The 1790s Fashion Revolution Freaked Men Out

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Ok, we all know the 1790s for the absolute chaos it brought: the French Revolution and the super relatable guillotine jewelry, etc. But we totally overlook the absolutely ridiculous "OMG WOMEN AND GIRLS ALL WANNA LOOK PREGNANT" Trend that kicked off in the spring of 1793 (and the shift in women's fashion that would last until the mid- 1820s!) Newspapers, magazines, and [male] artists were so bothered about how women were wearing belly pads under their skirts to look pregnant...but is it true? Did women actually wear padding to appear pregnant or is something else happening (like full skirts under the bust + shorter stays that gave the appearance of a fuller abdomen...you know...logical things...)
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[@labhrais6957]

I love you saying "This version of my body" I'll have to use that instead of all the things I say relating to my younger pre baby self.

[@sevensongs]

Came here to say this. I've watched Abby for YEARS and love the fact that she keeps projecting body change (up, down, in, out, whatever) as normal and not a positive or negative either way.

[@WhimsicalCrochet]

I saw this comment before starting the video & it convinced me that this was a pregnancy announcement 🤣😭 fr thought you meant she said “this version of my body” instead of “pregnancy body”🫠

[@AuthenticWe]

Yes the key is knowing change is coming, and welcome the fact that every version of yourself through the years is what makes your wisdom, never look back and say I want that again, you’ve already lived it, life wants you to experience more, hope y’all have a fantastic day. Ubuntu

[@Lani2442]

I changed the language I use about my body a few months ago. You can't go back. Babies or no babies, your body changes as you age due to hormones and metabolism and all manner of other things. We aren't less beautiful in all our iterations, just different. Your body, weight, and proportions aren't good or bad. They are completely neutral. The societal beauty expectations are the problem. I love how vulnerable and real Abby is with all of this right now.

[@mindychristensen8715]

Agreed!!! I am going to follow your awesome example!

[@bilh3292]

Alternate theory for the belly pad trend: sneaking snacks into theaters.

[@jenniferpalmer5130]

Having snack pockets sew into your garments 😂

[@karowolkenschaufler7659]

YES. with the big side hoops and the massive pockets you could have in those gone... you need to find a new place for your stuff.

[@DimaRakesah]

🤣🤣🤣 Thanks for the laugh!

[@sianthesheep]

Can it even be a fashion trend if there isn’t a bitchy letter to the editor from some dude pissed that the style of garments they make aren’t the height of fashion anymore? It’s really interesting seeing you remake a garment for updated fashion - I know it was super common for almost every class apart from the really wealthy but its not something I have seen in practise before.

[@AbbyCox]

No, I don't think it can be a fashion trend unless there is a bitchy letter 🤣🤣 that's how we know it was here to stay 🤣 - i had a lot of fun remaking this gown too! Originally i was going to make a whole new gown, and i was so...bored (?) by the idea, that the moment I saw all the printed cotton gowns in the V&A I was like WAIT A MINUTE THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD TIME! It was really fun picking it a part and figuring out how to put it back together in an efficient and economical way.

[@lenabreijer1311]

I remember all the twittering about mini skirts and how it would destroy the skin on our thighs because they were now exposed to the weather in winter. Our thighs would no longer be smooths and silky for men to touch!

[@dismurrart6648]

@@sianthesheep one of my friends found one of these once. It was a guy ranting about women's pants before that was even a thing we were doing. The tone was like a guy convinced we'd literally steal his pants specifically

[@peggedyourdad9560]

@@lenabreijer1311 I will still mention that exposed skin is vulnerable to UV damage from the sun so make sure you apply SPF to your exposed legs before going out if you're planning on being outside for more than 10 min. Back of the knees/legs is actually one of the top spots for skin tumors.

[@lenabreijer1311]

@@peggedyourdad9560 yes but we don't have good sunscreen. And they were more concerned about winter putting calluses on our skin. And trust me, you haven't lived until you have gotten a sun burn wearing fishnet stockings! I think it was the only time I tanned. Cute bloches of tiny diamonds on my legs all summer.

