Reacting to Bizarre Victorian Fashion Items I Found on Museum Websites

I've come across so many bizarre historical fashion items in museums; here are my favourites!
The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: skl.sh/vbirchw...
Whilst doing research and finding sources for my own historical fashion reconstruction, as well as for the videos on this channel, I've come across some fairly odd items. From strange Victorian fashion trends that need more explanation to items that perplex our understanding of historical fashion, there can be a lot of exciting antiques to discover in online museum archives.
These are just a fraction of some of my favourites. If you'd like to see even more bizarre historical fashion items in the future, be sure to go and follow my alternate Instagram account where I post them @bizarrehistoricalfashion / bizarrehistoricalfashion
Thanks so much for watching and see you all in two weeks for another video!
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The antiques in question:
Cherry Socks:
www.metmuseum....
Parakeet Bonnet:
www.metmuseum....
Kid’s Three-Button Dress:
www.metmuseum....
Flower Patch Bonnet:
www.metmuseum....
Tropical Parasol:
www.metmuseum....
Gold Shoes:
www.metmuseum....
Hummingbird Earrings:
www.metmuseum....
Newspaper Dress:
www.metmuseum....
Mop Fascinator:
www.metmuseum....
Giant Bustle Dress:
www.metmuseum....
Hashtag Dress:
www.metmuseum....
Bug Hair Pin:
www.metmuseum....
www.metmuseum....
Chess Board Dress:
www.metmuseum....
Snail Bonnet:
collections.la...
Other Sources:
Victorian Bird Hats:
commons.wikime...
commons.wikime...
1890s Bonnets Example:
commons.wikime...
Harvest Moon Flower Bed:
www.gamespot.c...
Flower Hats in the Victorian Era:
www.metmuseum....
www.metmuseum....
Victorian Spring Garments:
www.metmuseum....
A.J. Cammeyer Store 1890s:
www.kamentalla...
1920s Metallic Shoes:
commons.wikime...
commons.wikime...
Victorian Lady Vector:
pixabay.com/ve...
Fancy Dress Party Examples:
commons.wikime...
commons.wikime...
Mop Head Comparison:
commons.wikime...
Old 1860s Photo:
commons.wikime...
Afternoon Tea Vector:
pixabay.com/ve...
Bug Dress and Jewellery:
www.metmuseum....
www.metmuseum....
commons.wikime...
Victorian Living Room:
pixabay.com/ph...
Bug Vector:
pixabay.com/ve...
Jet Jewellery:
www.metmuseum....
www.metmuseum....
Snail Vector:
pixabay.com/ve...
1885 Bonnet Examples:
www.metmuseum....
www.metmuseum....
www.metmuseum....
#Skillshare #VictorianEra #HistoricalFashion

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much for watching! The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: skl.sh/vbirchwood10221 If you'd like to see even more bizarre historical fashion items I find in the future, be sure to go and follow my alternate Instagram page @bizarrehistoricalfashion We have a lot of fun there! I'll see you all in 2 weeks for a tutorial style video 🥰

[@stevezytveld6585]

Congratulation on the Skill Shares sponsorship. That's wonderful. - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi

[@chad-kj5sz]

yehey😊...

[@MINI-ME666]

THREE ROWS OF BUTTONS - traveling dress - imitate some uniform

[@modelrailwaybackshop]

Have you done a partnered video with Bernadette Banner yet?

[@wanderingspark]

If anyone owns a Victorian taxidermy bird, please be aware that it probably contains dangerous levels of arsenic, and you should wear a respirator and nitrile gloves when handling it. Arsenic was, unfortunately, commonly used as a preservative for taxidermy in the 19th century.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you for this important information! Everyone please be careful ❤️

[@cottoncandykawaii2673]

didn't they use arsenic in some green dyes too?

[@wanderingspark]

@@cottoncandykawaii2673 Yes, they did. They also sometimes used arsenic in other colors of dye. Nicole Rudolph made a video about arsenic in Victorian fabric dye, if you want to know more.

[@CHLOEDEATHGOD]

Is it okay to keep them if they are in a sealed glass container?

[@wanderingspark]

@@CHLOEDEATHGOD Keeping them in a sealed glass container is much safer than keeping them out in the open. I can't guarantee it's 100% safe; I'm not an expert in this subject. If you want more information, you could try contacting a natural history museum in your area. They often have to deal with old taxidermy specimens.

