What Victorians Wore to Bed

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We know what upper and middle-class Victorians in particular wore during the day and evening, but seldom is it discussed what historical fashion Victorians wore to bed.
In this video, I walk you through some of the nighttime clothing practices of primarily middle and upper-class Victorians, as well as show a very special item from my antique clothing collection, a wedding nightgown from about 1875.
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Sources:
Day Dresses:
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Evening Dresses:
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Shifts and Chemises:
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Victorian Women’s Nightgowns:
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Victorian Nightcaps:
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Men’s Pyjamas:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
/ nightynight-c1890s-sle...
Men’s Nightshirts:
​​www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Tea Gowns:
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Dressing Gowns:
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Wrappers:
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Morning Dress:
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Day Dress:
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Afternoon Dress:
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Evening Dress:
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...
Graphics:
pixabay.com/vectors/sun-moon-...
pixabay.com/vectors/moon-star...
Additional Resources:
d.lib.msu.edu/fa/62
www.ikfoundation.org/itextili...
-The instruction booklet from Laughing Moon pattern no. 118 (where the wrapper and its uses are described)
#HistoricalFashion #VictorianFashion

[@VBirchwood]

Brooklinen is having their Birthday Sale right now through May 8th where you can get 25% off Brooklinen products with my link here: bit.ly/BIRCHWOOD_BrooklinenMay23 After May 8th, you can use my code BIRCHWOOD to get $20 off any order over $100. Thank you Brooklinen for sponsoring this video! 💕

[@ahippy8972]

N Europe people used cotton not linnn. Sorry, I still have my great great grandparents bedding

[@doomjuan4892]

Do Americans refer to the 19th Century as the Victorian age?

[@kollow]

In 100 years I hope they hold on to my SpongeBob pajama pants as treasured sleep wear of the commoner.

[@VBirchwood]

Lol 😂

[@keltaruusutravels4024]

😂 I hope so too.

[@cynthiatolman326]

You think my Hogwarts pj's might be too?

[@jenniferlynn3537]

Hahaha!

[@TheGabygael]

It'd be quite interesting to study how Branding, gimmicks and popular culture references made their way into sleepwear

[@psammiad]

Worth mentioning that Victorian bedrooms were often pretty cold so you needed sleepwear that helped keep you warm!

[@annetteegerton6153]

I was told by my mother that it was important to wear a nightdress to protect the bedding from being soiled by your body as washing bedlinen was a laborious job. Keeping the bedlinen clean for as long as possible. Same for wearing nightcaps. to protect pillowcases. I own some beautiful victorian bedding which has been passed down to me. Embroidered and drawn thread work. I own a full counterpane entirely done in drawn threadwork. I hope that's of interest to you.

[@westzed23]

That's so interesting to have a completely embroidered counterpane. Love that word. I remember a poem of a child living in a counterpane world while stuck in bed while ill I think.

[@lilykatmoon4508]

That nightgown you bought is beautiful. It’s amazing to me how bright the white is and how undamaged it seems despite it’s age. It’s such a special piece, to think it was worn by a bride on her wedding night, and obviously cherished for such a garment to be kept so carefully, so long. It’s wonderful that you are now custodian of that history and that story. Thank you for sharing this with us ❤

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you! I feel so honoured to be its custodian ❤️ it’s also amazing to me to actually be able to see who wore it, as usually we just have to use our imaginations and can’t really know!

[@ahippy8972]

A wedding night gown was only worn once.

[@westzed23]

​@@ahippy8972For middle class and lower, having any clothing that was for one use only would be very unusual. Clothing had to be practical and was altered and new embellishments added to change in fashion or handed down.. A imagine that a wedding nightgown would be worn on special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. Also if one was traveling you took your best undergarments and sleepwear.

[@elisabethnoorduin8943]

One of my favourite books is "Anne's house of dreams". Anne's neighbour is Miss Cornelia, who goes about in wrappers everywhere. It took me the longest time to figure out she was not wearing her kimono/bathrobe (which I figured would be ODD, even if Miss Cornelia is considered odd, in the 1890's) but some sort of house dress! Also I remember being in school in the 1970's when Victorian-inspired clothes were all the rage, and some artistic girls wore authentic nightgowns as dresses. You could find them in the second hand markets and a book I have of that time recommends (cringe with me, you who were afraid to even iron your treasure) to just bleach them if they seem sturdy...

