (And this was years and years ago.) One thing I like about the Georgian era is that skirts generally aren't so long they're dragging on the floor, which I hate.

[@tymanung6382]

There are a 1) few instructional videos 2) ads for patterns? 3) repro dresses for sale 4) There may be 1700s dances etc events where you could wear that time s dresses Good luck !!!

[@akechijubeimitsuhide]

These look very pretty and wearable! I wish we still had stays and big pockets :D

[@rachelwhite8146]

Incredibly helpful, thank you!

[@eliiuu9597]

im ngl i prefer lower class' attire rather than the more decorated gowns and fashion of the higher class. it just is.. better in my eyes

[@lindseyfoster2912]

Fantastic as ever; I love your use of period imagery to show your references. If only movies and tv represented the past as vibrantly as it was! Thanks for this video :)

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

Thank you! :3

[@happygardener28]

I do appreciate the deeper research you've done in presenting this facet of historical life. We need to relearn what our ancestors took for granted and and didn't record in any great depth, thus causing the knowledge to be lost. Ruth Goodman found through her research for the Tudor Farm and Tales from the Green Valley that women often had two aprons a wool one, which would not be as quick to burn, and either linen, nettle fiber (the very poorest) or later cotton. Clothing was resold, inherited (often to be reworked into newer styles), or "gifted' to servants and in many cases any extra fabric would be reused in children's clothing or accessories like pockets or caps.

[@nisaba5752]

This is my absolute FAVORITE video of all the historic costume videos of literally *all* the channels! I can actually see what my ancestors wore 😊 and you makes it so *real!* I love the period music in the background, too. I hate the generic "how-to" peppy music that's in a lot of costuming videos😁 Great job showing pictorial references,and I had time to actually *look* at the paintings & drawings before you cut back to the outfit. Thoughtful editing really does make a difference! 😏 Lol sorry for carrying on. Fabulous video,well done! 🌟💗

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate hearing what you like about the videos so I know what to keep doing or do differently!

[@azrani2023]

I absolutely agree on that. While the video is short in itself and still shows different varieties on the subject, it didn't make me feel rushed, like some other videos do. I absolutely love the video too. wish I could give it more than one thumsb up :)

[@emmahardesty4330]

Absolutely beautiful and appealing. So nice to see "ordinary" clothing for a change. They also seem to be perfectly constructed--good job, truly, on all counts. Also appreciate your no-frills commentary.

[@eminemma]

Loved this video! I find videos about working class clothing so much more relatable since most people wouldn't have been able to afford anything extremely fancy back then

[@joanhelenak]

This makes me so grateful for buttons 😅 This bright so much life to illustrations, thank you very much!

[@misssmith7225]

You do such a fantastic job! Thank you for adding the historic drawing references too. ❤

[@nblmqst1167]

Thank you for the working class clothing information. I prefer it to more elaborate upper class clothing.

[@RainyDayBricks]

I so enjoy these working class videos, please keep making them

[@susanhillis5952]

The fit on the jacket is chefs kiss glorious, all of the outfits were/are beautiful but I’m drooling over that jacket

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

Thank you! I used the JP Ryan pattern and modified it.

[@emb21982]

Thank you, this video was so informative!

[@stainedglassprairie]

Seeing the layers and colors that go into clothing is amazing and so educational. I am very happy I know color was a thing if you weren’t uber rich!

[@healinghousefarm5562]

Working classsss woooop!!!! So beautiful

[@pinkmeetsred2459]

I was wondering, where did you get a pattern or reference for the bed gown been wanting to make one for a while but are a bit of a beginner in historical sewing. Do you have some sources you’d like to share ? 😄

[@Rotten_Ralph]

Burney and Trowbridge have a download pattern with their sew along series. That’s where I got mine at least.

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

I'd definitely check out the Burnley and Trowbridge pattern and sew along videos!

[@carriescostumescrochet]

I love that you show a variety of looks. I've never really been interesting in 18th century costuming, but you're making me thinking about it. There were some of these looks I really like.

[@noodlesauce2553]

I love the mixing of color and patterns! It's so bright and interesting

[@ThinWhiteAxe]

When it comes to history, I've always been most interested in how the average person lived/dressed during various periods. Thank you for this little series!