[@JustSaralius]

Remember in like 2008-ish when empire waist dresses and tops were trendy? As a skinny, flat-bellied teen, I was told I looked pregnant and "why do you want to look like you're pregnant?" and it wasn't girls or women saying those things...

[@charlibrown7745]

I love empire waist dresses and I assure you, you were adorable. I'm sorry you were spoken to so rudely. People are crazy.

[@sarahwoodward1652]

People are rude! Sorry about that. Luckily I was pregnant in 2008 and for the ONLY time in my life, fashion suited me 😂

[@user-kx6em4bt1k]

This was such a calming, beautiful video to educate myself with whilst making dinner. Subscribed just now as I am officially hooked on your content ❤

[@Littlebeth5657]

Omg I loved those dresses and tops and got so many of those pregnancy comments. They were so comfy and I felt pretty but nothing destroys a 14 year olds self esteem like calling them pregnant

[@NvmTheJoy]

I was also in high school in '08 and my mom absolutely said I looked pregnant, too. *eyeroll*

[@megleland6320]

I'm betting many women in the 18thC were just as nervous as Abby was cutting into a handmade dress to re-work it. The stakes were very high.

[@merchantfan]

I really do wonder what kind of piece making methods they used to keep reusing fabric that long. I mean when you're sewing now you end up with so much scrap and it's hard to find an exact match to the old fabric. Though maybe for some of it they could just dye more fabric to match?

[@FlagCutie]

"When the teasing stopped." makes me think of all the boomers going after the teens in the 90s and their ratty jeans and inevitably making the "did you pay full price for those" joke.

[@chrissihr1031]

My boomer dad had a complete mental meltdown once in the 90s because I packed a pair of jeans with holes in the knees to go to a friend’s house overnight and he thought I was sneaking around behind his back to wear them because I packed them in my overnight bag instead of trying to wear them out of the house where he could see them and tell me to go change. This is the moment I realized my dad’s generation was fully and completely insane and could not be reasoned with. So I just started keeping my fun clothes at my bestie’s house and he never had any idea what I wore in public again. 😂

[@The_Cloth_Surgeon]

And the babydoll complaints of the early 00s

[@niamhfox9559]

Rah-rah skirts from the 80's (think Cindy Lauper's look) or Peplums(sp?) being so hated in the late 90's!

[@seitanbeatsyourmeat666]

@@niamhfox9559I still love a nice peplum 😂

[@Aelffwynn]

​@chrissihr1031 I'm sorry your dad was so unhinged about your clothes. And probably other things. That's a tough thing to navigate as a kid. My mom was weird about a lot of things, but she wasn't controlling and paranoid like that. She even went to therapy and has gotten a lot better.

[@jennifercourtemanche9793]

Thank you for showing that "first cut paralysis" is a thing across all skill and experience levels!

[@AllTheHappySquirrels]

OMG, I thought I was the only one!

[@kadybourn7143]

I so related to that moment! I wasn't remaking an existing garment, but for the past two weeks, I have been sewing an Edwardian ensemble from fabric in my stash that just barely was sufficient yardage. No room for error but plenty of room for terror.

[@jennifercourtemanche9793]

@@kadybourn7143 Oh that last line is great!

[@AReluctantSeamstress]

A great Lamaze breathing moment…

[@karowolkenschaufler7659]

and it's not just cutting into an existing garment. it's also cutting into expensive fabrics. I have it, my boss has it... it's a thing.

[@Miss_Kisa94]

On this episode of "men complaining about women having fun" we have example 37289

[@michaeldomeier]

“I’m not procrastinating I’m being efficient.” Abby cox I need this as a sticker. 😂

[@DarcyCarmen]

What I love the most about this, especially the part where Abby is talking about the stakes of cutting up the gown, is that literally EVERY sewer going back before the 1790s had this exact same conversation with themself (or their sister). “OMG, what if I screw it up and ruin it?” Also, every single sewer, regardless of the age, sewed it wrong and had a mini fit over the mistake. It’s such a common human thread (no pun).