[@kittymaya4615]

I live in an 1890 worker’s cottage. The original owner was a gardener & the second owner worked in the watch factory. I want to know all about the middle class Victorians! Thank you for talking about them. Edit: Do you think the original family who lived in my house would think my sweatpants & big bleach-stained (I like being blonde) tshirt are weird? If I could meet anyone in the entire world it would be the original lady of our house. I say our because no one solely owns a Victorian. We’re all just caretakers until the next steward comes along

[@camille_la_chenille]

I own an Edwardian (I think) or late 1910' nightgown that belonged to one of my ancestors (not sure who, but possibly my great-great-grandmother or one of her sisters) and it's the most exquisite antique garment of my small collection, including a pair of silk evening gloves. This nightgown is made of a very sheer cotton and is much less modest in its cut and amount of fabric than the one you show, probably because the weather is much warmer in Sicily than in the UK, and it has the most exquisite white work embroidery around the neckline and short sleeves; it also has a delicate ribbon belt. I tried it once very carefully and I totally understand why similar garments were worn in bed; it's just so soft, light and breathable, esoecially in comparison with the synthetic jersey knit most pyjamas are made of nowadays. This video (as many of your other videos) really inspires me to build my own historical-ish and ecological wardrobe

[@annalisette5897]

I may be writing an inappropriate comment, but.... I am an official Ripperologist, Jack the Ripper studies. Ar least some lower working class women circa 1888 slept without undressing. These were very poor women in the East End who lived in cold flats with very little heat available. We get some idea about the last victim of JtR because she had undressed and her clothing, except perhaps for her chemise, was reportedly folded neatly on a chair in the room. Other women in other rooms in her building had laid down to sleep fully dressed according to interviews. These extremely poor people, in addition to having few if any heat sources, also had thin, inadequate bed coverings. I imagine sleeping fully dressed was much more comfortable. I would suppose too that since many Victorian working class people were in service and likely wore uniforms while working, that they must certainly have undressed to a chemise or males to an undershirt and drawers. Again, referencing 1880's East End London, handkerchiefs could be pawned or sold for very little. Clothing could be stolen and pawned or sold. Undoubtedly the very poor had few if any extra garments and if they did have extras they would likely have at times pawned them. There is an excellent YT channel called "Early American" which explores all aspects of frontier life circa 1820's U.S. She is an excellent source. She and her fiancee are building a homestead and planning to marry soon so there is a lot of detail about clothing and other household goods. Another wonderful channel is "PriorAttire".

[@SimpleDesertRose]

Wow that wedding nightgown is TDF 😍 if it could talk what kind of stories could it tell? And do beautifully preserved too. That it came with the pictures and the spoons is incredible. I'm not familiar with Victorian bed clothes in general, especially men's, but Charles Dickens had Ebenezer Scrooge wearing a night shirt in A Christmas Carol. So maybe looking into some of the classic literature from the time might help. The old Christmas poem by Clement Clark Moore, A Visit From St Nick, briefly mentions head coverings that were worn to bed "mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap." I'm sure there are others as well that are out there that were written during the Victorian and Edwardian eras that might mention bed clothes. Anyways fun videos see you in two weeks.

[@jocelynsmyth6604]

One thing after being in some cold spaces... you lose a lot of heat out of your head, and a cap can help keep you warm

[@looloo4029]

The stories might be X-rated!

[@artofmaeve]

I didn't realise but I already wear wrapper without knowing it! I didn't know the term until your video so I was calling it housecoat but anyways, I end up wearing it everywhere especially in the mornings when I drop-off my kids and such. I am fascinated to hear about your wedding night gown. It really found the perfect owner to be cherished by!

[@VBirchwood]

Accidentally wrapper is the best hahaha 🤣 Thank you so much!

[@vincentbriggs1780]

What a lovely nightgown, and so cool that it has piecing and provenance! I don't know if 19th century men slept in their shirts often (not my era but it seems much less likely if they had pieces that were starched) but 18th century men definitely did, though they had nightgowns too. There are some really adorable late 18th-early 19th century extant mens nightgowns with ruffles on them in a pretty similar arrangement to yours. (Which I really need to make sometime! I've made several without ruffles, but still none with.) I don't know when exactly pyjamas became a thing, but I think it was in the early 20th century. Late 19th century mens nightgowns were fairly similar in cut to shirts, but simpler, and wider and longer. I got to examine a couple of factory made ones in a collection once, and it was really interesting to see how similar they were to ones available in catalogues at the time! They also had piecing on the sleeves, in the same spot on both.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you for the additional info Vincent! 😊 I was hoping you’d comment and share some of your wonderful knowledge!

