How did fashion evolve from 1850-1859? // 1850's Fashion Deep Dive

This video is going to take an in depth look at the fashions of the 1850s, and how they changed year by year from 1850 through 1859. I've been pretty immersed in the 1850's lately, what with the current fashion plate that I'm recreating, and I figured I would share all my in-depth 1850's knowledge with you all!
Check out the pin board containing all these fashion plates here: / crinoline-era
I'm planning to make this deep dive into a new series on my channel, but I want to hear from you. Do you like this style of video? And what decade would you like to see me cover next?
This is the accessories book that I highly recommend: amzn.to/3LUop6I
More to Watch
I'm recreating an 1859 fashion plate: • I'm Recreating an 1850...
Look at how an antique 1860s bodice (which was probably remade from an 1850s bodice) was constructed: • How Were Mid-Victorian...
100 Years of Fashion: • 100 Years of Fashion /...
100 Years of Underwear: • 100 Years of Underwear...
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[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

If you'd like to support my channel, you can join my Patreon! Thank you to all my amazing patrons! www.patreon.com/ladyrebeccafashions

[@clarekuehn4372]

Tiny note: I had to struggle to look up what you said at one point. For a word such as "pelerine", please spell and add a synonymous definition, such as "small cape for covering the shoulders".

[@bajubner]

I think doing these deep dives chronologically by decade would be the best! That way we can follow the changes through time and see how each past decade influences the years to come!

[@AllTheHappySquirrels]

I came here to say the same.

[@ElizabethJones-pv3sj]

I agree, and a quick recap of the last couple of years of the previous decade would be a handy introduction. It's not like the difference between 1859-60 is going to represent a more significant change in fashion than 1856-57 just because calendars changed by 2 digits instead of 1.

[@davidhutchison3343]

Can't wait for the 1860s and the 1880s, two of my favourite decades for fashion. Love this format.

[@LadyDragonbane]

Thank you for giving the 50s some love! It's one of my top favourite decades but it's so rarely covered by the costuming community

[@reneehenderson6134]

My favorite fashion decade was the 1950s. That decade had fashions for everyone, from the little girl, to the young women to the matron.

[@starwarssyl1177]

I am SO EXCITED for this to be a series! I love the idea of going chronologically decade by decade. I'm absolutely in love with bustle gowns so I'm excited for when you get there, but I can wait. This deep dive was fabulous, I love seeing so many different looks that were all simultaneously fashionable, the variation in neckline surprised me. Fashion plates are so pretty! Some of those gowns are just overwhelming in how gorgeous they are!

[@GianniDiLorena]

I follow your channel for some time now, and as a fashion history enthusiast, I just wanna say thank you for the work you put in your videos. Those are always a treat to watch, both for knowledge and your vibrant enthusiasm ! :)

[@barbaraferron7994]

Once in Richmond Virginia I saw a parade of people in Civil war period costumes. I was amazed at how much space the women took up with their crinoline.

[@kimvivian9916]

Love the deep dives!!!! Thank you for representing the plus sized ladies with such enthusiasm!!!! We look just as fine as the petite. Thank you for your wonderfully researched KZbin posts.

[@shadowcat5889]

I'm looking forward to the 1860s

[@911nmg]

First things first, I absolutly adore this video! It went really deep on all the changes and the reason behind some of them. About which decade I'd wish you cover next, how about the 1840s? It doesn't seem to be a very popular decade for costubers and I both wonder why and crave digging into it further

[@feliciamoss4871]

Yes please, 1840's! Worked 1840's historical interpretation and it was always so hard to find information/materials. It's a period that gets skipped over for some reason.

[@TanteElster]

I really like this kind of content, I love looking at fashion plates. I'd just continue along the timeline in order. can't wait for the 1890's they're my favorite era :)

[@lauren_h_l]

I love the deep dive videos! I would love to see how fashions changed from the 1810s to the 1820s! ❤️❤️

[@aprilmaiten6238]

Very interesting to see how the styles keep getting tweaked. I especially like seeing how much they had changed from 1850 pictures to the end of the decade. I'm looking forward to seeing the next decade. I'd also like to see some pictures about how the normal women dressed.