[@The_Cloth_Surgeon]

7:43 I can just imagine Timothy Stay complaining his wife and daughters wanting to look pregnant/ 4 months gone, and I can just imagine what the wife and daughter were thinking The Stay Dude: they want to look pregnant! Wife and eldest daughters, ah actually this look is just of the fashion? 8 year old daughter look at my big puffy skirt! It’s so puffy, did you see me slouching… that’s right you didn’t!!!! , it’s impossible to see me slouching in my big puffy skirt! Look it goes spinny! 🤣

[@Tailfeather-Studio]

Literally snorted at the alpha male podcast/cybertruck comment 😂

[@erinnyren5564]

Right?!😂 Oh, and maybe don’t accost women…”pregnant” women at that! 😳

[@Sweetthang9]

My own flawed reaction to seeing a video like this in my feed: - "how interesting could watching someone sew be?" - *watches* - *is enthralled by both the relaxing visuals of someone sewing and the incredible story behind a trend that just shows that we never really change as society*

[@MissingRaptor]

Welcome to the club 😉

[@clueless_cutie]

It's really interesting how the "don't look pregnant" thing is back in full swing. I love the comfort of baby doll style dresses yet I avoid them because of the belly effect

[@jessa5388]

It's a nice time to be pregnant and avoiding expensive maternity dresses!

[@Ciara_Turner]

Never thought I'd hear the phrase skibbidi toilet during a discussion of 1790s fashion lol

[@AbbyCox]

It might have been cringey af but I made myself laugh lol

[@jungtothehuimang]

It took me by shock

[@MadamoftheCatHouse]

That's the first time I'm hearing it in my life.

[@BlinkiesNoGood]

Can I just appreciate the phrasing "this (new) version of my body"? As someone whose body has changed a lot in the last decade and a half for many reasons, I'm gonna try to reword my thinking like this to reduce self-shaming

[@neeag4112]

Wait, men once understood for a moment in time that women's fashion was not about them?!

[@AbbyCox]

Men when women kept wearing this new gown style: 👁️👄👁️

[@Terrelli9]

This whole open robe thing just solved my problem whenever I get engaged and need to find a wedding dress that fits my aesthetic. This changes everything! Thank you!

[@quokkakola1722]

So the belly pad was 1794’s version of the “tide pod challenge” which no one actually did but an entire generation was accused of doing.

[@brittanybowen2504]

So this explains why I’ve always hated those empire waist tops from the early/mid 2000s. I always thought they looked so cute on others but made me look pregnant.

[@fitandhappy42]

This reminds me of the assumptions people have made about the Arnolfini portrait, in which the woman appears pregnant but is just wearing a style of dress that has a fashionable over abundance of fabric at the front. (Aside, but I had to google to make sure I had the title of the painting right and had completely forgotten the husband is wearing a big Jamiroqui hat).

[@karlahovde]

I was thinking she'd cover that portrait/ dress style too!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

0:33 I mean, looking like you had tuberculosis used to be considered fashionable once upon a time and now people have specialised pens to draw freckles on their faces. ‘Distressed’ is the new aesthetic. Anything is possible.

[@ashextraordinaire]

Do not get me started on the fake freckles. I was teased my entire childhood (in the 80s) for having freckles on my nose and cheeks, and I was *pissed* that rubbing lemon juice all over them did not, in fact, make them disappear. Now they're a fashion statement!

[@naolucillerandom5280]

​@@ashextraordinaire lol me with my eyebrows. I'm telling you, a life of bullying for not plucking or shaving or waxing them, then 2015 rolls around and it's all "omg I love your eyebrows, I have to fill in mine" 😂

[@ashextraordinaire]

@@naolucillerandom5280 IT'S INSANE

[@wednes3day]

Your traits have been or will be in fashion and out of fashion sometime (like high hairlines in certain parts of the middle ages)

[@makeminemonsters]

Ooh, I love the idea that the "looking pregnant" aspect of 1790s fashion had a transgressive, obliquely suggestive "I'm sexually active" coding that was a feature not a bug.