[@cathiwim]

Ive actually made nightshirts for people!

[@raakone]

@@cathiwim definitely cool. I prefer to sleep in men's nightshirts myself

[@marcuswalters8093]

I started wearing a nightshirt to bed last year. Never looked back. The fabric is warm when you need it and (within reason) cool during hotter weather.

[@piccalillipit9211]

*I MADE A WEE WILLY WINKY* night cap and so should you - they are BRILLIANT. The flappy triangle thing - yeah you pull that down over your exposed ear and tuck it under your arm and it keeps your ear warm and blocks out lots of noise - I LOVE IT

[@kjtherrick4031]

It's so wonderful that you received photos, wedding spoons, and information about the Victorian wedding nightgown with it. And, it's wonderful that you appreciate the gown, its history, and the items that came with it to demonstrate that history.

[@mrfred159]

Your presentation's are excellent! Everything from the background settings in your videos, to your great and easy understandable explanations of such fascinating topics! :)

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you!!

[@piccalillipit9211]

*2 WEEKS AGO I BOUGHT LINEN FABRIC* to make bed sheets and duvet covers from - 2.4m wide - it cost me MORE per linear meter than your sponsor is selling sheets at... THANKS LIFE

[@jeweledsnail]

The Brooklinen sheets I bought fell apart in less than a year. That was within the return period, so I returned them and bought fabric to make some.

[@piccalillipit9211]

@@jeweledsnail THAT might explain why they can make them for 1/3rd the price I can buy the fabric...

[@georgebricker2224]

Just like that favorite t-shirt you got in high school just won't survive your life and the Christmas dress that you wore once will. I think that historical clothing is the same thing. Every working day people kept wearing there clothes until they wore out so we don't have references. Also part of the reason for clothing that covered all the body parts besides Victorian ideals may be the lack of central heat. It gets cold. At two in the morning the average working person not only did not want to get up to put wood in the fire but probably could not afford it. Wood was expensive and used sparingly. love your videos. Keep doing them.😀

[@bc7138]

Amazing clothing. The amount of detail with the lace cuffs and collars are great.

[@CassianGray]

Victorian wrappers sound so cozy and comfortable. I want one now! PS your lighting looks really good in this video!

[@My_mid-victorian_crisis]

Love this!! I just made a linen night dress, with leftover fabric from my combinations. I'm working on making a cotton one from an old sheet.

[@carolinemaluca]

What a beautiful video V! And this antique nightgown is gorgeous! And the history that came along with it is amazing! I can say sleeping in natural fibers make a huge difference! I use vintage cotton sheets and pillowcases (1970s) and it’s so much better than those mixed with polyester! 🥰

[@audriscarborough9309]

What a lovely and informative video. I think night dresses are so beautiful, in an elegant and simple way. To be able to take such a straight forward pattern and then add some decrotive stiching, or lace and make it so lovely... I had a hand made night dress, that I wore until the material became so thin I had to give it up. The material just gets softer and softer! What a beautiful heirloom you purchased! As always, thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. With happiness, Audri

[@GenderSkins]

Here is what I can tell you about the lower class Victorian era sleep where was actually like, based on knowledge from my own grand parents and great grand parents who was alive during that era. men often wore a very simple night shirt that extended to about their knee's, that had maybe 3 to 4 buttons and some simply wore union undergarments similar to what one might call Thermal underwear. And in some cases they may have slept in the buff, which I understand to be very rare. Women often wore a very simple night gown, that might not look much different then what you are wearing with just a very plane collar and in many cases was a solid color.

[@shevaunhandley1543]

Weirdly, I just obtained an antique nightgown myself. It's exquisitely hand sewn and you can see the repairs made on it. It's also stamped for laundry days when it obviously was sent out to a laundress. Perfect for my first extant piece of clothing.

[@Sutton_Bea_Still]

I was just rewatching your Victorian Sleep Schedule video!! How fitting!

[@VBirchwood]

Perfect timing!

[@annemiekeblondeel6617]

I have Belgian flax linen sheets that were part of my grandmother's trousseau (early 1930's), and they have now been washed to a wonderful white and are super soft, warm in winter and cool in summer.

[@tifKh]

This is fantastic, and so well done. This is the first video I’ve seen of yours, and I am beyond impressed. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you!! Welcome to the channel 😊

[@saniainez]

Oh! I love that you brought this quite rare topic up! Nice creative direction, too 👀✨

[@heatherhammerquist6239]

2:52 they also boiled their linens, if it was dyed then it would bleed out, so things worn next to the skin were left undyed for hygiene.