[@naturalcambion3747]

I am supper late to the party but I love these deep dives into fashion decades. I would love to see ones starting from 1800 and up if possible. ❤️‍🔥

[@clarekuehn4372]

Love it! Thanks! So thorough! Any other decade next. Just take your time and do it well, like this one! 🙂

[@AshNight1214]

Please do the 1860s! It's one of my favorite decades

[@christineb5232]

im interested in the 1860s and the regency era. i love these historical video.

[@alexandraemrick2799]

Thanks for this look into the 1850s. When put side by side like it's easier to understand the evolution of fashion during the decade.

[@marthastephenson3301]

Please do 1860s-1890s. I love this new decades series!

[@thesavingsorceress]

I learned so much from this. Those fashion plates were a feast for the eyes! I love getting to see the subtle changes in styles from year to year leading to massive differences between the decades. I can’t wait for your next one!

[@alexiscarlton1355]

Lots of fun. More please, the evolution sounds fun :D. All the trimmings were lovely. I think my favourite was the dress with 2 pains in the front of pink rose print fabric. I'm a sucker for flowers. Thank you for all your hard work and sharing this with us.

[@derrith1877]

I do like these deep dives into the decadal changes in fashion. It really helps me develop a better eye for details of the looks of each decade.

[@AlexandrinaVictoria1819]

Rebecca, I really love your 'deep dive' videos. Please keep up your good works! I'm really looking forward to another videos like this, explaining the changes of fashion decade per decade.♥️

[@judyblum7597]

Yes! More of this, please! The 1860’s next makes sense to me. We see a lot of this era in movies & it would be interesting to know what Hollywood gets right… or wrong.

[@juia7336]

Thank you for this video! This was super helpful, and I loved seeing the way the trims and sleeves changed over the course of the decade! The format is great - I'm excited to see the 1860s next!

[@magiv4205]

I would love to see a video on the 1840s too, it's such an interesting and beautiful transitional period and not much talked about because of what came directly before and after.

[@SarahSpaceman]

So excited for this series! Looking forward to learning more about each decade ☺

[@athytee]

I love the idea of a continued series of deep dives! Since I am knee deep in an 1890s gown project, that would be my pick for an upcoming decade!

[@teddy-3765]

Loved the deep-dive video and looking forward to seeing more of them on other eras.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thank you so much!

[@dancooper-jones]

Love the deep dives. It allows such a learning opportunity and a wealth of information that provides a jumping off point so we can then go and research further for our own interest. Really looking forward to the 1870s and the progression of the bustles.

[@bekytg9393]

This video very informative. I must admit the skirt sizes in the 1850's just all merge together to me. But your explantions has helped. Showing the plate fro 1850 and comparing it to 1859 really helped. So looking forward to the 1860's next.

[@elisabethnoorduin8943]

Thank you! So many beautiful fashion plates, I want ALL the dresses! The hoop skirts of the 1850's and '60's where my first introduction to historical fashion, through the 1970's television series The Onedin Line and the every year around the Chistmas season repeated German Sisi-films from the 1950's. Actually I think BBC's Onedin Line was pretty decently costumed but Sisi - nah.

[@samfontane]

You could totally do that with 1860 and 1869 cause those high waits r killing it

[@sandybeach123]

Thank you for explaining the year by year changes from this full-n-fluffy decade. I watched it because I was wondering when women's skirts reached their maximum look using crinolines and hoops....late 1850s or early 1860s or somewhere within the 1860s. I enjoy your knowledge and energy. I know very very little about fashion, but you still make it very understandable for those of us who know little to nothing about the clothing industry and all its changes.

[@kirabowie]

I LOVE this first deep dive & I can't wait to see the next decade! 1860!! 😊

[@bonniecolleenpappin8807]

Oh, thank you! I didn't have any appreciation for the 1850's until I saw this video. I went 'ooohhh!' at 15:09 at the pink confection with the inserted contrasting panels. Another one that caught my attention is the blue dress with the rose panels in the same plate as the pastel plaid confection that you like very much. But my favourite one is at 18:03 that looks like a rose garden. Thank you again for sharing.