[@CHLOEDEATHGOD]

I did a little studying on the "bird hat" era and there were societies made to protect the birds. Which i think is so cute because Victorians are always seen as unfeeling and cold.

[@VBirchwood]

Oh my gosh that’s so adorable! It would make sense that some people would be very against the practice during the era. Just like today, people of all types with all different values 🥰

[@redmaple1982]

The movent was in reaction against bird hat fashion and they suceed in getting a few bans enforced. The Modern American Audubon society is tied to that era.

[@CHLOEDEATHGOD]

@@redmaple1982 thats amazing.

[@redmaple1982]

@@CHLOEDEATHGOD yeah I love stories of little victories like this and it's cool because a lot of the people advocating against bird fashion were women

[@vysharra]

Yes. Americans are banned from owning ANY native bird (alive or dead) without a permit, even today, because of a major move to protect birds from the hat trade (the Everglades were particularly affected until the ban). This even affects people who try to rescue birds without federal approval, but the alternative was a ton of native birds going extinct decades ago.

[@labyinthoiospotnia]

that 1860s parasol looks like it belongs in a 1960s tiki bar. and those victorian thigh-high boots are definitely something that goes on and stays on for a long time.

[@VBirchwood]

Definitely befitting of a tropical themed bar! 🤣 and absolutely, those boots would probably take 30 mins or more to to fully lace hahaha

[@Yuliafon]

I think the hashtag dress is likely inspired by a traditional Japanese pattern, igeta (or 井). The dress was from the 1860’s, so influences from Japan (or Japonisme) were happening around then.

[@VBirchwood]

Oooo how fascinating! Thank you for sharing 😊

[@DustfeatherOfFire]

Thanks for posting this - I was thinking they reminded me of the criss-cross patterns from traditional Welsh wool textiles, but the combination of that and purple silk seemed odd to me. Your theory makes more sense!

[@ELM-ee8bt]

The reason these items survived is because they were rarely (if ever) worn, but it does make me feel more confident about my more weird\"modern" additions to my historical wardrobe. I literally have a black dress with dyed cherries on my 1840s or 60s to sew list.

[@VBirchwood]

This just makes me think too though how many bizarre items were worn and have been lost to the deterioration of time! I can only imagine the weird fashions haha

[@edie8003]

Regarding the fetish boots, this style was actually popular up until the 1960s when a more go-go style took over. These boots in particular could date anywhere from the 20s to the 50s as the style never really changed. There are also very few pictures of them actually being worn prior to the 1920s. I guess dating fetish wear is pretty difficult since it has always drawn inspiration from past fashions and very little of it is deemed museum worthy.

[@Tesjhkyayy]

I was impressed that in a prudish era people had fetish wear! I thought sex during that time period would be only for the enjoyment of the man and to make a baby. Mhmm I wanna hear more about this!

[@sophieinspired]

The hummingbird earrings are truely victorian next level disturbing 😅

[@VBirchwood]

They really are!

[@japspeedgirl6216]

@@VBirchwood Did you know that Royal Society for the Protection of Birds was created because of the fashion of using taxidermy birds for accessories?

[@apocryph0n]

🤣I saw an image of a satirical comic I assume was inspired by the uber-tall fetish boots where a mother is telling her daughter that the only appropriate skirt length is where the hem touches the tops of her shoes, then the next image is of the daughter wearing the boots and a Victorian mini skirt and the mom freaking out😂 I’m so surprised that these boots actually existed and weren’t only existing in a comic though, that’s really cool!

[@HeavyColors]

I immediately thought of that comic too! Lmao wish I had it saved

[@CaraTheStrange]

I need that comic in my life

[@VBirchwood]

Lol this is hilarious 🤣

[@erinbathie-moore8478]

I've seen that one, it's so good. My mum and I were cackling together over it

[@Noel.Chmielowiec]

Those gold oxfords are incredible! And those black boots, I haven't got the idea that this type of heel was even used back then. Such interesting finds!

[@michellebyrom6551]

Indeed. Perhaps the gold boots were made for a ball or upmarket fancy dress. Those black heels, even then obviously not intended to be worn outside the boudoir, I think. I understood the engineering/materials required for such a high heel didn't appear until the 1950s, still if they're only for show they don't need to support the wearer.

