Reacting to Bizarre Victorian Fashion Items I Found on Museum Websites

[@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.

[@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

[@InThisEssayIWill...]

Those tremulant flowers make me think of those butterfly or dragonfly hair clips in the early 2000's where the insects were attached by spring to the clip that went in your hair so that they actually fluttered when you walked around/moved your head! Fashion really does just recycle itself doesn't it?

[@VBirchwood]

A great parallel! Hahaha. It’s true though, fashion is just endless recycling 🤣

[@annastevens1526]

I still have one of those! 😆 The beading on them can be quite cute, but honestly I find the sensation of something constantly MOVING on one's head to be very off-putting...? Too reminiscent of getting a bug or bee caught in one's hair!! 😬

[@nowherels64]

The bug hairpins have springs on them too!

[@pamelabratton2501]

Clip the dragonfly pin on your horses' head and the Black Flies will NOT bother your horse or you during your ride!

[@witchypoo7353]

I had some butterflies like that. I miss em. At first I thought you meant real insects because insect wings were used as beads for clothing in the 19th century

[@isabellaferretti7279]

This is a lot of fun, and I'm obsessed by those cherry stockings. They do remind me a little of certain modern patterned tights but the difference is that the antique ones would keep their lovely pattern looking true whilst worn, modern ones knitted as as straight tube means the design stretches out of shape and looks more see through on the larger part of the leg, drives me crazy lol. Looking lovely Vasi,love your dress and the colour is gorgeous!

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much Bella! I’m glad you enjoyed the video 🥰 the cherry socks are so beautiful!

[@t.a.yeah.]

I like them, too. I once had cherry socks, but with a white background. :D

[@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!

[@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

[@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!

[@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

[@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?

[@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! 😊

[@Ithilwen22]

The obsession with flowers in bonnets reminds me of Jane Austen's cheeky comment in a letter about whether it's "more natural to have flowers grow out of the head, or fruit". I wonder what she would have said about parakeets???

[@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...

[@Ellaodi]

The multiple rows of buttons on kids outfit makes sense considering how fast they grow, and how often clothes might be passed down child to child as they age.

[@DawnDavidson]

Yes, I was wondering about that too. I have converted a faux double breasted coat to single breasted, to size it up slightly. So I wonder if there’s any chance if it had been sized up and then had extra buttons added to cover where the original buttons were? In the case of the coat I did, there wasn’t a problem with marks from the old buttons, but this looks like the exact spacing one might get if it were widened in that way. :)

[@Julia-uh4li]

She did say that 2 rows were false buttons.

[@VBirchwood]

That could definitely be the case! If that were too, then I suppose the buttons would then turn from false to functional! 😊

[@CHLOEDEATHGOD]

I never thought about it that way! Thats so clever!

[@jasonmack2569]

@@DawnDavidson It would create a funky fold in the lace trim and skirt (assuming it is one piece); but I could see the Victorians not being bothered by that for the sake of thrift. Too bad we can't see the inside to see if there are any hooks and bars or buttons that would control the excess that would result on the right side.

[@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

[@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!

[@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

[@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.

[@jeanetterule5420]

This type of video is brilliant and very entertaining. I just have one suggestion. Please leave the object you are discussing up on the screen a bit longer so we can see what you are discussing and also have an opportunity to evaluate. Otherwise, I adore your channel. I enjoy learning and traveling to the past. Imagine that in the 1970s I began collecting vintage clothes and I adore them. I’m still fascinated with many classic styles and designs. Love art nouveau designs and hats. Keep up the excellent work V. Birchwood. 😊👍😉 well done.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much! And thanks for the feedback 😊 I’ll be sure to extend the photo length in future videos.

[@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.

[@sillyjellyfish2421]

i actually love this video to the point that i would like to ask for a 2nd part sometime in the future. i love learning about the history of fashion, but i don't have time for doing any research myself, which means that there is no way for me to find fashion curiosities like these. i loved the flower bonnet and those bug pins. especially hairpins remind me of that renaissance "meme" of drawing flies on paintings to show off painter's skill. it's kind of cute. i can imagine it being a point of a conversation like "look how realistic are these fabric flowers on my hat, even a bug thinks they are true flowers. ha! fooled him!" and then it turns out that even the bug is fake

[@VBirchwood]

So glad you liked the video! I’ll definitely do a part 2 at some point next year as everyone really seemed to enjoy this one 🥰

[@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

[@susanstage9279]

My sister around 20 years ago, would French braid her hair, she lived on a channel. She didn’t notice when she was spritzing her hair with hair spray she accidentally sprayed this good sized spider on her head. No one said anything. She came home was getting ready to shower, when she saw it! I broke out laughing, stranger things! But her feelings were quite hurt, she had imagined some of these women as her friends. Apparently they weren’t! Anyway love you vlog!

