Halloween: Queen Victoria {DIY Historically Inspired Costume}

I have always been entranced by the Victorian era and especially Queen Victoria herself. There’s something distinctly creepy about Victoriana too. Creepy dolls, haunted mansions, sickly looking children and ghostly women in black veils. It’s no wonder that when I decided to make a crazy, passion project kind of Halloween costume, I chose Queen Victoria!

I have always wanted to wear a huge, poofy period dress like this and I seized the opportunity this Halloween! I knew it was a rather ambitious Halloween costume planned and it going to use up quite a bit of fabric. Since fabric is a fairly costly resource here in the land of Oz, I decided to make the costume out of several pieces that can be worn separately. Some of the pieces will be suitable for more everyday wear and will see some use, which is better that it all ending up squashed in the back of the cupboard with the special occasion wear!

The costume is not entirely historically accurate but I feel it channels Victoria nicely all the same. The ‘dress’’ consists of lace top, corset, black underskirt and bustle skirt. I had a vague plan about how I was going to make the dress and basically winged it, draping and drafting as needed. I made the underskirt first and built things up as I went. I did use a pattern for the corset but had to alter it pretty dramatically! For those of you who are interested in exactly how I made this, I will be following up with a ‘Making of Queen Victoria’ post that tells all!

These photos were taken by Mr Ask and Mum at the historic Ayers House Museum. The wonderful National Trust staff allowed us to come and take photos. I even ended up being a bit of an attraction and took photos with four groups of passing tourists! If you have never been to Ayers House, it is Adelaide’s finest Victorian-era home. I am a big fan of the Museum and have visited many times.

I hope you have enjoyed me playing ‘Queen for a day’ as much I have! The hours of research in Victorian dress, the sewing puzzles solved and the time sewing have all been worth it. I loved learning new sewing techniques and trying something new. Stepping out of my 1950’s look and into the 1860’s was quite the time travel! My sewing self and my inner child are positively beaming with glee! I can’t believe how the reality of the finished dress lives up to my imagined idea. I’ve never sewn anything like this before and I am really thrilled with the results. I felt positively regal in my costume and a little bit like a time traveler! Since Queen Victoria was such a fan of Halloween, I don’t think she would mind me calling her spirit on All Hallows Eve. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!