[@Noel.Chmielowiec]

@@michellebyrom6551 I thought that those gold oxfords could be made for winter fancy dress event? Or someone was just wanting to show their wealth, they were so rich that they even had gold shoes 😂

[@VBirchwood]

Glad you like them! 😊

[@agargoyle12345]

you know, with vintage clothes there's this phenomenon where you get weird, uncomfortable things, and just plain ugly and weird things disproportionately represented. Basically stuff that was less worn didn't wear out, and then you find it in the back of great-grandma's closet after her passing...

[@SimpleDesertRose]

That was fun. Rachel Maksy needs to recreate the Newspaper dress. She already made the walking library dress and a book dress. She even made a dress out of gunner sacks. This should be right up her alley 😂😂 I didn't see anything off with your eyes, but I do wish you a quick and speedy recovery. I'm short sighted too, but it's not so bad I feel the need for expensive surgery. I had a friend who had laser eye surgery when we were 20, she was pretty happy with it then. I hope you are happy with yours. Anyways see you in a couple of weeks ❤

[@VBirchwood]

Yes!! Rachel Maksy definitely needs to make a newspaper dress! That would be so cool haha. And thanks so much DesertRose! My eyes are always basically healed as it’s been about a week now (I filmed the video last weekend) 😊 I’m really happy with the results and how it’s improved my quality of life!

[@annastevens1526]

A part 2 of this would be fun, if you need a lower-workload vid at some point! It's an entertaining mix of familiar Victorian oddities & a few that were new to me (like the gold lamé-look boots, gosh!) It's amusing to think of the mutual incomprehension that'd result if someone from that era timetravelled to ours...? I'm sure they'd find today's booty shorts, pocket-less garments & crop tops just as weird as we do their hair jewellery, shelf bustles & bird hats! 😅 But the desire to successfully balance individual expression & societal censure still remains a reliable constant, regardless of the timeframe....

[@VBirchwood]

Thanks so much Anna! I’ll definitely make a part 2 if I have another week where I’m not able to research a topic as heavily due to other commitments or health reasons. It’s nice to have “easier” videos like this on the ready 😁 And it’s very true! We have many equally as odd practices today. I’m glad though that regardless of the time some individuals have strived to express unique elements of their tastes and personalities if possible.

[@CHLOEDEATHGOD]

I actually never thought of it as individualism. Just shows how much the Victorians are weird to me! Ha! Well compared to other generations but it's probably just because we have better access and writings on how they lived. Not Victorian but I read newspaper clipping from 1797 of a man who wore the first top hat and apparently got arrested and got charged with "disrupting the peace." Haha

[@pagodrink]

Okay, but I literally have those type of cherry socks from Happy Socks. Granted the cherries are more simplified, but the dark blue background with the cherries are the exact same idea, that is so bizarre

[@VBirchwood]

I just tried to find them online and you’re right they’re so similar! Lol

[@Saffron-sugar]

I am old enough to have met some people (quite old at the time) Who were born in the late 1800s. It’s my opinion that people change very little. I think the older we get the more we realize that. It seems weird, for example, for a woman to purposely put hair clips with large colorful bugs on them, in their hair. But, butterfly hair accessories are very popular right now.

[@evilempryss]

I'm convinced design details like the hashtags, the checkerboard, and others came about from women having a limited amount of ribbon or contrast fabric but still wanting to do something -- anything -- to be fashionable with what they had.

[@idefkdudes]

That having a bug as a hair decoration in a time when lice was common but gave me a chuckle cause I remembered the lice outbreak at my school late 90s, early 00s, when kids wore springy butterfly & bug hair clips. It's the little coincidences in life

[@CHLOEDEATHGOD]

Omg the fetish boots. Imagine walking in a shoe maker and describing what you want. Probably cost a fortune and heavy judgement from the shoe maker. Hahaha

[@VBirchwood]

Hahahaha “ugh one of THESE customers again”. But the customer is always right 🤣

[@CHLOEDEATHGOD]

@@VBirchwood Hahahaha the shoe maker probably knew everyones sexcapades. Lolz

[@MsGbergh]

It's probably just another order. The shoe maker or his partner might wear fetish boots.

[@mariek.474]

Those finds are so interesting ! especially the ones including a bit of taxidermy, it adds to the weirdness.

