Inside Victorian whaleboned bodices and leg of mutton sleeves | Fashion Unpicked

[@sharonzotoff3975]

I think the inside of the garments is almost as amazing as the outside. The construction of boning channels and the hand stitching is truly fascinating.

[@jhash9554]

Think of how difficult is was to clean and press these garments! Crazy

[@Canuck13]

My Irish grandmother was so talented at dress making, you could not tell the outside stitches from the inside once’s. Her work was almost reversible!

[@babaylan]

These pieces have been impeccably well kept! They practically look brand new! 😍

[@weronoyume]

We want to see more of her dresses! 😍

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

Me too!

[@SherryHill-k5y]

I was a volunteer at my local Goodwill and when I started, the volunteers had done vintage style shows for many audiences. Who'd guess that I would be modeling in one and wearing a long white dress with lovely handwork? It was made arround 1890 or so and there were many buttons down the back but there was whalebone in the high neck part and in the waist part. If you're wondering why women stood up straight in them, there was a reason-- you could not bend your neck down due to the whalebone in the material. The handwork was magnificent in that dress. I have a photo of me in it in an older Goodwill International magazine. Thanks for your post!!

[@victorianidetch]

Those dresses are works of art, the skill and artistry to create them is amazing.

[@susantacchino4768]

wonderful to watch, I agree with other comments asking for more like this, more of her wardrobe to see how she evolved along with fashion trends but please, delete the music, nor needed and distracting.

[@queenswillrule]

Agreed. Not everything needs a soundtrack. And after teasing us all with just how many pieces that the V&A has in its collection, you absolutely HAVE to do a series of them all.

[@raraavis7782]

Yes, please! Many of us don't have the option to ever visit exhibitions like this, never mind getting to see whatever is stored away in the archives. PLEASE make it accessible to the public via video, at least.

[@Petermc95]

I loved the music

[@paustinheaton]

I would love to see more of her dresses and accessories! 💖

[@allysmith2284]

Please show us more!!! How absolutely stunning they are and so much better than the fast fashion pieces of today!

[@mantronixtube]

MORE MORE omg this was so so soso so soso so amazing . i die for this collection found! 200?!!! of this stuff??? amazing

[@Terri_MacKay]

These pieces are in amazing shape, as well as being stunningly beautiful. . I would love a series where we see everything that you have from her wardrobe. It would be so interesting to see, not just the clothing but the accessories, to see how a complete wardrobe would have been put together.

[@janninecartwright8910]

I was thinking about all the other garments hoping she would make a video about them 😊

[@GabdeVue]

Enjoyed this so much. Love the presentation and the explanations! The historical background and etiquette info! The pieces are incredible and so well preserved!

[@LeahsThings]

I LOVE the looks inside older garments, showing their construction! It's so interesting, and also some comfort if you are a home sewer, to see ways that people used to "make do" with construction. From the patched-in pieces of silk when there wasn't enough fabric to cut one full piece, to some of the hasty basting in the stitching on the inside of the mourning garment, I hope to see more of these!

[@acey850]

We want to see more of this please. And her voice is so soothing so we want her explaining it to is as well

[@Bananadiva1]

I love these type of videos. They're so interesting to someone who is just getting into historical fashion. What ai wouldn't give to be able to take a look through the V&A's extensive collection of historical garments. I'd probably just pass out!

[@jmchau]

I love being able to see the insides to get some insight into the garment construction

[@ashleymarks3726]

Anne of Green Gables would have loved those sleeves!

[@gaymarglin9071]

Very interesting and enjoyable. Would it be possible to include measurements? especially of the waist and also how much a dress would weigh. Can you do a video on the garments that would be worn under?

[@JenInOz]

How fascinating! I'm in the process (almost finished) of making an 1870s-ish orange silk bodice for myself, and the positioning of the boning is almost exactly the same!

[@emmabroughton2039]

That orange colour is gorgeous.

[@betoasaber24]

She definitely had her fashion sense going for her. These pieces are amazing.

[@canderson8533]

These garments are really lovely and amazing ! (and for such a petite stature, I'm jealous)

[@karenj4308]

Absolutely wonderful. Thank you so much for creating this fascinating insight into a forgotten era of fashion.