[@RychaardRyder]

1840s! Seeing the giant leg o mutton sleeves deflate year by year would be hilarious

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

They were actually already gone by the 1840s! That happened in the late 1830s.

[@alinaruff6540]

I love these deep dive series. It helps so much. Please make more of it.

[@Fabreezecat101]

I love these decade analysis you’re so good at it!! Can we do 1910s next please? ❤

[@danicourtnay]

i would like to see 1790 to 1800

[@charlotteb.7016]

stiffed crinoline made of horsehair was used before the cage crinoline of 1856. great video by the way. thank you very much. after de 1840's fashion people skip to 1860's cage crinoline and almost nobody in internet dives into de 1850's pre crinoline. thank u again.

[@RobinGH]

I enjoyed this very much and would like to see you continue this series. I would also love to see you include a little bit of information on what were the most popular accessories for the fashions you're highlighting. Hats, jewelry, that sort of thing.

[@liddybird3608]

Yes I love these videos. Do as many as you like. I personally would prefer them to continue in chronological order. I hope you will do videos past the Victorian era as well, since I have recently become fascinated with fashions of the 1910s through the 30s.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I'll definitely go through the 1910s, but I'm not sure about going past that. We'll have to wait and see!

[@furlizard]

Love the deep dives, thanks! Keep em coming

[@lilykatmoon4508]

Great video! I’m going to enjoy this series. It’ll really help me in understanding these fashions. I’d like to see the 1860s next please and thank you 😊

[@uniquely.mediocre1865]

I loved the video, next I would really love to see either the 1820s, 1870s or 1890s, especially the 1890s as there's huge differences from year to year. If you make this a series, I would love to see focal decades on other centuries like the 1640s, 1780s, 1930s, and 1520s.

[@syedmazharhasan6803]

I love this series! Please do 1840s next.

[@cathypickard4615]

Great deep dive. I look forward to seeing your 1860's deep dive.

[@brandyloutherback9288]

I was also thinking about a deep dive into the 1860s!

[@Hiker_who_Sews]

My gran (1900-1972) patched and mended every piece of clothing till too thread bare to hold any more stitches. I can't imagine with clothing lasting so long, that fashion would change so much year to year. Then again, I come from a long line of farmers who, I assume, never saw a crinoline. I love your videos. Thanks for all your work, Rebecca!

[@gregoryduran]

Thank you for providing content! Please keep following your heart on the future projects!

[@ShellyBful]

I look forward to your other video deep dives on the other decades.

[@piaggio]

Yay,, new series!! And I would be interested in the natural form era.

[@Sew_Learning]

Really enjoyed and appreciate this deep dive. Yes, I learned a lot. Always learn something new on your channel. Sending best wishes from Down Under🥰💖🌸🌺💐🇦🇺😎

[@michellecornum5856]

Love the deep dive. Keep going, please

[@emmar.r.955]

This is great! I'd love to watch any decade that you made a deep dive on! ♥️

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I'm working on 1860s now!

[@merriehightower1481]

Nice deep dive, love to have this chronologically. Thank you for this! ❤

[@emilyb8760]

😊 great video and I’m looking forward to the 1860s!

[@visasv.429]

I would love to see you cover the 1840s!

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I'm sure I will get there eventually!

[@lisa8a8e]

I love this, please make it into a series

[@New_Wave_Nancy]

Very interesting! While I've gotten pretty good at being able to guess which decade of the 1800s an outfit is from, the 1850s and 60s blend together for me, so I'd love it if you did an 1860s video next. When did the heavy use of fringe come into fashion? When did the cage crinoline begin to go elliptical? Thanks. (I also tend to blend 1810s-20s together as well.)

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

The heavy fringe I will have to look into, but the cage crinoline started to go elliptical around the middle of the 60s. So far, it looks like the 60s is getting the most votes for next month, so I'll likely be telling you more soon! ☺️

[@kirstinmarchand3687]

Loved this! Thank you for this quick breakdown with examples!

