What It's Really Like Wearing Historical Clothing Everyday | Conversations on Historical Fashion

Welcome to our new series 'Conversations On...' where we'll talk to people about all things fashion! In this first episode, Molly Elizabeth Agnew chats with V. Birchwood, an American living in England who wears historical clothing every single day - corsets and all.
Learn all about how she discovered historical clothing, how she hands sews her wardrobe and the day to day practicalities of this fashion style.
Find Vasi here:
/ @vbirchwood
/ vasiofficial
Important links!
The website: www.eternalgod...
Instagram: / eternalgodd…
Discord server: / discord
This video is NOT sponsored
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(All music from epidemicsound.com unless otherwise specified.)

[@EternalGoddess]

What other questions do you have for Vasi and we can answer them in a future video!

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much for having me! It was such a pleasure 😊

[@katherinemorelle7115]

Love Vasi! I was lucky enough to come across her channel at her first video, and I’ve been subscribed ever since. I also wear historical clothing daily. For the most part, that means shifts and chemises, because I don’t leave my house much and I was just wearing nighties all day every day. Shifting (heh) to wearing the more historical version of that really helped to lift my mood. And then I made a wrapper, which used an 18th century banyan pattern, but with extra fabric that I pleated at the shoulders and down to the waist, front and back, which gives a wonderful swishy shape, and is appropriate for when people come into my house, but I don’t want to fully dress. So for me, my biggest impetus was disability. A lot of historical clothing meets my needs as a disabled person. Natural fibres is incredibly important, especially for someone who isn’t great at regulating my own body temperature. And a lot of the solutions that modern adaptive clothing has, had already been thought of previously- only now I don’t need to wear polyester and Velcro. When I do get dressed, I wear a corset or stays, because my spine needs that support, and they’re so much more supportive and comfortable than a modern bra. I have a few eras that I like, but regardless of which era, I almost always go for more working class styles, because I feel they’re less likely to make people stare, they feel less like costumes to me. So for 18th century, think a more accurate Claire from Outlander s1, but usually in plain coloured fabrics (not so much with the patterns). Or, I will use a patterned cotton 1840s-1860s work dress- with either a couple of ruffled petticoats or maybe a corded petticoat. Or the very popular history bounding “Victwardian” style, with shirtwaists, walking skirts and waistcoats. Or prairie work dresses work very well too. In the future I’m planning a working class Tudor outfit or two, with a few adjustments to make it stand out less (like having the gap at the front of the kirtle disappear after the waistband). And also a late medieval supportive kirtle (Abby Cox and Morgan Donner have made great examples). I feel comfortable in those clothes. I’m able to have it create pocket slits or tie on pockets which I can actually reach (as a wheelchair user, handbags do t work well, and a lot of side pockets aren’t accessible because there’s not enough room between my thigh and my chair to reach in). There’s just a lot of things that work really well for my disabilities, and then there’s also the fact that I live the creative process. I also hand sew almost all of my garments, and that’s mostly because I find sewing at a machine to be quite painful (all that leaning forward), and I just really like hand sewing. I find it meditative. I am more likely to machine sew mock-ups, but I do have to be careful not to injure myself, and take my time. There’s a few of us out there who wear historical clothing daily. We might have different reasons, or we might wear different styles, or some might prefer to have more historically inspired outfits than full on “accurate” clothing, but it’s still a lovely and very supportive community to be in. I’m so glad you have Vasi a spotlight, because she definitely deserves a lot more subscribers. The quality of her videos is fantastic, and she does fill a niche that was just empty before. Historybounding is becoming more and more popular, but not a lot of people wear full on historical dress on the daily, and so seeing her has been something that has helped me to feel more confident myself. It’s just nice, you know?

[@VBirchwood]

Hi Neartmhor! It’s great to see you here 😊 I already knew a lot of this about you because of comments on previous videos (of mine) but it’s really cool to read it all again on a different channel and get reminded of your story and the way you live your life/experience it. The last paragraph you said was really moving to me and I am extremely grateful that you feel that way about my channel and videos. It means so much to me 🥰

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

That was great. I really enjoy the interview style of videos, they help us get to know everyone so much better!

[@pallama2255]

To Vasi, is there any historical era you refuse or will not wear?

[@VBirchwood]

Hi! Great question. I know very little about historical fashion before the 1740s and after the 1910s, so I try to keep my own personal style within 1740s-1890s 😊 I’ll sometimes pull inspiration from some 20th century vintage fashions and other times I’ll wear more historically inspired garments, but with regards to corsetry especially and what I choose to sew, it’s only really 1740s-1890s. Thanks for your comment!

[@watsonmelon6575]

This was so interesting and I lived listening to what you both had to say.

[@pp-te5wp]

don't stop running the channel

[@suryankibhise]

Heyy I am not able to open your insta profile though the link can you look in to this???

[@susanstage9279]

Have felt this way for quite a few years. Tfs!