[@VBirchwood]

Thanks so much Marie! Agreed about the taxidermy 😊 even if it is a very tragic practice the way it was done historically (since most of it probably wasn’t natural death)

[@Ava.Lorene]

This was so interesting! I can't imagine wearing that hashtag dress, the black symbols stand out so much. But maybe the wearer wanted to draw eyes?

[@VBirchwood]

So glad you liked the video! Yesss my guess is they were trying to make a bold statement haha 😊

[@armitagehux8190]

I look at fashion plates like I look at a fast fashion website: it's basic stuff, nothing that would make you stand out in a crowd. But I'm a 100% sure people have always expressed their innermost self through fashion and "weird" clothes. Some Victorian woman was probably obsessed with Marie Antoinette and went vintage shopping to find dresses from that time 😂 We really are not different from people back then

[@jessicabey275]

I thought all hummingbirds had long beaks I've never seen one witha short beak. Those fetish boots was definitely ahead of their time!

[@VBirchwood]

I’m wondering perhaps if the jewellery maker filed the beaks down when they were painted gold? I’d be worried about a long beak sticking someone’s eye 🤣 I also really hope though that they were natural death hummingbirds, though since that problem wasn’t the normal practice in the 19th century, I’m sad for the little hummingbirds 😞 the fetish boots are amazing! Haha

[@oddda5956]

The fake eyes on the budgies on the second item are creeping me out lol. It’s as though they are about to channel the parakeet ((AMGRY)) to come back from the dead and poke the eyes of whoever wears it. Also, having owned parrots, the long tip of the beak tells me they were likely kept inside a cage for some time without any means to file their beak. Poor things.

[@VBirchwood]

Poor sweet things 😔 that is really so sad. I’m glad many bird species are now protected.

[@carolinevidemark8564]

Could we get longerstanding pictures of the items, please? :-) Love the topic!

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you for the feedback! I’ll definitely extend the pictures in future videos 🥰 for now, all of the ones I mention in the video are linked in the description if you’d like to examine all the different photos of them too (as some of them have additional photo variations on their respective websites)

[@lilykatmoon4508]

Those bug hair pins look like crickets which are held to be good luck in some cultures. Fun video. I saw the hashtag dress and my 20+ years on you immediately thought pound sign, lol. Thanks for all you do!

[@VBirchwood]

Oooo how fascinating! The cricket theory makes a lot of sense! Honestly I think they’re super cute and would wear the bug hair pins regardless hehe 🥰 thanks so much for watching!

[@Julia-uh4li]

Those cherry stockings would look wicked today with Doc Martins. Edit to add ~ The Fascinator is very strange. I wouldn't consider it one as they are, in my experience always hats. Also, there is a channel called Prior Attire which would pair nicely with this one.

[@thangle13]

Certain bugs will actually ward off other bugs. Horse riders tie fake dragonfly bobbers on their bridles to ward off flies. That could be a use for the otherwise cute bug hairpins.

[@sabrinamariano99]

The children’s dress with the multi buttons is made that way to make it smaller by using the furthest right button row. When the child grows then they use the middle row. The third row is for symmetry.

[@carolinemaluca]

I 100% enjoyed this format of video V! It's fun, we saw together many different things and you talking about them was so fun! It was like were were going to a Bizarre Victorian Fashion Items Museum and you were our teacher. 😄 The ones i would not wear are the ones with birds (or the bird heads 😭). As you said, maybe they got dead birds (i hope so!). The chess dress is absolutely gorgeous! I lol'd when you said people would play chess on it 🤣, so funny and the mop too, yes it looks like mop to me. That parasol kind of looks like some huts that are in Brazilian beaches where you can eat and drink, so it reminded of a tropical place! The inside rain was really cool!!!! 🥰Oh and before I forget, I'd totally wear the flower hats, I think they are beautiful!!!

[@VBirchwood]

Thanks so much Caroline! I’m really glad you enjoyed this video format! It was definitely an experiment but I think lots of people had fun (myself included) 🥰

[@servraghgiorsal7382]

Maybe the fringed umbrella/ parasol helped keep insects away

[@vivianchristensen9695]

Lived the video! You've obviously never been up close and personal. They viciously defend their territory. We have numerous feeders and get dive bombed regularly when outside. Love your channel

[@ragnkja]

I’ve read somewhere that if hummingbirds could talk human language, their active vocabulary would be 90% swearing 😆 Probably because they subsist on mostly just sugar.