[@esm1817]

I keep coming back to this video. I want to make myself some warm skirts for winter that don't bunch around the lower leg. Came back to this video to figure out that I need a structured petticoat for this look. Turns out I was onto something with my plan to cinch a ribbon through one of my old quilts and wear it around for warmth! Glad to know this is historical and I'm not nuts! ❤

[@skjaldulfr]

Always so many pins.

[@thepinnapleunderthesea]

This is my favorite 18th century clothing tutorial!!!!

[@nerkdurgen5574]

remember when styles stayed popular for decades and not seasons

[@nancyring8104]

So glad that I found your channel!! I am *much* more interested in working class clothing and your videos are very informative!!❤️

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

Thank you so much!

[@ailsadixon408]

These garments are so beautifully made, what an incredible set of skills. Thank you for sharing

[@chrisyork5376]

Great video depicting what the vast majority of ladies would have worn back in the day. Thanks Samantha!!!

[@ladylensvera5947]

This is perfect! I've been trying to get a reference of this clothing for a character of mine, but all I had been getting is richer styles or costume inaccurate styles. Thank you!

[@ShannonMakes]

Omg, I love all the outfits, and it's so nice to see the working class version of all these decades! I have a sincere question, because I don't know much about this era - at 1:19, we can see your stays extend a bit higher than your shift... does it rub or cause any friction, where the skin isn't covered by the shift? Great video!!

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

Thank you! My shift got tugged down too far when I turned the stays around 😅It usually sits higher in the back and covers more of me! But the stays are fitted comfortably so that they don't rub there anyway.

[@ShannonMakes]

@@TheCoutureCourtesan Yes, makes sense! Thanks for improving my understanding of another time period.🥰

[@jazzedaboutcheese]

Those stays are gorgeous 😍

[@WhiteHeather82]

I really love your round gown! The striped fabric is lovely.

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

Thank you! I absolutely couldn’t resist it when I saw it. My husband has a jacket made from it too!

[@sarahburke8955]

All of your pieces are so beautiful, I wish I could wear something similar every day! Thanks for the informative and aesthetic video!

[@terrysuemakesvideosforyou9940]

Such nice videos! I have been looking for the working class clothing! Did you know that some Amish people still hold their dresses together with strait pins? It make sense as their clothes haven't changed much. Thank you for all of your hard work making these historical clothes.

[@penelope-oe2vr]

Those stays are absolutely gorgeous 😍

[@raraavis7782]

I love the last outfit...very pretty. Those red cloaks are really something.

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

They are so striking and iconic! I always feel like Little Red Riding hood!

[@usedlamp1]

Been going through you're videos of 16th to 18th century clothing as I have a university assignment that involves this era and I'd like to say that these videos are some of the best resources out there. Really gives an thorough look into the clothes and style that were seen in working class women. Super helpful!

[@toadhalltea122]

Another great video! I loved that you showed so much variety and added the primary source images!!

[@JessieCochran37]

I love researching and looking at historical clothing of the common working class men and women of different eras, they're so under-represented. Thanks for uploading this video! As always, beautiful work, love the outfits.

[@raineyleblanc9817]

That gown is so adorable! I love the kerchief!

[@pirateninjaunicorn666]

You provide so much information and detail, not to mention your stunning costumes. I really love your videos!

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

Thank you!

[@princessmoonbeam0719]

Me and my mom love watching your videos. Thanks for all your hard work.

[@kellsbells7478]

Stripe matching on the back of the round gown is on point! Stunning clothing and so informative!!

[@mokster5]

Thank you, it was great to see how you pinned the jacket! I've just gotten my first living history job and I haven't been able to get the jacket front looking right. Granted the whole outfit, including stays, is borrowed, so that is doubtless part of the problem!

[@elizabethclaiborne6461]

Excellent explanation. Really sweet dressmaking too!

[@unorthodeux]

I love your videos! They provide such an insight into the wonderful fashions from eras past. I'd like to see what a working class woman would've worn in the mid-Victorian era (1850s/60s).