[@shirliepriestley8761]

Loved this wonderful video. So look forward to the next decade

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

There’s only two choices if you are going to carry on this series. Do the beginning of the eras you’re interested in and work your way back to this one. Or carry on with the next decade and then go back for the others. I’m game either way so it’s up to you, real life and regularly scheduled stuff. Remember to be kind to yourself!!!

[@saraa3418]

I'm trying to remember what Cokie Roberts said about dress in Capitol Dames and Liberty Belles. I believe she said that the fullness of the 1850s came from starched ruffled petticoats and that women would wear something like 6 at a time to build it out.

[@wyogrl11]

This is soooo neat! Thank you for this deep dive and all future ones!

[@kayta84]

Really Interesting ❤and I learned lots! Can't wait to see the rest of series, it's going to be soo much fun❤

[@unorthodeux]

Now that the 1860s have been done, do the 1890s next! :D

[@syedmazharhasan6803]

I dont understand why the 1850s get so much hate. They are a bit over the top, but the silhouette and volume is just exquisite!

[@GoingGreenMom]

Cupcakes is a very apt description.

[@peggyriordan9857]

I love it when you do this type of videos. I learn alot from each one. Has your new play begun yet? I hope you are having a good time with it. I like all of your videos. I do learn things from each one of them. Thanks so much!

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thank you! We have 5 performances of Singin in the Rain left, and then 9 days later, I'll be starting rehearsals for Cinderella!

[@blakeknight9454]

Remember that time you compared a vintage pattern with a modern pattern for the same dress? That was interesting to watch. Will you do that again soon, please? 🪡 or make both dress so we can see the differences?

[@lindagoesel3815]

Thanks for this video. I love looking back at fashion. I'm excited to see this series. Keep it going, please. I'm seeing some videos on something called esthetic dresses, don't know anything about this, do you? I love the way you describe eras. Good luck.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Aesthetic dress was sort of a counter-fashion movement that started during the bustle era. I will try to remember to touch on it more when I get there, but it didn't really show up in fashion plates.

[@lindagoesel3815]

Thank you.

[@kathrynmacgown6575]

I love this!❤

[@patriciapost962]

Love this. Keep it coming 👒

[@AngelavengerL]

ty for the playlist. Super fascinating!

[@jasminearch8632]

Really enjoyed this!

[@grumpykitten3683]

OMG ty for making this!! I recently decided to dive into historical costuming and the first will be based on a painting Resident Evil Village which is based on the painting Portrait of Princess Elisabeth of Savoy by Angelo Capisani and it's a lot to research

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Good luck with your project!

[@Bexinmo]

I like all the fashion plates. I want all the dresses. The 1850's and early 1860's are my favorite dresses. I guess I like the cupcake look. Are you going to deep dive only your usual eras or might we see a medieval or 1960's fashion deep dive?

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Thank you! Probably just my normal eras. I'd like to go back as far as the 1780s or so, but I'm just not into medieval.

[@sewmeonekenobi639]

I’d like to know if the costumes worn in “Little House on the Prairie” were historically accurate. That show took place primarily in the 1870s I believe.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I haven't seen it since I was a small child, so I wouldn't be able to say.

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

Hat to Hem would know

[@chp21600]

great video!! thank you!

[@louiselund2419]

Love it. 1880 Weill be fun

[@roxiepoe9586]

I KNOW that I would have been a much more engaged history student if it had existed on an armature of fashion rather than war. I finally know the dates for the American Civil war because I need to know for understanding the fashion of the time. It was after I started thinking of Geography as a shopping excursion (what they have, where they have it, why they have it...) that it all finally seemed relatable. I don't think that this means that I am shallow. I think it means that I think about people and their motivations more than I think about the military/industrial complex!