[@SewingandCaring]

So when I was a young girl I got to go round a place called Calke Abbey, pre-restoration, this place is a stately home which had been shut up since the 1920s and was basically a cluttered time capsule from the 1880s. Only way up and down the stairs was by the servant's entrances and passages - every single wall covered in rude caricatures of the lords and ladies of that house from the 1550s onwards. Some of them were framed.

[@spooniesarah]

From the start of your video I was like I'll bet the prego belly trend was just the awkward time when dress waistlines were ascending and ladies had to remake their existing clothes. Like how gathering fabric at the garment's waist adds bulk? But also, any garment which is fitted under the bust, but otherwise flowy.... any belly that's not completely flat will be on display.

[@kathmorgan3429]

They are just calling natural unstayed women fat. Same as they do now as soon as we breathe out.

[@meghanmcgowan7748]

singing "Peeeeeterrrr Diiiiiiklaaaaage" to your dog is so real lol, if you don't constantly sing nonsense to your dog are you even a dog owner

[@Rosy.Cusson]

Thanks for clarifying at the beginning that it wasn't an announcement. I don't consider it any of my business, but the title did make me curious.

[@wanderingspark]

Most people today have no idea how much you can alter your silhouette with just a bunch of gathered fabric; I'm sure that was true of men in the 1790s. I made a circa 1640 English common woman's outfit, similar to Wenceslaus Hollar's kitchen maid. Several people thought I had to be wearing a bum roll under it, but it was just a lot of thick fabric cartridge pleated at the waist.

[@LondonLite02]

It's wild to think of people gossiping about these crazy fashions while the events of the revolution are just happening in the background!

[@retrogradepink]

Yeah, just like modern times!

[@adaddinsane]

Have you seen the world recently?

[@cb9825]

Finally, a fashion trend I would fit in with no effort!😂 no belly pads needed, I have some natural padding there 🤣

[@CryogenicFire]

Welp! I just learned that boobs were once called "the Merry Thought"; the more you know I guess 🤷🤣 Seriously though, I loved this video Abby. I love when you go off on merry tangents (No pun intended!).

[@persephoneee3743]

I misheard it as "the married thought" 😂

[@ItsJustLisa]

I’ll have to use that term on my husband. I’m sure he’ll agree. He’s all about “the merry thoughts”.

[@Ninnisha]

I thought I heard "Mary's thought" and I thought it was religious lol.

[@katerinajoan257]

This was so enjoyable, thank you :). I also feel I need to add: there was never a time in my life where I was more hit on than when I was pregnant.

[@AbbyCox]

💀

[@wurstbrat.]

Oh no. My first reaction to this video thumbnail was "maybe this would repel men!" Back to the drawing board I guess. 😭

[@jennylafleur]

What a delightful romp in my favorite fashion transition moment! The 1780s into the 1790s are so wild and wacky!

[@AbbyCox]

IT'S SO GOOD!! 😭😭😭

[@latronqui]

Watching this as I modify my palazzo pants to fit my pregnant belly 😄

[@symphony_in_plaid4592]

meanwhile I expected to be showing by now because I have a really short torso and I’m not even close 😂

[@symphony_in_plaid4592]

meanwhile I expected to be showing by now because I have a really short torso but I’m not even close 😂

[@latronqui]

@@symphony_in_plaid4592 eventually it will show ;)

[@DrinkYourNailPolish]

I would so fit into that trend b/c I carry all my weight in my midsection- so I look permanently pregnant.

[@janathompson1204]

Same!

[@blueocean43]

Same, I have some serious bloating issues, and it looks super comfortable for that.

[@dismurrart6648]

I feel seen by this comment

[@JustAshley9685]

Omg same 😭 I was born in the wrong era 😂

[@MissMellyDi]

SAME

[@lorekeepermeerah]

'The 90's were wild' made me cackle. I wish more people would talk about periods in history with such passion and like, *interesting* language haha. Lovely video as always, Abby ^^

[@katharinedonnelly8343]

Could/should the belly-pad (whether it existed or not) be added to the list of things in women's fashion that takes up space that the patriarchy freaks out over? (See: sleeve supports, crinolines, paniers, etc.) 'Cause gods forbid women take up physical space and start demanding *gasp* equality and equity!