[@blackorchid0000]

Great video! Please more of these.

[@maureenburrows3431]

What beautiful hand stitching on these lovely garments. Such elegance and intricate stitchwork, lost to us now.....😮😢😊😊😊😊😊😊😊❤

[@盧璘壽로인수]

interestingly leg o' mutton sleeves were adapted in Philippine fashion in the 1910's, long after the pattern had already died out in Europe but was due to the "Gibson Girl" silhouette in vogue by the American teachers aboard the USS Thomas (henceforth dubbed "Thomasites") who arrived in the previous decade to "civilize" Amurrrica's newest imperial colony it was adapted specifically to the sleeves of the _traje de mestiza_ (currently the _terno_ , but even then the term was being interchanged due to the original description _terno bordado_ , meaning "matching embroidery/appliqué motifs" in the entire clothing ensemble), where they were translated to " _corte de jamon_ "; even though the sleeves were open and not gathered, but the overall silhouette remained

[@whereheathergrows]

Fascinating! The fashion history podcast called Dressed did an episode on women’s clothing in the Philippines which you might like

[@盧璘壽로인수]

@@whereheathergrows I am aware of that podcast, which cites as its main sources "Fashionable Filipinas" & "From the Traje de Mestiza to the Terno: Patterns for Philippine Dress", which I also cite as well

[@Lolibeth]

@@盧璘壽로인수 You cited nothing. You took the information from there, but you did not cite where you got it.

[@盧璘壽로인수]

@@Lolibeth "Fashionable Filipinas" & "From the Traje de Mestiza to the Terno: Patterns for Philippine Dress" is your reading comprehension in need of assistance, or are you just stupidly blind

[@l-sturges]

These pieces are so intricate and beautiful. I love this style of fashion and found this so interesting to watch. Thank you for sharing!

[@SpanishEclectic]

Wonderful! I would love to see more! Thank you for going through the detailed construction of each garment.

[@animallover0098]

Thank you, this was amazing! ❤. I own 2 antique outfits from 1890's and 1909 as well, so this was once more very interesting for me❤❤❤.

[@myhappynest6125]

Thank you. That was so interesting. The workmanship that went into making these beautiful clothing items is just incredible.

[@CFinch360]

An amazing video with fabulous details.

[@jemandjemand2362]

her fashion was divine. the quality

[@lindamac7465]

I love the sound of these garments! The woohs

[@atrinka1]

fascinating! Please, bring more fashion videos!

[@ellejay4497]

Both pieces are stunning!

[@debschmitt761]

Amazing, thank you for showing the construction details, so much workmanship

[@lyledeyounges1276]

This was really interesting - those garments are beautiful and look almost brand new!

[@iknowright140]

Please keep showing us clothes in your collection, accessories etc. I’m obsessed.

[@batya7]

I love these explorations. Please keep doing them. Will the fabric treated with metal salts last into the next century? Have V&A conservators neutralized or chemically treated them?

[@juliadagnall5816]

I was fortunate enough to be able to visit the Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art this summer and one of the dresses on display was in similar condition, it was displayed flat because the lining was too brittle to be put on a mannequin. According to the plaque with it: conservators have yet to find a means of preserving shattered silk, making many garments from this era too fragile to handle. I suppose the best they can do for now is to record garments like this as thoroughly as possible so that facsimiles can be made if a way to stabilize the fabric isn’t found before it deteriorates completely.

[@shainah5996]

Love this! Could listen and learn about the intricate details of Victorian fashion all day

[@LariLesque]

A perfect video (minus the music) please make some more! So interesting to see the construction and have it explained. I run a U3A History of Fashion group in Bromley and have forwarded it to them. We visit exhibitions (last one was the Marion and Maud dresses at Leighton House) and wonder if you could do a talk or tour for us.

[@raraavis7782]

Gorgeous dress. We're so lucky, to have such amazing extant garment for studying. So much skill and care went into constructing these gowns.

[@mirellaalvesleite5899]

Such beautiful pieces of clothing and so well conserved. I really enjoyed watching it

[@RachelD9311]

Breathtaking. Thank you for this great series!