[@saulemaroussault6343]

I haven’t read them in a long long time but I think there are descriptions of the clothes including nightwear in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books on her childhood.

[@inchb.wigglet640]

Great video!

[@piccalillipit9211]

*I HAVE SOME VICTORIAN PATTERN MENS SHIRTS* I often wear them as night shirts when my PJ's are i the wash... They have separate collars you attach with shirt studs so with no collar they are very soft - they are usually off white or cream - the collars are starched white

[@chuucake]

thank you so much for this informational video >< i learned a lot !

[@angelahicklin4487]

This is a fantastic video, thank you so much for all of the research put into it. The wedding night gown is so beautiful, excellent condition, just amazing. Can you explain what the wedding spoons are for? I’m unfamiliar with the tradition. Also, totally off topic, your hands are so lovely 🥰 do you mind sharing your nail polish color? Also I love your makeup, so natural and really enhances your beauty

[@victoriaespinoza1280]

I love wearing cozy pajamas to bed. It’s so comforting.

[@allieeverett9017]

Lovely, thank you!

[@ohmeowzer1]

Loved this ty

[@eburel506]

The night gown and on the right at 5:48 is lovely! I’m gonna have to look for a similar one.

[@sarasynfox]

I found this fitting and interesting. I watched this in bed in a medieval Scandinavian undergarment (the source I used referred to it as a sårk, but I haven't done full research) that I wear as a nightgown in the cooler months because it's so comfortable. In the warmer months I usually wear an early Victorian chimese for the same reason, it's so comfy! I can see the practicality of wearing a utilitarian undergarment to bed like that when you don't want to spend the money on a specialty garment because that money is better spent elsewhere. A specific use item would have less utility, so it makes sense that a nightgown, being a purpose built garment that can't necessarily be carried over for other uses should the need arise, would be a luxury item. It's a conveniently logical choice as I prefer to focus on Victorian work wear and working class items over the fancier stuff anyway. My biggest inspiration for this era are the mill workers that played such a part of building the cities I live and work in today. It's fitting that my practical choice may have been a choice made by the women who inspire me too!

[@jocelynsmyth6604]

I like to think of it from a practical way too... in older times, it would have been easier to sew mostly square shapes, and it's much easier to wash and dry a simple shift, like how we were tank tops now. Also, if it's cold, you could go to bed wearing a shift, and nt have to get naked in the morning

[@sarasynfox]

@Jocelyn Smyth My 18th century shift is that way, geometric shapes and almost not a scrap of fabric wasted. The Finnish dress I'm making is even more impressive in its layout. The only reason I'll have a couple tiny scraps is because I did the math wrong, but every inch of that fabric panel is supposed to be used. Comfort, practicality, no waste, what more could you ask for?

[@jocelynsmyth6604]

@Sarasyn Fox that sounds amazing, I would love to see it when you've finished - I'm just super new and getting back into being creative, you're never too old to learn. I bet it's going to be great :)

[@jocelynsmyth6604]

@Sarasyn Fox I'll snoop using someone's account, because I don't have one, but I love that you're out living historical stuff! And thank you so much for sharing it :) I live in Canada, but I can definitely image my practical celtic ancestors having no time for nonsense, and I have developed a real interest in historical textiles - I can only imagine how much we've lost

[@unfurlinglotusflower6939]

A chemise or shift is what I assumed most women wore to bed, especially the poor. Since clothing was super expensive for most of history, a separate nightgown for poor women would have been out the question. For cooler months, adding woolen wraps and woolen stockings as well. I’d love to buy a linen chemise now for summer to wear to bed because modern materials just don’t breathe the way linen and cotton does.

[@SolaejiFantasy]

I love the night gown! Been wanting to make one for a while now. How were the sleeves set in? Just rectagles with gussets, like a 1700's shift?

[@VBirchwood]

They are actually just a straight sleeve reinforced with no gusset! They are very wide (about 9.5 inches each side, so a circumference of 19 inches around the sleeve head) and because the cut of the body of the gown itself is quite wide, it doesn’t impede movement. The sleeve, however, is also gathered at the sleeve head slightly, so the actual sleeve piece circumference would probably be closer to about 21-22 inches.

[@Adrian-jk4kx]

Really interesting thanks.