[@VBirchwood]

Glad you liked the video! I have been up close with some hummingbirds as a child, but they were often nice to me probably because I was carrying a feeder 🤣🥰

[@cloclop]

The first pair of cherry socks made me do a double take! It reminds me so much of OTK socks you'd see in Japanese lolita fashion, particularly from brands like Angelic Pretty, Baby the Stars Shine Bright, or Metamorphose Temps De Fille. I guess it makes sense though, many aspects of the fashion are based around Rococo and Victorian era French fashions to begin with!

[@michellebyrom6551]

The ramen fascinator reminds me of the loop knit children's bonnets from the 1960s, it just has scarf ends to warm the neck instead of pompoms on string to tie it on. Still can't bear the look.

[@VBirchwood]

Oooo very interesting! Apparently this knit style was used in other fashion pieces around the same time period (mid Victorian)

[@moi1310]

In line with the # dress, in Sweden XOXOXO patterns were very common on mittens historically. It’s another pattern that’s cuter today because of a different meaning than just being decorative.

[@VBirchwood]

Oh my this is so sweet 🥹🥰

[@janebeckman3431]

I once saw an 1860's bonnet that was literally covered with dead hummingbirds. Loving my hummers as much as I do, I was quite repulsed. It was so sad.

[@VBirchwood]

Wow that is so sad 😞

[@ANPC-pi9vu]

I imagine the fetish boots and gold shoes were probably worn by entertainers, possibly of the seedier variety, too. They are designed to be seen and the heels of the fetish boots in particular are so high that even the metatarsus is lifted a bit. Very painful and difficult to walk in, I'd imagine.

[@janinejohnstone468]

I went to the Scottish HIghland Show and bought three pairs of long socks with cherries on - your remarks about those stockings are perfectly true!

[@lysem4392]

The stockings... Me wants the cherry stockings. I adore them! What the hat with tremblant flowers reminds me of is the model of the coronavirus we have seen so often in the past couple of years.

[@marycanary86]

the hummingbird earrings were really cool

[@sophieinspired]

Someone tell rachel we need a snailhat 🐌 🎩 for the mushroon theme 🍄

[@aleciab83]

I remember when the hash tag was called the pound sign or number sign. It wasn’t that long ago (I’m only 39). Did it say what the sign was called when that dress was made? I can’t wrap my head around the thigh high fetish boots…the fact that they were thought of and existed in that time period.

[@DawnDavidson]

Victorians were very kinky people. They were just much quieter about it than we are now! :)

[@VBirchwood]

I remember when it was called a pound sign too! Hahaha 😂 they didn’t say what the sign was called unfortunately. Victorians definitely probably had wild lives behind closed doors haha

[@Kaytecando]

Your running commentary had me in stitches!

[@VBirchwood]

Hahaha I’m so glad 🤣

[@piccalillipit9211]

*OH WOW - YOU HAVE 40.1K SUBSCRIBERS...!* the last time I looked you had 1,300 CONGRATULATIONS

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much!

[@Mockingbird_Taloa]

Hummingbirds “sweet and gentle creatures”?!?!? Ma’am the Aztec god of war wears a hummingbird helmet for good reason! They are anything BUT sweet or gentle-they are feisty, ruthless & fight to the death. Sad to see them reduced to earrings, tho, no matter how handsome they look.

[@VBirchwood]

Hahaha true, I suppose I’ve just had such positive experiences with hummingbirds in my life that I’m very biased.

[@em0bxnn1ez13]

this video is great! I'm doing my SBA on victorian era fashion and I found this video helpful for one of my subtopics xx

[@SaintShion]

V's adorable "look at this 1 it has a bunch of buttons isn't that bizarre!"

[@VBirchwood]

Hehehe 🥰🥹

[@judica8873]

Time travel.... Lots of items accidentally were left in the past by time travelers. I truly enjoyed your video. Thank you.

[@VBirchwood]

Hahaha that’s a hilarious thought! So glad you enjoyed the video 🥰

[@lexiwexiwoo]

The chess board dress feels like a pocket game and the snuggie had a couture fashion designer baby.

[@Squiffy1313]

Very interesting. It would be great if you could show the objects for a longer time- they are fascinating and I would have liked to be able to look at them longer while you were explaining. Thanks for this video.