[@VBirchwood]

Hahaha thank you for the story! Your poor sister though, a spider on the head would be such a shock! 🤣 glad you liked the video! 😊

[@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.

[@susanstage9279]

I find this fascinating, the dead birds on bonnets made me a little nauseous, but I love the Victorian era, vintage makes my heart just fill with happiness!

[@VBirchwood]

Sorry to induce the nausea! 😔 definitely all very fascinating specimens though, even if the bird bonnet is so sad.

[@amandapittar9398]

Those long black boots were beautifully made. The fascinator looks like a bad judges wig.

[@LiljaHusmo]

I NEED the cherry stockings 😭😍 But the parakeet bonnet needs to stay far FAR away from me 😬

[@LiljaHusmo]

The hummingbird earrings SENT me 😭😂😂

[@VBirchwood]

Omg yes the cherry stockings are SO adorable! The parakeet bonnet is what nightmares are made of, and the Victorians said it was "coquettish" 😂

[@VBirchwood]

Props to the jewellery designer honestly, very innovative hahaha 😂

[@LiljaHusmo]

@@VBirchwood me immediately going out to buy modern cherry stockings to wear "ThEy'Re hiSToriCaL“

[@VBirchwood]

@@LiljaHusmo This just goes to show too, so many things could be "historically accurate" and we just don't know hahaha.

[@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 🤣🥰

[@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)

[@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!

[@margisshenanigans11]

The mop fascinator reminds me of a deranged and badly done stereotypical 17th Century wig😂😂😂 love it

[@VBirchwood]

Lol that’s an incredibly accurate description! 🤣

[@ragnkja]

That was my first thought too

[@parkerbrown-nesbit1747]

Yes!

[@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)

[@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.

[@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!

[@merelymayhem]

this videos was a lot of fun and your explanations are insightful I'm not over the hashtag dress, with the context of what that symbol is right now that's just so funny! and i agree, the lavender color is beautiful

[@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

[@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 😊

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@rowenazuercher5363]

I'm so excited about this Instagram account 🤣 I honestly just love when the past surprises us and makes people a little more intriguing than the typical fashions we think of. Also, once again, OBSESSED with your mid 1800s outfit.

[@VBirchwood]

I love this so much too! And thank you so much, that’s very kind 🥰

[@gremlin_078]

I've been following that account for months, never realised it was you! I love it

[@VBirchwood]

Awww thank you for the support! 😊

[@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)

[@rejamrejam]

I spent ages a while back researching the best cheap way to get realistic flies to put on hair pins (realistic fishing lures, as it turns out). I never got around to making the hairpins but I am delighted that some Victorian lady was way ahead of me.

[@therewillbecatswithgwenhwyfar]

Self care first! I really like the format of the video and I think it’s a great option especially when you’re not feeling physically up to making tutorials on Victorian dress making techniques.

[@VBirchwood]

Thanks so much! I’m definitely going to use this format in the future when I don’t have the space to heavily research a topic 😊

[@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 🥰

[@TeaCupCracked]

The "Chess Dress" reminds me of Danish paper-crafts with two contrast woven colors. It's most known internationally in the form of woven heart baskets sold at Christmas time for decoration. They are often also made of felt.

[@VBirchwood]

Amazing! I’ll have to check this practice out 😊

[@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 🥹🥰

[@bethliebman8169]

Love, love the gold shoes! I'm also quite captivated by the hashtag dress. The bug jewelry would definitely appeal to Bianca at Closet Historian. Those dead birds creep me out!

[@VBirchwood]

Yesss they’re right in line with Bianca’s style definitely 😊

[@lucasmcinnis5045]

Oh gosh I've definitely marveled at a couple of these with friends

[@VBirchwood]

Great minds think alike 🥰😂

[@kaleshabastion2332]

Here in NZ the Huia bird was very popular for its feathers (and general taxidermy) in to the Victorian era and that's considered a partial reason they went extinct. It's a bummer because they were gorgeous and odd looking and had a nice call, but I can't help but like some Victorian pieces I've seen that has Huia touches.

[@VBirchwood]

I’ll have to look up the Huia bird! It’s really a sad practice that unfortunately hurt so many species during the Victorian period. As I mention, I love taxidermy but also only the natural death taxidermy as I feel like that’s honouring the animal after it has already passed. I think it’s natural to find these pieces beautiful still, but then also see the awful tragedy of the practice/pieces. I think space exists for both of those feelings ❤️

[@kaleshabastion2332]

@@VBirchwood the Huia are delightfully odd the males have these crazy curved beaks. I'm the same I love taxidermy, and the art of natural taxidermy is wonderful. My good friend has a taxidermy cat that she brought from the family who owned the cat and when it passed had it stuffed (?) Because they wanted to keep it around.

[@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.

[@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!)

[@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

[@piccalillipit9211]

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

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much!

[@catherinejustcatherine1778]

What a fun and delightful video!