[@wendeln92]

Very interesting video. For men their shirt - especially for working class - was their all-purpose garment, even for sleep. Wool outer clothing was not laundered regularly if at all - brushed or spot cleaned. As a hisotrical reenactor I love linen clothing over cotton. I'm definitely going to purchase some real linen bed linen.

[@psychedelicpython]

I love the 100% cotton long sleeve long nightgowns, similar to the simple ones in this video. Eileen West designed similar nightgowns about 25 years ago. I scored a 100% cotton long sleeve, long white nightgown in perfect condition with no stains from a free table we used to have in our apartment building. I just feel more comfy sleeping in modest nightgowns.

[@flyingpigfarm1]

I actually used your link to get myself some bed linens!

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you for the support! They’re really amazing bed linens 😊

[@Cate7451]

It’s pretty to have pretty bits of lace. Making trims were evening activities. The trims could be reused or used to cover worn edges.

[@davidcwilson1395]

interesting Thanks for sharing it

[@MossyMozart]

I'm with Martha Stewart when she said to make a bed with two flat sheets instead of a flat and a fitted. That way, you can alternate the flats on the bottom for even wear to both sheets instead of wearing out the fitted sheet and having a flat left over.

[@ande100]

Aaaand: one see every trace, spot, bug etc on white sheets immediately! Of course and boil everything to death, for sure and bleach it. I have my grandmother's linen sheets and the winter sets are heavy!

[@ragnkja]

And because it’s white, it looks better rather than worse when it’s been bleached.

[@sarasynfox]

In an Era that still had to contend with bedbugs and fleas, yes, you want white sheets where you can see every speck of warning that there's a problem so you can kill the little devils... not that I speak from more experience than I care to fathom or anything. I'm not sure I'll ever use anything but light colored sheets for that reason. Both fleas and bedbugs are all too happy to hitch a ride on anything, so I can imagine if we haven't solved this today, that was also a practical feature back then.

[@eringallagher6408]

It makes sense that nightgowns would have embroidery. It's a good piece of clothing to practice embroidery and designs before committing it to clothing you'd wear out.

[@unfurlinglotusflower6939]

I’d imagine most pieces of clothing, at least middle class and up, would have some sort of embroidery on them. Just like how women today will wear beautiful lingerie just to feel empowered and for an ego boost, I imagine our female ancestors enjoyed the same. It would also be a way put your mark on your clothes for individuality. Even if no one sees it, you know it is there. Even if it is just a few flowers on the flounce of a petticoat.

[@scasey1960]

I’m ready to jump the board!

[@AlexandraLynch1]

Given how things are for people through their life, white linen and cotton can be bleached when they get various biological substances on them. Signed, getting blood out of my sheets for the third night in a row.

[@martha-anastasia]

Mom's a quilter.... she learned from the older ladies to spit on bloodstains .. even old ones ... It works.

[@meowsielee]

this is the coziest anyone has ever looked

[@user-oj5bw7sl8p]

In old days most of the people were too poor to afford any designated night attire. Even in the end of 19-beginning of 20s century most of the population had very few changes of clothes. So, if one was very poor, one would wear to bed the same, which one had on all through the day. Those, who were "average poor" - about 70% of the population, - used their most old & worn out (many times repaired too) shirts to bed, - it was the last stop for the shirt before being turned into cleaning rugs.

[@streetsofsouthphilly]

That makes sense.

[@martha-anastasia]

Exactly. I have a huge collection of 19th century fashion magazines. People think they wore only white undergarments, truth is deep colors were very popular, especially red. These didn't survive until the present, as they were the first to be reused for childrens clothing and quilting. Even the rich sent their old clothes to the church charity barrel. Second and third hand clothing sales were widespread, going back even hundreds of years. Example. Around 120 years ago wild fire wiped out the small town of Metz, Michigan. My great great aunt and her children died trying to escape in a train. Wealthy people donated aide, including fancy suits and dresses. The newspapers of the time report men working their farms in evening suits. My great grandfather always wore a suit, even while chopping wood... I wonder if it's related to the fire. My grandma and her family sheltered in their plowed fields during the fire....and their house survived and the farm and house are still in the family.

[@user-oj5bw7sl8p]

@@martha-anastasia That's a very dramatic story!

[@user-oj5bw7sl8p]

@@streetsofsouthphilly Yes, of course. Also, cotton clothes, which have been washed hundreds of times, become very soft. They loose the shape, but the fibers get kind of fluffy. Very suitable for the night time, when person wants to relax.