[@k.s.k.7721]

Re: bizarre Victorian fashions - it was popular to make little girl's muffs and winter accessories out of dead kitten skins - and leave the heads attached. What says "Winter Wonderland" more than a decapitated kitten? Also, there were advertisements for "Musical Bustles" in England that would play "God save the Queen" every time the wearer sat down. As you would have to stand for the anthem, nobody every got to sit down, ever. Don't know if any of those were actually sold, but somebody figured it would be a hot item. I found these and other oddities mentioned in books of Victorian fashions.

[@honzo1078]

Given the pagoda sleeves and the period, I think the 'hashtags' are probably a nod to Japanese 'mon,' and similar patterns.

[@crowznest438]

A collar and cuffs or engageantes would look so nice with that early 1860s dress.

[@banshee408]

I love this concept because it's a big snub to those historical tailoring snobs who despise any (reasonable) creativity and think you should only replicate existing garments, not make anything simply because you like the idea.

[@VBirchwood]

It’s why I often say historical accuracy doesn’t really exist, because often it’s just that we haven’t found something yet and it could well be that it existed during that time (like those gold oxfords!)

[@catherinejustcatherine1778]

What a fun and delightful video!

[@VBirchwood]

So glad you enjoyed it Catherine! 🥰

[@jcortese3300]

That odd fascinator looks like a crocheted version of a British judge's wig. I wonder if it wasn't part of a Halloween costume?

[@VBirchwood]

Perhaps something fancy dress! I guess we’ll never know! 🤣

[@kathrynmccarthy]

As a sock designer, I really loved that pair of 1870's cherry socks!

[@VBirchwood]

How cool that you’re a sock designer! You should totally recreate them. I would buy a pair! 🥰

[@mildlycornfield]

My brain immediately said 'barrister' in response to the fascinator

[@joanhuffman2166]

Remember the weird thing that your Aunt gives you that you can't throw away but you can't wear either, that's what gets donated to museums in 'great' condition.

[@paulinemegson8519]

Feathers yes…..but I cannot figure who would want to walk around with 3 dead ……and very OBVIOUSLY dead, budgies on their head. The Victorians were nuts.

[@VBirchwood]

It’s definitely an extremely sad practice. 😔

[@justanotherhappyhumanist8832]

Those boots are wild. I own a pair very similar to them…I didn’t even know that boots like that existed back then!

[@VBirchwood]

So wild!

[@MoondustManwise]

I saw the child dress and had the insane urge to sew one for a kid. I don't have kids, I don't even _like_ kids, but it's so cute. Except that I'd probably just stick to ONE row of buttons. If the neckline was changed, it might even be a cute little twee style outfit for an adult!

[@bettykober6904]

Regarding the hat with the birds on it. I have to wonder if the lady wore the hat to a pheasant/bird shoot lodge. Something to go along with the bird-hunting idea. Or, yet again, wonder if the hat was part of a masquerade party ensemble.

[@ruthm.6071]

My take on the fuzzy fascinator: It looks like the wigs that British court officials wear. But as though this piece is just a "practice -wig". Like one that is issued when a barrister applies for the position , but hasn't been approved yet. 😁

[@kb3716]

This was a special treat! Very well done. I always enjoy your new videos and will definitely be checking out your Instagram site. The comments on this have also been very interesting. Those shoes aren't the only "gold" within! And congrats on your eyesight correction. I know how liberating it is.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much KB! So glad you enjoyed the video 😊 not having to wear glasses has already been so liberating!

[@TheGabygael]

12:00 to be fair, the volume of the bustle could just be from the gathering of the overskirt: if you follow the shape of the underskirt you get a pretty classic bustle shape (maybe even one that could be achieved with the more sloped 70s underpinnings) and provided the overskirt is structured enough (maybe lines with crinoline or tarlatan or at worse buckramor beetled linen) the overskirt could be gathered to give that huge shelf/boudoir table vibe ~~ if i ever get into the bustle eras (maybe once i dabbled into natural form) this could be the approach i choose to give it a go : make a skirt that would fit the 70s and an overskirt that would make it much more 80 (i tend to get shy and stingy with my structural underpinnings outside of corsetry so having a one thing does all would be nice, maybe even half of a pair of paniers worn as a lobster bustle if i gt *that* stingy and the shape fit )

[@katwitanruna]

You could hide a small child under that bustle.