[@VBirchwood]

So glad you enjoyed it Catherine! 🥰

[@midoriya-shonen]

Loved this video! I'd be interested to see more like it. The instagram page is intriguing too, but hearing your explanation/reaction of the items is particularly fun

[@VBirchwood]

Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy browsing the Instagram page 😊

[@Strider_Bvlbaha]

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.

[@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

[@RosenrotRtLiebchen87]

the newspaper dress looks more like an advertisement for the newspaper, it says "SUBSCRIBE FOR THE ECHO"

[@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!

[@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.

[@saulemaroussault6343]

This colour suits you so well ! The videos was both entertaining and instructive 💚

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much!

[@vanessaknight7129]

Thank you for sharing, I really enjoyed it.

[@VBirchwood]

So glad you enjoyed the video! 🥰

[@ritageorge8748]

An elderly aunt of mine was a NYC hatter-family rumor was the feathers&glue made her dress&behave oddly--the socks in the video reminded me of things she wore in trunks that looked in style 70yrs later

[@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!

[@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.

[@SaintShion]

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

[@VBirchwood]

Hehehe 🥰🥹

[@Branwhin]

UGH. Poor wee budgie on a hat. That's one fashion trend that can STAY dead (haha) thank you very much. Your gown is lovely, by the way! I really must get back into costuming.

[@Kaytecando]

Your running commentary had me in stitches!

[@VBirchwood]

Hahaha I’m so glad 🤣

[@TheGabygael]

i saw an artist online about a year or two ago that makes grieving memorabilia out of deceased pets (i've only seen cats done so far), the usual process of her pieces is that she collects the hair (and probably whiskers) of the departed, the rest is cremated and the ashes are kept in a linen pouch and on said pouch she recreates the likeness of the animal using its own hair through felting (and embroidery probably) the end result is really striking. I think some type of taxidermy style jewelry or accessories with a similar prospect like with hair mourning jewelry

[@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...

[@jomcmahon8115]

In Australia parakeets are called budgerigars, or budgies. It comes from the Gamilaraay Aboriginal language in northern New South Wales and south Queensland which is thought to mean 'good food'. I love finding word origins!

[@ChociMilki]

Thank you for creating such an entertaining and enlightening video!

[@VBirchwood]

So glad you liked the video!

[@pipers_river]

The newspaper dress reminded me of the 1906 dress made out of tram tickets in the Sydney Powerhouse Museum. It's fantastic.

[@honzo1078]

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

[@brucetidwell7715]

I suspect the gold shoes were something custom for a vaudeville performer, or the like, rather than every day shoes.

[@phranerphamily]

The whole wearing of dead birds thing is so bizarre.

[@VBirchwood]

It’s super bizarre! And often just horribly sad. But I suppose it’s important for us to remember this part of history so we don’t repeat it.

[@sophieinspired]

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

[@patmanchester8045]

the hash tag dress is Japanese inspired. The Pirates of Penzance was popular then.

[@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!

[@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! 🤣

[@AuntieBubbles]

I'm looking at the triple row of buttons on the child's dress and I'm wondering if the row on the far left of the garment was usable? Sort of a "grow into it" option? You'd button it up on the far left when the child was smaller and the false row of buttons on the far right gave it a balanced, doubled-breast appearance. Then as the child grew, you'd bump over to the center row of buttons, to creat more room in the garment, and end up with three visible rows of buttons? Considering how much longer it took to create clothing in the Victorian era, it seems like a practical way to get the most use out of a piece of children's clothing, when you know they're going to outgrow it before they wear it out. Also would make passing down a garment to younger siblings easier when the fit doesn't have to be exact.

[@YochevedDesigns]

The parakeet hat was serious nightmare fuel. My mom always kept parakeets as pets, and so it just freaks me out.

[@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 😊

[@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.

[@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.

[@robertemerson1846]

The Chess Board Dress makes me think of the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland.

[@marleybu302]

I love your outfit. The only thing I really dislike about the Victorian era is the taxidermy and use of animals/birds.

[@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.

[@lorisewsstuff1607]

The birds are disturbing but I love the bugs. When I was making a Victorian bicycling hat I came across some vintage paper-mache preying mantids. I just had to sneak one in among the silk flowers. It freaks people out because they think it's real. 😂

[@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.

[@Bananadiva1]

The first bonnet is absolutely repugnant. I love the second one though.

[@nidomhnail2849]

You may want to check out Morgan Donner's video on the Victorian Bustle-chair.

[@VBirchwood]

I’ve seen it! It’s a great video 😊

[@annastevens1526]

I love that video snd as someone with chronic fatigue, I SO want one of those IRL! 😅 The ability to discreetly sit and rest whilst shopping, visiting a gallery or just getting from A to B where there's no decent seating would be veeerry welcome!

[@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

[@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 )

[@mildlycornfield]

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