[@carolyng5235]

Thank you so much for this wonderful video! So much useful information on cut and fabrics, along with contemporary images! Much love!

[@alaskacosplay]

The jacket and skirt combo or striped gown, if made in blue and had no sleeves so the chemise sleeves would be showing, would make a beautiful townsfolk Belle cosplay and I am definitely making one for myself as a comfy cosplay.

[@TimesmithDressHistory]

Superb. Absolutely superb. These are the high standards more people need to see!

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

Thank you so much!

[@sarahmwalsh]

Wonderful video! I love how each garment gets a reference image, and that yours are inclusive of the diverse populations in the Americas and British Colonies. That's so important to see! On a different topic, it looks like most working class women did not use much if any hip padding or hoops. Is that because they would have gotten in the way, or because of fabric economy, or something else?

[@moritzmartini4132]

I privately for myself make a "movie Journal" where I write down my own casting, costume and story ideas for various ideas. Right now I´m doing Disney live action Little Mermaid in an 1830s south italian setting and this is very helpful for getting an idea what her blue peasant dress could look like XD ^^

[@spicysith9627]

A bedgown! I'd never heard of those before, and they are as elegant and comfortable as plain kimonos! Whoa... mind is spinning...

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

They are super comfortable! I would definitely incorporate them into my modern clothing!

[@mirkivi3931]

Such stunning outfits and a really helpful and educational video! I love this series!

[@eric3844]

Once again, another wonderful video! Thank you again for consistently and excellently bringing to light the clothing and styles of the common people. Also - any chance for a video focusing on clothing of the 19th century?

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

Thank you! I plan to do 1870s-80s eventually! Currently working through what’s already in my wardrobe before doing period I haven’t made yet.

[@emilyrln]

This is exactly the information I need for my 18th century romance novel!! Thank you for the detailed rundown! (No divided drawers yet? Will research that topic 😂)

[@princessedecosse]

Can you recommend any resources for working women’s hairstyles? I have been struggling to find a good image, as it’s usually hidden under caps. Thank you for this lovely video! So helpful.

[@honey_seafoam3536]

Stunning!! What patterns were used for the stays and the tan jacket? They look beautiful!!

[@ArunaRam69]

Thank you for focussing on working class women. Would appreciate information on how much an outfit would cost and who bore the cost. Your costumes are very well made. Please just one thing... Smile,..

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

I just saw a video on the secondhand clothing markets in Africa, using donated American clothing. I was surprised when a local vendor said the most wanted items are bras. Now I will donate my old bras, I never thought anyone would want them. The brassiere, of course, replaced the corset in the 20th C. for bust support.

[@Lilyannaluv]

Another working class video, love love love ❤

[@rachelleggett1634]

Thank you for sharing this! I’ve been thinking about making an 18th century working woman’s costume as my first historical costume project and this is really inspirational. 😍

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

Thank you! I hope you have fun with your project!

[@rachelleggett1634]

@@TheCoutureCourtesan Thank you!

[@sweetlorikeet]

Those stays are so gorgeous, I wish they were available for purchase somewhere T_T

[@tymanung6382]

Very interesting ! For more variety, could you show rest of W Europe, E Europe, C and S America,Caribbean. if they were different Thank you.

[@esther983]

Okay I’m doing the pocket thing. Loooooohve it.

[@nancykujda299]

Enjoyed your video. Can you tell me did you make your stay or was it purchased from a historic vendor? To make looks very time consuming.

[@NoviceStitcher]

your tailoring is fantastic. it must have taken you years to learn such precise fits

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

My question: if you have seen the recent Poldark series, what do you think of Demelza Poldark’s everyday costumes? They are mostly plain, separate linen or wool skirts and bodices. I think they are maybe a bit more working class then would be chosen for a woman of her new status as a gentleman’s wife. Elizabeth Poldark’s in contrast, are virtually all silk gowns, which might be a little too aristocratic for everyday gentlewomen’s dress. They are essentially of the same social status, although from different milieux. Is this too great a contrast, in your expert opinion?

[@yasmeenkendall6605]

I love the shift with the gathered sleeves! Is there a pattern for it? Or a pattern you were inspired by?