[@martha-anastasia]

Indeed. There's a book about it and it's well documented online. Grandma never talked about it. It would make a gripping movie. The awful part is the several women and children who died in the train. They were safe until the train got between massive stacks of burning lumber, this was the lumber era here, the tracks warped from the heat and the train derailed... Google Metz fire. Heartbreaking. Thanks for your comment... I like that they are remembered.

[@MiamiMillionaire]

Very interesting 👍

[@deependcuration]

Hi Vasi, Something about you seems so familiar.. A lot of women in my family, including my 2 older sisters have been sewing for years. I still have a wool sweater, a couple of scarves and some mittens that my mom sewed for me as a kid who loved spending time outside during the great Canadian winter. Come to think of it, I still do. I don't necessarily partake in sewing, but observing you and your passion towards what makes you, you; and how you articulate your thoughts and feelings with such pure intention has inspired me to be more of myself. I've always been an outside-the-box kind of guy, confronting and eliminating injustice, openly rebuking harmful aspects of the status quo and uplifting those of us who are downtrodden. I wonder, what'll come next of my newly found self-assurance? Funny, where we find our muses. Hoping you're well, David

[@howl-pendragon]

A bit off topic but I've wondered: do you wear historical dress when you perform? I know you've said you wear your corset to sing but do you wear historical or modern dress to perform? It'd be interesting to see historical wear at a regular chorus event haha

[@dianefortner330]

Is the cuff on the nightgown gathered with cord or something? Surely they didn't have elastic, which wouldn't last this long anyway. Love your professional quality videos!

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you! It is just gathered with thread and then stitched together, like with a usual gathered cuff. The gathers are likely stroked though, and they are very fine. Elastic actually did exist by the 1870s, though yes, it probably would not last this long.

[@olivias.8301]

This nightgown looks so similar to my lolita fashion blouses. 💗 10:43

[@spaghettiking7312]

The wrappers are the future.

[@StraylightWintermute]

One thing I'm curious about around historical bedding: I know their laundry practices for clothing worn against the skin and for linens was very harsh, including boiling and beating. I have linen sheets from multiple brands including Brooklinen and their washing instructions are to wash on gentle cycle in cold water. Modern linen mass-produced garments also seem to always call for very gentle treatment, even hand washing or dry cleaning, and sewing fabric sellers like Mood actually recommend linen should always be dry cleaned. What happened to linen? Is modern linen lower quality and less durable? For manufactured garments, is it just that they don't pre-wash the fabric anymore os it won't fit if it's ever washed in hot water? What gives?

[@faithlesshound5621]

Before daily, or at least frequent, bathing became common, underclothes and bedlinen would have become more soiled than we expect them to be nowadays. In early modern times, bathing was thought to be risky: hot water opened the pores of the skin and might allow poisons to enter the body: and was discouraged by churchmen. Eighteenth century writers who knew of the Romans' habit of visiting the baths remarked that it had become unnecessary since the discovery of the value of linen. The idea was to change your shirt and other underwear frequently - several times a day if you could afford it - and wash the clothing rather than the body which it covered. Consequently linen would have had to work for its living before bathrooms became a feature of Victorian middle class houses. Houses for working people in the UK were being built without bathrooms up to the time of the first world war. They would have used a portable tin bath in front of the fireplace once a week, or less often.

[@StraylightWintermute]

@@faithlesshound5621 yeah, so if they're doing all that hard washing to get dirt and body oils off the linen, how come modern linen often says it can't be washed, and even modern linen sheets are sold with the recommendation to wash in cold water? If historical linen sheets could be boiled, what's happened since then to how flax is made into fabric?

[@faithlesshound5621]

@@StraylightWintermute Three reasons occur to me. (1) Modern fabrics are not made the same way as they used to be. (2) Modern detergents are not the same as old time laundry soap. (3) Clothes for the rich are sometimes "one-time use." The fashion police, employed by the Daily Mail and fashion magazines, will call out any rich woman seen wearing the same dress for a second time. Maybe they shrink or lose their shape when they are washed?

[@dewmongo2881]

Did you already post this once before? I remember watching this. But a while ago. Am I experiencing deja vu or what can someone help😭😭😭

[@VBirchwood]

This is definitely a brand new video!

[@banannakis6723]

I always assumed that the lower classes wore either their undergarments to bed or they did wear a nightshirt, but made of cheaper and lesser material than the middle or upper class.

[@jaw9388]

Being linen, do the sheets have to be ironed.?