[@MintyyFresh21]

This is super interesting! I like the videos you guys do explaining the history of a particular garment, like this one and the one about the Chanel suit

[@eckosters]

Fantastic. How big a percentage of women would have been able to afford such luxurious clothing? The craftswomanship (yes, I meant to write that) is absolutely mind blowing. I’m a nearly 72-year old woman, so I still grew up having to wear skirts. But I did have pantyhose. And I think of the very wealthy woman who owned these magnificent but oh so restrictive pieces of clothing - and I think of her maybe having a heavy period ….. I do not envy her. We may not look this fabulous anymore but I do prefer my hard-earned freedom and equal rights

[@Pippi-Longstocking]

For historical recreationists - a good substitute for baleen is zip ties!

[@janninecartwright8910]

Omg what a fantastic idea!! Thanks for that! 😊

[@gigistoner8004]

Mystery pocket extra fabric for future alter/mend? Like the extra button I get with some shirts.

[@trekon2023]

This is better and more informative than visiting the VA in person. As she says, you see more when you take the dress off the mannequin. And those small plaquards don't have this rich narration nor the ability to show us exactly what is meant where she turns and opens the dress here in close ups that show us exactly what is meant. Honestly, if you put the video in the museum in front of the dress I don't think my feet would have been able to stand there that long. Not that that many benches. Nor would I have the patience knowing how many floors and wings there are and budgeting only 3 hours to go through it all. More benches please. But really every wing and major piece should have this kind of video. I would love to just sit in front of major pieces and plug in some earphones.

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

It's a miracle all these things survived down in her son's basement! I'd love to see more of her dresses and accessories.

[@victoriadiesattheend.8478]

The lady clearly had extraordinary taste 🧡 what a wonderful collection.

[@ellenalden6611]

Loved this. Visuals, history , and explanations are great. Neutral color gloves on the expert would be an improvement because they are a loud visual distraction from the garments you’re focusing on. Thank you.

[@arckocsog253]

This was very interesting, I love fashion history

[@sheshewitchywellnez]

Stunning examples

[@IsabellaSchicho]

The black lace is absolutely gorgeous

[@MDeLorien]

I absolutely adore this kind of dresses. I wish we could wear this style again ❤❤❤❤

[@maywalker997]

In 1890, a cheap pre-made, middle class department store dress would cost you between $10-$30...Which adjusted for inflation is $345 in today's money. High-end Parisian luxury dresses like the ones featured in the video could easily cost between $500-$1000 ($17,000-$30,000+ today), which is why only someone like a wealthy heiress daughter could purchase such dresses (and why they're such works of art).

[@athenathegreatandpowerful6365]

​@@maywalker997OR you could make your own. There are enough commercial sewing patterns around and the techniques used aren't that difficult to master IF you really want to build a gown like this.

[@stingraytor]

I would like more from this lady’s closet!!

[@juliegale3863]

In 1951 I was lucky enough to have year at an Art School in Guildford. I remember three study outing to London one being a visit to the V & A. I was particularly interested in historical costume and embroidery. I wish it had been shown to us like this, I might have tried harder to have a career working with things like this or theatrical costumery. The other two outing were to learn how to purchase things to make millinery and the other to the 1951 Festival of Britain on the South Bank.

[@jp1112]

can you please show some more pllllleeeaaaassse.... so fascinating

[@Mary-n6g6z]

Absolutely in Love! Ide kill for that wedding dress

[@famprima]

How were these garments washed?

[@imageez]

My head quickly wants to imagine Victorian ladies arm wrestle and flexing on those large mutton sleeves.

[@KathrynStelzer-t1r]

The black and white gown has long been a favorite of mine! Can you tell us HOW the black velvet ribbons are applied? Are they run in channels sandwiched between two layers of chiffon? Are they in tucks of one layer of chiffon? I must know!

[@LT_1856]

She seems like an interesting lady. She may have been shy, but her bold fashion says otherwise. Would love to learn more about her life.

[@VictoriaBelle727]

Clothes had to make up for that face. Remember her only real value was to be married off. Had to dress up the butter face.