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

Larkin and Smith used to have a pattern for this style but I don't think it's available anymore! 😔But my friend Cait has a tutorial for this style of shift! kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2K5hKx_jb-CrJI

[@yasmeenkendall6605]

@@TheCoutureCourtesan okay, thank you for letting me know! I’ll check it out! 😊

[@rebekah-chriss-k4872]

Awesome stuff :D

[@sewingsoprano]

Your videos are so helpful! As a newbie, I've been wondering thoughout the video: didn't working women wear bum rolls/false rumps/etc. too, and also, how long would their (under)petticoats have been? Thank you so much for your good work!

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

Thank you! I haven’t found much evidence for working women wearing bum rolls/false rumps. For example, “Instructions for Cutting Out Apparel for the Poor” from 1789 lists garments to clothe a poor woman from head to toe and no bum roll/false rump is given. Under petticoats seem to be no longer than ankle length, often a bit shorter.

[@sewingsoprano]

@@TheCoutureCourtesan Thank you for the info!

[@trillium7582]

So interesting! The hemline is higher than I would have thought, was that the style for everyone, or specific to working women's needs? And do I understand correctly that the blue petticoat was sometimes an under layer, and sometimes the top layer? Your working class women's dress videos are fascinating, I'm binging them all.

[@lady_sir_knight3713]

The hemline is indeed the specific choice of a working woman. You see it all the time in prints and engravings of lower-class women, as well as photographs when cameras become available. Fashionable women's skirts were brushing the tops of their shoes. Petticoat was the word for anything we'd call a skirt, under or outer layer. Some were meant strictly for one or the other, but the smaller your wardrobe budget, the more likely you'd be to pick something that could pull double duty. In winter, if you didn't own lots of warm underlayers, you'd simply wear as many petticoats/skirts at once as you liked (or owned).

[@infamoussphere7228]

This is wonderfully put together! I'm wondering about the ease of the sleeves - the bodice fits very closely but it looks like there's a lot of room in the armscye and excess fabric in the sleeves. Does that help with being able to move the arms around? What kind of arm mobility do you have in this garment?

[@Postmark3]

How would you access the pocket if it is under several layers of clothing? Was it okay to just dig your hand into your skirt to get something out of the pocket?

[@amberandrews6692]

I'm assuming that aprons and kerchiefs weren't required?

[@deborahmelo7993]

Really nice!

[@emmamarentette]

Another wonderful video, thank you! I find these really useful as I am mainly interested in making working women's dress. I am about to start on 18th century stays, using the redthreaded Georgian pattern, and am very on the fence about whether to make them front or back lacing, with or without straps, as I have read all sorts of contradicting feelings about this on the internet. Is your preference for strapless and back lacing personal, or the mot common type of stays for working women? I do feel that in museum collections there are more back lacing than front lacing stays, so I'm torn.

[@minuatri2565]

Love ur content!

[@khazermashkes2316]

I love learning about what ordinary people wore!

[@puggirl415]

I loved the jacket and the cloak but especially the wrap around top. I'm obsessed with making a Sontag but haven't been able to find the crochet pattern I want to use. Did you make the wrap around top and do you have a link to a pattern for it? Great work - new sub:) oops I should have read the description first.

[@ryanmclean1620]

I know I am very late and likely won't get a response, but @ 1:39, you tie the pocket into place but then put several layers over top of this. How exactly would you access this without removing the layers you have covered over it? Having a pocket makes sense, but I've also seen videos where 18th century women carried baskets. Putting that aside, I am just having a difficult time envisioning a way to access this that isn't immodest.

[@lilyn7497]

I'm late too but all the layers have a slit to access it

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

Is the bed gown cotton? I want to make one!

[@laurabuche5191]

Hi! Recently arrived to your channel and loving it. As a Spanish speaking person (and knitter), I keep finding the word worsted refered to a kind of woollen fabric, could anybody tell me it's characteristics, please? Is there a more modern term to refer to it?