[@spankyharland9845]

hmmm, when did Victoria Secret night wear come to fruition ? did that happen when the evening temperature got a bit to hot for regular Victorian pajamas ?

[@melissamelissa2603]

I would very much like to find an organic comforter, and I’m looking for something nice and hypoallergenic, and organic is also a preference. Do you happen to have any suggestions for this? I very much appreciate any suggestions.

[@censusgary]

If you were higher on the socioeconomic ladder, you had more people to impress, even when you were dressed for bed. You wouldn’t go out in your nightgown or pajamas to see your friends, but at home, you wouldn’t want your servants and retainers to see you improperly attired, even at night or first thing in the morning. It just wasn’t done! If you were poor enough not to have any servants around at night, you could sleep in your daytime undergarments, or nothing, but in this as in almost all things, the lower classes tended to imitate the upper classes, to the extent they could afford to.

[@cassbarker1966]

Lowerclass well im not sure of the numbers but a percentage of them most likely slept in the clothing they had on which is most likely the only clothing they owned, they would rent a bed for the evening and often just a chair to sleep in, not everyone had their own home nor bed. But I’d say it would have been an article of underclothing that was also worn during the day 😊

[@nurmaybooba]

my idea on white or cream/natural color would also make it easy to see bugs

[@michaeltaylor631]

You should do a video on the white dress of Emily Dickenson, the famous American poet.

[@Lilas.Duveteux]

Sometimes, it's interesting to see what a person wore for such occasions. They were so special to those that owned them.

[@judithrussell9162]

The nightdress looks like it is in amazing condition. Do you think the owner only wore it that one time or perhaps saved it for best (whatever that means)?

[@VBirchwood]

It is indeed in superb condition! So much so, I nearly thought it was new when I first received it a couple years ago. But it’s definitely not. I would guess it was likely only worn once, though I could be mistaken. Very little wear certainly.

[@cartoonygothica]

That was very informative. Do you, personally, wear any undergarments beneath your nightgowns or chemise to bed? Like, I wouldn't expect most people to sleep with a corset or petticoats on, but a chemise and drawers could almost pass as pajamas, I think.

[@VBirchwood]

Nightgowns are the undergarment in this case 😊

[@cartoonygothica]

@@VBirchwood I meant to ask whether you wear any drawers underneath.

[@lilyandrose8557]

Good. Grief. None of your business, nosy!!

[@raakone]

@@cartoonygothica I think her answer kind of gives you the answer. But it's not like she does cartwheels in her sleep or anything like that!

[@kirbycairo]

As you say, we have little info on a lot of historical aspects of working class life. However, I’ve done a lot of research on working class history and I suspect that most working class people just wore whatever they had, which was often very little.

[@ShakespeareDoomsday]

This is probably an odd request, but I would love to get a closer look at some linen covered buttons (short?). I wonder if there are much fewer lower class garments because poorer people tended to wear their clothes to death.

[@aneisleeper5515]

I love your belt ! What is type of belt called ?

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you! It’s more of an 1890s style belt (I think they’re just referred to as belts or Swiss waists) but they were also commonly worn throughout the 1840s-1860s. They can be referred to generally as belt, corselette, and Swiss waist.

[@aneisleeper5515]

@@VBirchwood thanks for replying ! :D

[@raakone]

My understanding with men's nightwear in that era... pre-Victoria, men's nightwear was....if lower-class, just a simple "shift", if you will, that also served as an undershirt during the day. If one could afford it, a nightgown, but without feminine embellishments such as lace. In the Victorian era, men's nightwear became different. The nightshirt slowly became shorter. But for younger boys, would make sense that their nightgowns would not be different from those of their sisters (this was the time when boys wore dresses up to "breeching" age) It became trendy for men to wear some kind of lounge-pants with nightshirts for activities just before and just after bed, and "pyjamas" were originally something from India, where they were introduced as day-wear by Persian invaders, especially in the North. They probably suggested one could afford to travel to India (or at least buy from there), which was (mostly) under British control by this point. It would be later (early 1900s) that the "pyjama suit" (pajama tops that match their pants) would be introduced. But there was a bit of debate as to whether pajamas or more traditional nightshirts were better to sleep in, and periods where it was the "Coke vs. Pepsi" debate of its day. Also, at least in Canada, where temperatures could get considerably cold, there was another sleepwear choice, the "Night Robe", not to be confused with the dressing gown/housecoat/bath robe. It was the longest length nightgown/nightshirt, a must in the days before central heating.