[@MariettePeeters]

The underbreath singing of Dinklage, Peter Dinklage into your dog’s head was everything!! 😂❤

[@sonipitts]

I mean...he's why so many of us actually watch that hot mess, tbh. 😆

[@SunnySunshineField]

❤😊

[@eldritchyarnbeing3295]

so youre telling me my endometriosis wouldve made me haute couture? at least back then i couldve fashionably been in excruciating pain💅🏼

[@ah5721]

Its funny because in the Renaissance the Arnolfini Portrait makes it look like the bride is pregnant because of the draping

[@rachelbentley9533]

women: hey look it's my organs in my body men: women are literally padding to look pregnant! women: that's literally just my organs...

[@ArtByEmilyHare]

Our organs don’t sit outside in our bellies. Not all women have a belly (I do) but this idea that the belly pouch is to protect our organs or our organs are why we have a belly is not true.

[@janibii_608]

@@ArtByEmilyHarethe whole “protecting organs” thing is coming from a good place but I think it misses the point. Because there are people who do just have extra fat on their belly, and that’s okay.

[@wednes3day]

​@@janibii_608and folks without/with less of it also still have organs

[@GothCookie]

To me, empire waistlines are SO gorgeous and graceful!

[@CallmeRynn84]

I was getting antsy wondering how much fabric was left..... I'm glad you put that update in!

[@AbbyCox]

Yeah I couldn’t find a place where it flowed in the main body of the video so I decided the very end like a marvel movie would work. 🤣

[@marikotrue3488]

I never knew about this trend. Absolutely wild that for at least a few years in the 18th century you could be unmarried and pregnant with "the permission" of fashion, well at least until your due date. Love extra material, possible projects: pockets, belt, corset, head wrap, bag? BTW, I appreciated the disclaimer. Anyone's physical condition is NONE of my business but I did think that this video was going in a certain direction🙄.

[@serephita]

This video was hilarious, I love the references to older clickbait (let's be honest, we haven't evolved that much considering "(insert name) was here" has been found as writing in caves) - and a nice reminder that no, we do not dress for the male gaze. Brava. Also hearing you break out into T Swift at the end had me laughing so hard my cat looked at me like he thought I was dying. Thank you for that!

[@duceagle6625]

I've recently seen someone sum up people in the past vs. today beautifully: "They were just as smart then as we are now, We are just as stupid now as they were then"

[@tanakaryuunosuke2641]

I really enjoyed the sewing content together with the research

[@AbbyCox]

Oh that's great to hear! I'm having a lot of fun with this new style, it's a lot more pre-production and filming work, but it's so much more enjoyable to edit and I also think a better video in the end. So I'm really glad to hear folks are enjoying it! ❤️

[@tanakaryuunosuke2641]

@@AbbyCox it's certainly worth all the effort!!

[@jazzeecat]

I second that. I loved the mix of sewing project and discussion of research. this was a beautiful video to watch. I really enjoyed. thanks!

[@lokasen9417]

The pad on the belly sounds like a great way to keep the belly warm in winter and during tough period cramps tbh ! Could there have been historical evidence of using any form of padding for that around that period ? It wouldn't be advertised in millinery since that would be done with regular bum pads or DIYed in other ways. Maybe it's just my cramps speaking lmao idk

[@noaccount2494]

I have zero proof of this. But I could imagine an under layer apron being hidden away or a giant tie on pocket, and you can slide a warmed object in or out for such purpose.

[@ultimateskillchain]

I am so glad you addressed the "omg is Abby pregnant" thing early on, because as the intro went on a bit I was assuming the comments were going to be full of that question! As always, a wonderfully amusing and informative video :) and I'm so glad you can wear that gown again, because I've always thought it looked lovely on you. And now it still does! It's so funny to me that at one point, petticoats had to be held up by shoulder straps 😂 it's giving "grandpa with high pants and suspenders" and I love it.