[@sandiemable]

I enjoy these videos so much. I never thought of it before this video, but women really did look like cupcakes human cupcakes. Too funny! I love the bell sleeves, not massive ones, they just look so pretty. I want to know what men really thought of this look. Enjoy your weekend, xoxo's Sandie😊

[@MrsCelesteB]

I LOVE EVERYTHING ❤ lol thank you

[@asiabryant207]

Yes. I would love to see 1860s. There is a red and gold large checked fabric I've been eying for a while and fel mid victorian would be a good time period for the fabric. The 1850s styles were close but still didn't seem right for the fabric imo. I'm hoping this fabric would look good done up in an 1860s style

[@asiabryant207]

I'm interested in a lot of Victorian fashion but the 50's were towards the bottom of the list, but then I watch a short series called Dr. Thorne and it has piqued my interest. It featured many a flower crown and I was curious how historically accurate that was. It seems some of these fashion plates showcase flowers as head accessories.

[@Gold-feather]

I love this video!

[@Bethikathebunny]

Very cool

[@lajoyous1568]

I really enjoy these deep dives. 😀 I love ruffle tiered skirts. I'm curious is all that fabric is sewn to a single base layer or are the tiers all each a full layer to the waist? I imagine starching enough petticoats to floof out those skirts would be a lot of work.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

The ruffled tiered ones are sewn to a base layer, but the two tiered style that came in later would have been two full layers, attached at the waistband (or in some cases, a fully separate underskirt)

[@wendygaspar9838]

1830s because I'll like to know more about the gigot sleeve and how it became popular. ❤

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I actually already have a video on the 1830s! kzbin.info/www/bejne/n33RZaSNfMx0Z5I

[@wendygaspar9838]

@@LadyRebeccaFashions thankyou 💜

[@barbaraferron7994]

Washing all that fabric by hand must have been a lot of work.

[@werelemur1138]

Continuing on to the 60s seems like a plan ...

[@Lauratherose]

I wonder if we see how they're making those giant hoops in 1855 with that plate at 12:43. What if they're using batting or some sort of extra fabric to create that separation under the layers? Granted it'd be heavy as hell, but maybe with horse hair or light wool or fluff of some sort it'd be light enough. Or maybe really intense starching.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I think that plate is just a dress with nice and even rows of ruffles. They did have quilted petticoats for warmth, though, and they wore corded petticoats underneath their other petticoats before crinolines were invented.

[@sewmeonekenobi639]

Did regular (not wealthy) working class women really wear these fashion plates? Who wore these clothes? I wonder how they could have afforded all the fabric and the outfits don’t appear to be conducive to normal daily activities or anything that required any kind of physical movements.

[@cb9825]

Pretty sure working class women didn't wear big crinolines😄

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

These were high fashion outfits, so they would have been worn by the upper class, and maybe slightly simplified versions by the middle class. Some working class women probably did adopt the cage crinoline, but probably not those who worked in factories or on farms.

[@ryanneburgess4482]

1800's for sure!

[@roxannlegg750]

There was a fshion for pink from 1851/2 esp, because Queen Victoria opened the Great Exhibition in a Pink number. Her dresses were copied prolifically. ALso the long fitted sleeves, and high necklines remained popular in England due to the weather - and a remanant of the 1840's styles. It took a while for this fashion to totally drop off.

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Interesting!

[@roxannlegg750]

@@LadyRebeccaFashions Theres a book by the Metropolitan Museum of Art called "From Queen to Empress" which catalogues the fashions of her reign and shows many of her gowns specifically. Old by lovely book. Good one to find if you can. This one shows The Great Exhibition gold and pink gown.

[@therese565]

In addition to decade deep dives, I’d be interested to see regional deep dives. How does Indian 1850s fashion differ from Chinese and from European?

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

Unfortunately, I know nothing about that, but maybe there's someone else out there that can cover those fashions?

[@lindagoesel3815]

Oops forgot, how goes the job hunt?

[@LadyRebeccaFashions]

I got cast in a professional show with a pretty long contract, so that will cover me for mid-October through the end of January, so I get to hold off on looking for jobs for a couple months.

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

Congratulations!!

[@lindagoesel3815]

Yay and break a leg!!!!!