[@VBirchwood]

LOL you really could 🤣

[@stevezytveld6585]

The morning glory hat is marvelous. If that flower company in NYC still has molds for the flower, I would definitely put them on order (after saving up sufficiently). And yeah - our collective Grannies like a little blood in their fashion - I mean, I get wanting the shock of colour, but why the face needs to be included with glass eyes has always escaped me. Deepest sympathies for the eye surgery recovery. I hope all goes as it should. I have double cataract surgery to look forward to later this year. - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much!! My eyes are all healed mostly 😊 Goodluck with your future cataract surgery as well! I’m grateful medical practices have advanced so much and that surgeries like these have become so safe and so possible!

[@stevezytveld6585]

@@VBirchwood I know, the changes in medical care for your eyes from when I was a 4 yr old eye patch kid is amazing...

[@rachelw1076]

"I wore a BIRD on my head!" - Carrie Bradshaw

[@elizabethclaiborne6461]

Those fetish boots aren’t for walking. They’d be firmly laced to immobilize the wearer; the high heels are set on to pitch the wearer forward so they’d mince about on tip toe. These are a bondage tool, not fashion. I know there’s fashion versions of bondage gear today, but these are very much for playtime, not lifetime. OTK boots are usually domme - unless they lace up. These are for a submissive. Like I said, immobilization.

[@annekstrom3930]

Green raffia on the umbrella, tremblant is a word for the trembling elements, often insect wings as well as flowers

[@VBirchwood]

The material description on the MET website says “straw” and I’m guessing they likely tested the material to determine that 😊

[@LixiaWinter]

I want to think that parakeet bonnet was a way to honour pet parakeet that lady had once

[@VBirchwood]

That would indeed be sweet and I hope the same! Sadly the bird fashion practices of Victorians often weren’t this ethical

[@felixvandriem1515]

One of the things that has fascinated me are fashion accesories to facilitate otherwise decorative accessories...like a tie-pin... a pin to keep a decorative piece of fabric in place. There are also those hooks to hoist large skirts up attached from the wrist...but the name escapes me now. Chopines also fall into this category. So my suggestion is bizarre fashion to support, protect or is in service to other fashion. Spats, jump now to mind.

[@BelowthePlains]

huh, cool channel. i knew about the bird thing, they called it "plume hunting" ..i guess alot of the stuff they would put on the hats was just the large feathers, so even larger birds that wouldnt fit on the hats were hunted, like flamingos.. but idk maybe there was someone out there who put a giant ass bird on their head.. i wonder why this fashion went out of style. its so timeless to have a bird on your head

[@ChociMilki]

Thank you for creating such an entertaining and enlightening video!

[@VBirchwood]

So glad you liked the video!

[@wendynordstrom3487]

That fascinator looks like a costume for a barrister's wig. How odd!

[@lindanorris2455]

ALL OF THESE FASHIONS ARE MAKING A STATEMENT OF SOME SORT AND WE ARE MISSING IT!

[@Iris777]

You deserve way more subscribers

[@VBirchwood]

Aww thank you!

[@penniecormier8770]

The ‘mop’ hat looks like a type of wig for a British judge or lawyer. Perhaps for a fancy dress party. I suspect

[@caspenbee]

I bet the bug hairpin's owner was a real prankster!

[@Didi-zc6qh]

Oh, I have some (admittedly belated) context on the hashtag dress! Japan had recently opened it’s borders to trade with the west, so it inspired a wave of orientalist fashions, such as the pagoda sleeve. This particular pattern is common in era kimonos and such! Further research tells me it is called “igeta” and represents the frame around a well! A rather similar wave of Egyptian inspired fashion occurred in the 20s with the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb. So cool!

[@minagica]

The golden shoes may have been used for some special occasion or as part of some costume 🤔 We all have stuff in our wardrobes we love but never wear, people may have had special items in the past too if they could afford it or if they inherited it from someone

[@alexandria3583]

i bet that flower hat that moves is like those barrettes with butterflies on them that were all over tiktok in the summer

[@VBirchwood]

Yes!! So similar. Trends all coming back around again 🤣

[@lmaChroma]

Now I wanna make a costume bustle dress with a tea set on the rump, call it a bustling tea party

[@VBirchwood]

Lol! 😂

[@alexander_yoko]

I swear, I thought those long boots were 1980s...