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

Worsted yarns are made from long staple wool fibers, and a fabric made from worsted yarns is a worsted fabric, although that could be anything from a tropical suiting to a flannel. There's a good explanation of worsted here: thedreamstress.com/2014/08/terminology-whats-the-difference-between-worsted-woollen-wool-fabrics/

[@laurabuche5191]

@@TheCoutureCourtesan oh! I will read it! Thank you very much!!!

[@laurabuche5191]

@@TheCoutureCourtesan I read it. It's great and very clarifying. Thanks again

[@karynwith-a-y6686]

Usually "worsted" wool refers to a tightly woven wool with a twill weave.

[@barbaraferron7994]

What about a skirt over the blue linen petticoat? I thought petticoats we're under garments.

[@katesmyth4839]

Why was everything fastened with pins? Did they not have buttons and button holes?

[@alissameeker]

I think they used pins because it made the garments more adjustable 😊

[@amandastout1948]

Women get pregnant, bloat, change jobs from more sedentary to less sedentary (and vice versa), stress-eat or stress-fast----and they did so back then as well. We have stretch pants, elastic waistbands, and five dollar pants on the Wal-Mart sale rack. A working-class woman of the eighteenth century had maybe a couple of outfits, no matter what her body was doing. When she had a cold or allergies, she also had little access to anything effective against it, short of a peppermint tisane or a hot toddy. A working class woman's clothing had to accommodate these things. So it was very adjustable.

[@Twistedstar0320]

Do all those layers get hot? It seems so stifling.

[@peachykeen5253]

I see in some of ur reference photos that women wore stays while working. Was that a common practice? Wouldn’t they want to protect that garment?

[@Devanrealness]

Love it!❤

[@aw04tn58]

May sound silly, but could you show us the full process of lacing yourself into stays solo?

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

I’ll try to do that the next time I put them on!

[@laurar.4484]

I have heard of the bed robe called the banyan. Is that another name for your bed jacket or does a banyan refer to something different? Thanks!

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

A banyan is quite different! For one thing, the bedgown is a female garment and the banyan is male. A lot of historical costumers use "banyan" and "dressing gown" interchangeably, but they were different garments. The banyan is specifically a semi-fitted men's garment for lounging or relaxed wear, whereas a dressing gown is looser and more like a kimono.

[@laurar.4484]

@@TheCoutureCourtesan Thank you!

[@amandawelker7633]

Why were the cloaks red?

[@BacktheBlue60]

When I was little, I wanted to be alive in the 18th and 19th centuries just for the clothing. Now I'm 63 and it seems like a lot to throw on a t-shirt and shorts!

[@irenejohnston6802]

Buttons were described "proud" in the Harrison Ford film Witness.

[@БатшеваБерезкин]

Очень красивая модель, такой все будет к лицу)

[@katyb2793]

I find it interesting the working class outfits were actually more modest than the upper class. Especially the upper class' evening wear.

[@serg579]

What do you think of Edward Shorter's book "A History of Women's Bodies? He claims that "corsets" were a luxury item that "outside of the aristocracy and urban middle class, very few women ever wore corsets" I find this contradictory to what many fashion historians are saying today.

[@TheCoutureCourtesan]

Yikes that's not supported by actual evidence at all... Along with hundreds of images of working women wearing stays and corsets, a quick look at inventories, wills, newspaper ads, and tons of other written sources would show that working class women wore stays and corsets throughout history!

[@serg579]

@@TheCoutureCourtesan thank you so much! I really appreciate your response. I find that book to be very unsettling, to say the least. To think that it’s on Harvard.edu website....yikes, indeed

[@TimesmithDressHistory]

My studies in History have forced me to become somewhat familiar with Shorter's work. Far too much of his published work seems to be an outlet for unsubstantiated opinions! This is only one of many egregious claims he has put out there. I do think he puts stuff out there deliberately to provoke responses. The bad news is, his writings can and do perpetuate some really shocking prejudices. And too many of his academic peers are of similar demographic* and respond to his work with "oh, really? I hadn't thought much about XYZ.... glad he's looking into that [because I'm sure not going to!]... good for him". The good news is, his writings spur young female historians to push back robustly on a lot of it! But really, he creates a hell of a lot of extra work for us/them, which makes me angry. * See also Lawrence Stone. Gah!