[@clevm002]

Abby I cannot pin point what you have done with your videos recently but they are killing it recently - the way they are shot, the pacing, the scripts - just really good !!

[@piercedsiren]

Listen you're allowed to know Vanguard from Game of Thrones. I know Vanguard from MY HERO ACADEMIA 😂

[@pamelaanderson4685]

1965 and 1966 there was the rage of empire dresses, baby doll dresses and tent dresses which we sewed in home economics classes, made with granny prints, checked fabric, paisley prints and MOD prints. The first time I saw myself wearing one in a family photo I thought "oh no I look pregnant!" and I never wore them again. From then on it was hip huggers and crop tops as the bare midriff was the new fashion. For school it was mini skirts and po-boy sweaters with knee high boots, but my favorite was a real leather jumper that was body hugging over a black knit turtleneck and tights.

[@kimberleylow7221]

Can creators tell _when_ someone hits the like button? 'Cause, it was immediately upon the non-pregnancy announcement. Well, if unfortunately necessarily, played. I wonder if remaking gowns was less stressful when there were multiple people in a household who could make use of the fabric. Someone's 14-year old sister may have ended up with a much nicer dress than she'd anticipated.

[@mheinzle]

Oooh. That‘s your „viral video“ gown, right? Also, I actually came here to say the same thing as the other commenters: I love you saying „this version of my body“. And I‘ve been using that phrase ever since and I‘m much more accepting of this body now than I ever was before. So thanks!

[@AuthenticWe]

Been secretly watching your awesomeness for a few years now, can we stop and say, I see your glow up gurl, this new relaxing lifestyle is working for you, myself I weighed in at 198.8 pounds this morning marking my 201.4 pound loss , it’s the country life and living simply it’s changed everything

[@jessicaarntzen582]

I might be projecting, but it almost sounds like fat shaming. Like these guys had no idea that things got squished in stays. Then, when women stoped wearing them, men lost there friggin' minds that flat tummies weren't the only shape.

[@codename495]

I imagine any man who had a wife or lover knew perfectly well what was being squashed by stays.

[@jasminv8653]

​@@codename495 the wealthier men in western europe? Not necessarily too aware. Lady's maids helping the madame dress and wash herself and they do the deed every once in a while in the dark fully clad in night gowns and whatnot. Easy to fool himself into thinking she's actually stays-shaped whenever upright. But everyone else working and living in cramped quarters, already not wearing stays, rather jumps or even plain kirtles still? Yeah. They knew. But these gender and fashion related moral panics are always upper crust discussions in the 18th century.

[@Rosa-kd2cl]

I think many of them didn’t know what women’s bodies naturally looked like. 😂

[@tjs114]

At 11:05, how many hours were you on the phone to Nicole hyping yourself up? When you guys lived near each other, she seemed to be your sewing Agony Aunt (points to those that remember that term.)

[@annahappen7036]

"Auntie agony"

[@dismurrart6648]

I love the skibidi toilet mention. I love looking at ways people are identical across time anf culture. One of my favorites is that i saw a list of 700 year old dog names and one was baby. Kids have been silly since prehistory.

[@amyrobertson6075]

This is my absolute favorite style of your videos!!! History lesson, with a delightful bit of feminist sass, plus sewing and a pretty reveal at the end.. Just perfect!!

[@Moonlily23]

I swear, ever time I see this dress, I'm always just so enamored by this fabric. I'm sure it's a long discontinued Burnley and Trowbridge or the like, But I can always dream 😍

[@gracesw9906]

Me: 👀👀👀 Abby at 1:57 : this is NOT a pregnancy announcement! Me: thank you for not leaving us wondering 🥹

[@PokhrajRoy.]

0:11 Gonna tell my kids this was Helena Bonham Carter in ‘Howard’s End’

[@debcarroll8192]

Your gathers in that petticoat are impeccable!