[@KelseyDrummer]

I really want to make a summer nightgown, but I worry about sweating my butt off.😂

[@cathiwim]

Use linen or batiste cotton- you may sweat, but the fabric absorbs it. I have flannels winter nightgowns from the 1970s i still wear!

[@ryanmorejon5813]

That looks interesting 🤔❤

[@Tadfafty]

Is the square thing on you a microphone?

[@Tadfafty]

Comment for the video's promotion.

[@VBirchwood]

It’s the magnet of my microphone.

[@Tipi_Dan]

It may be very silly that most moderns have such little experience with linen--- in the same way perhaps that they have scant experience with real hempen canvas. The rise of synthetics has even pushed good old cotton to back ground. I received a linen shirt, voluminous old-style--- lovely fabric. Except it was difficult to care for. It wrinkled like crazy and really needed ironing to be presentable. Ironing isn't a part of my lifestyle. I gave the shirt away. I can't imagine using linen sheets considering that "wrinkle factor". How do you cope? Is there some secret or remedy? You can't iron a sheet.

[@elizabethmcglothlin5406]

The working class probably just wore their linnen underthings.

[@itsskyler98]

I watch someone read records of poverty and lower class peoples lives and what not. From what i gathered is that some wore the same thing from when they were awake, some nude, or a thin gown for women sometimes.

[@michaelquinones-lx6ks]

The original 'Victoria Secret'

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

Channel no.? .. 1 ? ;-)

[@jennglow4647]

Cool 😀

[@juliamarple3785]

♡♡♡

[@Marcel_Audubon]

"whilst"??

[@thegeminiclub]

Too bad they don’t make them anymore I’d wear them to bed

[@VBirchwood]

People do sell replicas! I'd check Etsy. All my nightgowns are replicas.

[@MJUltra512]

Also at this time because of the industrial revolution, they were starting to increase production of goods that were previously only available for the ultra wealthy. So the growing middle class could now afford more things like lace and other frills.

[@melissajofeuer6743]

My grandmother told me that as a young woman...she did not wear white...because back in that time your clothes would get sweat stains because there was no deoderant and the washing soap was not as good. Is it really true that the clothing was white???

[@BeerElf66]

I think that it's more the clothes next to the skin that were white. I've always thought that white bedlinen and white dishcloths in the kitchen kind of have a health and hygiene connotation because they can be washed hot. Once you make a dress with white fabric, adding trimmings, ribbons etc, this would weaken the fabric and make a hot vigorous wash impossible. So by definition any white outer clothing would be very special, say for weddings etc. I think your grandmother was right!

[@martha-anastasia]

In the 19th century deep colors were popular especially for petticoats.... I have original Victorian fashion magazines and they specifically mention the popularity of red and blue and grey....of course, they were the first to be recycled for childrens clothing and quilting and such

[@iankerry6737]

❤

[@Miapetdragon69]

Would you not agree that the night clothes were so beautiful because way back they didn't have corridors and so people would walk through bedrooms where people were sleeping to get to their room? Hence the reason for the beautiful stitching and so on.

[@faithlesshound5621]

Another reason may be that most people had no real privacy. Large working class families had to share rooms and often beds. Before the age of electrical appliances, middle class households had a staff of maids and other servants, before whom it was necessary to keep up appearances. Ladies who wore complicated clothing would have had a maid to help them dress and undress.

[@alaunaenpunto3690]

Clothes, fabric, dessicated, interwoven plant material

[@julieroyce4497]

What exactly are wedding spoons - besides the obvious that they are spoons. 😊

[@VBirchwood]

They're silver spoons that were gifted as a wedding gift to the couple, generally with the initials carved in. It would serve as a treasured and thoughtful gift and also had tangible value being silver.

[@jakecavendish3470]

I think most men, like today, wore nothing but a cheeky grin

[@klairablains2841]

I’m sure I’ve seen Canadian images of men sleeping in logging/mining camps in red long underwear. But you’d have to verify this because it could be a cinematic take on life in that time in Canada.

[@martha-anastasia]

Red was a very popular undergarment color. I have original Victorian fashion magazines... they mention many colors, mostly deep, and even stripes.

[@wendyslowski9058]

@@martha-anastasia Didn't women have red petticoats for those lady days?

[@martinmowbray4304]

I can’t imagine wearing anything in bed. I wear boxer shorts and that’s it. 😅

[@antoniod]

You're so pretty in that.

[@jolynnwhite7946]

👍🥰😍👗