[@nancyblackett8777]

Don’t forget the seamstresses who went blind making these garments. Many many women, cutting, stitching, piecing, pressing and finishing these works of art.

[@B-goblins]

Incredible design

[@Dengee]

Fascinating!💌

[@lesfleurs9781]

Incredible video

[@cremebrulee4759]

Amazing!

[@sewsew100]

Very interesting video. Is it possible to for you to list this video without music throughout?

[@ferdi5407]

The music is very distracting

[@susantacchino4768]

yes would be wonderful to view this without music.

[@aranjackson259]

Yes, it would be easier to hear without the music

[@marge117]

Here for it 🙋🏻‍♂️

[@GaaMacgfx]

People like to act this museum channel is an ASMR content creator 🤨

[@retropygmy]

Where can we see the entire collection?

[@chermarano]

Does anyone know how much one of these dresses cost in it's time period.

[@graziamariafranchini8440]

Spectacular!

[@thehonesttomomtruth610]

Reading American Heiress and this was a great visual for the main character. Thanks Algorithm 😂

[@kleinbrynbaranfrande]

I hope they'll make a video on Worth gowns

[@sarah-jane3627]

The whaling has never stopped in the pasific

[@NoeEle-c1o]

More victorian and edwardian dresses, please!

[@lkuffer]

Fantastic!

[@Chlo-ee]

Talk about a snatched waist!

[@athenathegreatandpowerful6365]

Cara Broughton was tiny. Like 5 foot 2. Plus she was very young. All of which adds up to a small waist. Plus, and you can look into this if you don't believe me, hips and bust were padded out. Her hips weren't that big at all. Look up late Victorian corset pads.

[@Lolibeth]

@@athenathegreatandpowerful6365 She was a society woman who had worn a corset from a very young age; her job was essentially to be fashionable and beautiful and that included wearing a quite tight corset

[@athenathegreatandpowerful6365]

@@Lolibeth she was, however, not a Professional Beauty. The myth of Victorian tight lacing really needs to go away. They laced down, on average, no more than 2-4 inches at most, less on a daily basis. PBs laced smaller unless you were Empress Sisi who took it to another level. But anorexic behavior is not the norm, then or now. Short, thin women have smaller waists.

[@suzannealvin5708]

Love this

[@zyaayz]

Thank you

[@Kimberly-cx9uv]

God we need to return to such detail

[@Iyklyk]

I enjoy the music

[@jennglow4647]

Very pretty 😀

[@heathergreen6394]

Fabulous

[@jobvandenbosch4711]

can i pleae have them they are so pretty so chic theyre perfecto

[@adelaidemorningstar1870]

❤❤❤

[@thejerseylady1]

Wow

[@DimasFajar-ns4vb]

peace be upon you from me from java island

[@KrisD3846]

It's so weird to think that sequins were around in the 1800s.

[@j.louisv.123]

I'M NOW SO BORED, I STARTED CUTTING MYSELF AGAIN !!

[@JaneNewAuthor]

Interesting that all the garments could have been put on and taken off without the aid of a maid, despite her being so wealthy.

[@annettefournier9655]

She was really tiny .

[@louisemerriman1079]

Imagine going through menopause wearing all them layers in the sun?

[@jamielandis4606]

She was so tiny!

[@Kikerikiki]

I pity the maids who had to wash and iron these garments

[@EvryoneKnowsItsWindy]

The music detracts from the narration and presentation.

[@dl7596]

0:36 I'm interested in learning history and how things are made, but those tortured waists make me so uncomfortable (somewhat like what "fashion" has done to many modern dog breeds).

[@lilashelton535]

I can’t help but think how terribly unbearable those items would have been in an eastern summer when ladies didn’t perspire

[@codename495]

Huh? Ladies sweat. Everyone does unless they have a congenital disorder. You’ll die of hyperthermia if you don’t sweat.

[@myrna_m]

They used light and breathable natural fabrics in hot climates and seasons too, not just heavy silks!

[@GenderLoin]

Whaling was NOT done for women’s fashion. These were waste product uses. Nobody risked their lives to make a corset 😂

[@TealCheetah]

Cara was tiny!