[@katherineburtt2502]

When you first mentioned that the trend started during the French Revolution I was like “Yeah of course, so they don’t get beheaded.” But then the further it went on it just reminded me more and more of men complaining when high waisted jeans first started coming back into fashion. I wouldn’t be surprised if some guys thought that women were putting tummy padding under their jeans 😅

[@silentlyjudgingyou]

To be fair I hate the high waisted pants as well. It's been years since I could find something I didn't have to fold the waist band down twice to be comfortable.

[@katherineburtt2502]

@@silentlyjudgingyou I would love if we could have pants that fit everyone’s preferences in stores. I have a long torso so I personally love the high waisted stuff. But I still get annoyed thinking about all the teenage boys that complained that they make girls’ butts looks bad and tummies look bigger.

[@silentlyjudgingyou]

@@katherineburtt2502 I am a short person with a short torso and I can't breathe in those properly unless I fold them down the lack of choice is terrible. thing is I remember men whining about proper waist lines as well before they vanished that's just what men do

[@doobat708]

That blue dress is so cool, looks super wearable in all sorts of situations, great colour, no notes. Watching you do this made me think about all the people throughout the centuries who refashioned and remade their older gowns to work for new fashions or new fits. This style of gown seems so much more foriving and adjustable to changing shapes than the super fitted style, I hope you get much more wear out of it for much longer!

[@arwengrune]

Scraps at the end: Makes sense, as back then, they wouldn't have any scraps of the gown either, and so any alterations whould have used the gown or less of it. 👗 Great vid! Super dress! Need more regency gown sewing!!!!!

[@A_Amazi]

I love that you also mention what (besides fashion) was going on in the world during the timeframe. It really helps to paint the whole picture. 💜

[@moldovanca]

Finally! A trend for the version of my body that I’ve had since I carried my first (too bad I’m 300 years too late, but oh well). I’m pregnant with my second now and I’ll think of this each time I unapologetically pump the bump! Thanks Abby!

[@Sarakatbee]

I figured there was a little “easier to run for our lives” that made this style appealing as well for some of the nobility, plus France’s economy being a bit up in the air and it being practical to have fashion that required less materials.

[@peglamphier4745]

That's funny!

[@jujubesification]

I love getting to know these things about people in history. It turns the past from "this person beat that person" to people who really lived as complex human beings.

[@elfieblue3175]

That revelation that you had net fabric GAIN... I will take that with me to work today and giggle randomly throughout. Thank you.

[@jukthewise8776]

Loved this, the doggie smooches, the frankness, the closing song... You are a sassy lady! We sassy ladies need to unite! 🙂

[@eliciacheney84]

Thank you for exploring a fashion trend that has puzzled me for a long time! Also, the matching bright red lipstick and earrings are so cute!

[@astreaward6651]

You channeling Jimmy from his episode critiquing "Vikings" costumes with the "peter dinklage, peter dinklage..." was just *chef's kiss*

[@sweetlorikeet]

I really love how this shows how extremely doable it was to re-work old dresses into the new fashions.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I do remember being amazed at supportive garments for pregnant women. Reject modernity, embrace tradition.

[@terriwilliams4938]

And...this also reminds me of the trend in the early 90's (when I was pregnant with my oldest children) of the looser, more high-waisted Laura Ashley dresses. I wore them thanks to a good friend who was a seamstress who loaned me a few because I could not afford them and wasn't a confident sewer yet.

[@_Sapph_]

You know this is *EXACTLY* how I'd expect you to announce you're pregnant lol

[@anxiety4daysmusingmedic891]

This might be one of my favorite videos of yours! It was lovely to watch you create something new and more usable ❤

[@Sanne78]

I've never heard about this so it's been so fun to learn 😄 I love that it also proves that women and girls woll wear fun things just foe them and not to please the male gaze ❤

[@unsophisticatedlywellread]

I’m always shook when I see your husband. Because my brain perceives you as a historical lesbian/bisexual. And he’s not often on screen but other girlfriends are!

[@kohakuaiko]

Her Jimmy is a shy boy

[@nurmihusa7780]

Refreshing an older gown. Abby does historical reenactment in modern drag. You’re so delightful goofy when you reenact things I was kind of expecting you to wear a 1780s outfit while being 1794 lady refashioning her earlier gown. That would’ve been absolutely hysterical. But it was still pretty delightful. You always are.