[@lovelasnow]

The fascinator actually reminds me of the fluffy bear ear hats you see in jfashion

[@sandydee8003]

I noticed the gold oxfords and the other elaborate shoes were worn very little? I think that’s intriguing.

[@VBirchwood]

Very intriguing definitely! The gold ones I believe were found in the old department store and were likely new (can’t confirm for certain but that’s what I gathered from the text). So often though antiques in museums have never been worn or were rarely worn, which is often why they’ve withstood the test of time.

[@dungeontales8117]

It's incredible how laser surgery can correct short sightedness now. Used to be that it could only help near and far sighted people. My how far we've come!

[@VBirchwood]

Short-sightedness is the same as nearsightedness.

[@kategrammer1576]

Short-sighted can also be used to say that someone lacks imagination or perspective. So it's a joke on the double meaning of the word.

[@professorrhyyt3689]

The green fringe on the parasol was probably made out of dyed lime bast. It (or plastic imitation of it) is often used to embroider beach bags or straw hats in more modern fashion.

[@jonathonshanecrawford1840]

It's amazing how things change since the 1800's where ladies wore flowers _everyday_ today men _at times_ wear flowers in their jacket lapels, our jackets _99% fake_ buttons! Even fake pockets on jackets and waist coats. Does any one, that gentlemans style ever change _much_ as to ladies style?

[@evitasify]

Hello. I was looking forward to this video and was fun to watch. Wish you a speedy recovery!

[@VBirchwood]

So glad you liked the video! Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@thesisypheanjournal1271]

I agree that it's a shame if the hummingbirds were killed to make earrings -- but hummingbirds, while amazing, are not sweet and gentle creatures. They're aggressive and territorial.

[@yazpis1achio]

Re: metal leather -- is it "Little Women" where Amy is pining for a pair of bronze leather boots? The image has stuck with me because I was relatively young and inexperienced when I was reading the Little Women/Six Cousins cluster. I could of understand why anyone would ever wear metal boots! How horrible!

[@libraryoflilylol199]

Growing up, I LOVED putting bug motifs in my hair lol. I put little fake bugs in my hair all the time for decoration, and I still love it. It makes me feel like I'm being absorbed by the forest, but without actually having to have anything crawling on me, and I often feel like I want to just lay down in the forest and be absorbed so...

[@VBirchwood]

I can very much understand that feeling! Haha 😂

[@midoriya-shonen]

Those bug pins strike me like a prank opportunity, like that vine of somebody planting a fake rat in a store. I can just imagine a Victorian lady with a sense of humor wearing those inconspicuously and waiting for one of her more squeamish friends to shriek. I know insect adornment was pretty common at this time, but I agree with you that these pins in particular could feel out of place with the rest of the hairstyle

[@VBirchwood]

Definitely the perfect prank opportunity! Lol 🤣

[@lovelasnow]

The bird hats make me think, if this was still in style people who can’t let go of a pet bird that passed would 100% try to keep them on their person for as long as possible Edit: speaking of, if taxidermy was still popular, anyone who can’t let go of a dead pet would probably find some way to taxidermy them as either decor or clothing (I mean people buy plush, etc of dead pets still)

[@watsonmelon6575]

Oooh, this is super interesting and adds a little bit more dimension to the past, which can sometimes feel distant.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you!! And yes so true, it shows we aren’t as far away as it may sometimes feel 😊

[@chalkncheeseneeds723]

Oh my lord I own green and yellow budgies,this brings a whole new meaning to I'm going to turn you into hats!!

[@sallycormier1383]

Fascinator reminded me of British barrister’s wig!

[@madinahagberg4942]

I don’t think you have ever met a real hummingbird..... they are aggressive little bastards in real life

[@VBirchwood]

I’ve always had very nice experiences with them for some reason! 🤣

[@madinahagberg4942]

I have had them yank out my hairs during nesting season, and my moms will get IN your face if the feeder gets too low. They are a bunch of little Karens demanding to speak to the manager of this sub-par restaurant

[@kirstenwilcox6705]

I'm an ornithologist and I don't think those earrings are actually hummingbirds (which usually have much longer bills to access nectar. It looks like they may be a Cape Glossy Starlings but hard to tell based on the condition!

[@VBirchwood]

Oh how interesting! Thank you for your professional opinion! I suppose knowing the size of them would help with the identification?

[@toniastone3460]

Does anybody else remember the paper dresses from the early to mid 1960 ?