[@mildlycornfield]

I was cheering you on out loud to make that cut!

[@leviholt4557]

The hesitancy to commit to cutting fabric is a huge part of the crafting process that i wish more channels showed

[@lucindabrennan4218]

Why did i think this was a weird pregnancy announcement ahhahah

[@AbbyCox]

There's a reason why I was *very* clear that this *wasn't* an announcement. LOL

[@lucindabrennan4218]

@@AbbyCox I saw that bahaha

[@bansheerin]

I skipped to the comments immediately (I save hers to watch at night when I can be attentive instead of just in the background during work) for this exact reason lol

[@lucindabrennan4218]

@@bansheerin me too ahaha, I had to keep watching and then Abby clarified and I was like "oh... whoopsies"

[@perryh.-r.4419]

Honestly same 😂 I am pregnant and I got excited about maybe learning historical things about pregnancy and/or baby clothes from Abby

[@janenewman2496]

Re: remaking/repurposing clothing. Did this all through my middle school and high school years-late 60’s , early 70’s. Loved making new clothes without spending anything on fabric.

[@delbelcoure]

Perfect timing! I have just started a deep dive into Regency fashion ( i know enough to know it was different things in England, France and the United States, but not enough to know what to call them). Love that you did a whole video on a micro moment in history

[@naomi.j.m.]

I love how it turned out, and this was really interesting to learn about! Side note, the blue dress in the beginning was really cute!

[@Skye_Writer]

You are SO much braver than me. When I've no longer fit into period pieces I made, I sold them off. I always kept the scraps thinking, "One day, if I ever have to re-tailor this, I can." But when it came down to it, I was so scared of messing it up that I would just sell the dress and make a new one. Only 3-1/2 mins in, and I am on edge FOR you, Abby...

[@efox50]

Im so excited for 1790's clickbait analysis! But also: the blue striped dress you're wearing is 🔥! Purchase or self made? Could you share some info on where you got it or the pattern?

[@csil31]

Loved your analysis on this topic and OMG how stressful it must be to cut a handsewn finished garment to start another project!!! Proud of you 🥲 Loved the hair ribbon in the finished look at the end, it suits your current haircut so well!

[@TheGPFilmMaker]

Such a good video (as always)! 1790s is truly one of my favorite decades. The dresses are just so cute and breezy and feminine.

[@leahmalka2039]

I love your content. I love the historical context and cultural comparisons and your craft is lovely (which I'm sure you know). No notes, thank you for making these videos.

[@lisanorwoodtreefarm]

i love the renovated cinema/new sewing room, it's got such feelings of sweetness and calm ^_^

[@TheStarsOnTheHorizon]

As a fellow stay-wear (I dress in 1770s clothing for work), its all gotta go somewhere. I have more of a pooch in my stays because my fat is redistributed to under the waistline. My coworkers and I get inappropriate comments all the time about being pregnant or are we wearing padding, or how many petticoats are we wearing etc. I can only imagine that shorter stays would make that even more pronounced.

[@taradid409]

When you mentioned all the daughters wanting to look pregnant I started laughing. Then I also wondered there was a point where we had to hide their pregnancies and now they're not even pregnant but showing something off.

[@mystic_mimi21]

Thank you for this video , 1790s is my fave period, I am currently sewing a version of a chemise a la Rein round gown type thing for my cottagecore dreams. I feel this time period is over looked as most jump straight to 1810s regency forgetting the 1790-1800 where a really important period.

[@mackennaj]

Yes! A dress refashion video! I have been waiting for one of these! AND the 1790s!!!! Abby how did you know what my heart so greatly desired!

[@KgrK13]

This was really cool to watch! I’m loving that my prep work for portraying Mrs. Jennings in “Sense & Sensibility” led me back to one of my favorite historical fashion experts - Abby Cox!

[@lynnwales2937]

Having a post-babies body that just seems here to stay, I adore high waistlines. It’s comfortable (vs something that bisects the widest part of my body- not comfy).