All About 1860's Fashion // What did Civil War-era fashion look like?

Are you a sister of Stephanie Meyer?

I just found you.
I've been doing research into the Victorian era to design a dress from that time for my daughter.
I'm a little weird in that I like to keep fantasy as realistic as possible, and since my daughter loves both the Victorian era clothing and steampunk, I'm designing a truly Victorian style dress for her that can double, with a few alterations, as her steampunk dress.
I loved this deep dive.

My ancesters have pictures I'd love to show you, but I don't know how to do it.

I especially enjoyed this video, as I am in love with Scarlett O'Hara & Gone With The Wind (due to my mother's influence). I have always wanted to wear the fashion of the era, and it's interesting to see what a 16 year old wealthy girl should be wear, and what was appropriate around the world as the period progressed.

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Thanks so much! I really didn't know that much about the 1860s since it seems everyone freaks out about the late Victorian or Edwardian periods!

I absolutely loved one of the designs on one fashion plate that you showed, but it was gone so fast!

Illusion, also known as tulle, is a fine netting fabric made of nylon. It has a delicate, sheer look but with its medium body it can be gathered and attached to a crown or comb to make a suitable blush layer to cover the face or bridal veil. Also used for special occasion wear, party decorations, or craft projects. i went and checked illusion tulle still exists today

ironically it was a tulle fabric possibly called Illusion, Its what Amy of little women called it when she used "clouds" of fresh illusion tulle to cover a hand me down ball dress she wore to a Christmas ball. Amy was wearing hand-me-downs until her marriage to Lawrie after which Luarie bought her new clothes for her homeward journey. Amy used if for a practical purpose of freshen up an old dress wonder if fabric shortages in the post civil war years caused an need to reuse things thus a fashion of softening older clothes. The tulle( silk in her case as nylon wouldn't be invented for 70 years approx.) was 'cheap'. she also used live flowers on her dresses which were free.

That's absolutely amazing. Thanks. ❤

I think I have a soft spot for transitional eras : my favorite parts of most decades of the 20th century are the end of them (1908, 1916-17, 1946-50, 1969, 1978, 1986, 1997) and my two favorites at the moment for the 19th century is the very end of the 60s early 70 when elliptical skirts deflated but bustles weren't there yet (so you get this swoopy simple dresses with long trains) and the late 1830s where the hair's extremeness Made way to intricate braids (those large sculptural heavily pomaded curls on the side of the face with a braided bun at the crown worn like a tiara or a comb)

I guess they look familiar enough (getting attributes of surrounding better known eras) but we so short and not often represented that they look like a novel take on trends I've seen over and over again... except for 1916, it was a glorious fever dream that is missing in Downton Abbey, those intricate avant garde dresses worn as a war for the aristocracy by the people was at its darkest is a symbolic drama that writes itself instead they went from early 10s to 20s fashion in the blink of an eye

So interesting! I will have to check out more of your videos! ❤

I absolutely love the 1860s fashion. It's so hard to pick a favorite decade from the 19th century. It's a toss up between the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 90s for me.

I really enjoy this presentation, but it needs to be slightly slower with the verbal presentation and the images. There is hardly time to examine the images thoroughly before it is taken down. Content is really interesting. Something about the fabrics would also be interesting.

I use to love the 1850’s but like… the 1860’s? I love it.

Really enjoyed this, thanks for posting and for all your hard work!

Southern women often didn't see the fashion plates, so we're behind even Northern women. Southern women didn't have access to clothing resources because of the blockades. I did my senior seminar on c1860s fashion and how the war impacted it

Hi Rebecca! I have a carte-de-visite which I'd like you to help me date based on the clothes the woman is wearing. Would you be so kind as to help me out? I would so, so appreciate it.

Wow thankyou so much for this video, I am finding the shapes of fashion so confusing, I can't quite work out what bustle I do like and would like to try and make . Keep going please I very much enjoy your videos x

I love how she goes into detail abt every month that passes,there isn't another channel that goes this much into depth

Please can you one the 1840s yo fill the gap between the 30s and 50s

Maybe do 1890s/1900s, Next? I love Late Victorian/ Edwardian era fashion trends!

Thank you so much. I love this,this series is everything I ever wanted... I'm currently working on my master's in Artificial Intelligence and I'm making a system that guesses what year a fashion plate is from... Do you know when you will have another instalment of this series? I know they're A LOT of work but I just can't wait

I have a question that is not really related to this post. Do you have a video that shows how to manipulate a princess seams style to side darts. It took me a month to get a pattern drafted to fit my bust.

This was very interesting. I love to learn how historical fashion changes over the years.

I was so confused when I started looking into the 1860s. They have my fav looks 1867-1869 and my least fav 1860-1863.

Now I get why!

Wow, I was very surprised by some of this. I always associated the 1860s with the big round skirt shape, I had no idea there were years with such a slim form!

I love the deep dives and think you should continue!

How did ladies keep those dresses clean being so very long?

I love the red and blue dress you pointed out and OMG the embellished sheer starry dress of the Empress 😍

These kind of deep dive videos are so much fun. Also, I legit have that same white shirt you're wearing! I love that shirt so much and wear it whenever I can for the poofy sleeves. You're so adorable!

This was super helpful

Thank you for such a fantastic video. I believe I read somewhere that the Garibaldi shirt was regarded as "teen and/or young fashion "at the time. I had made a few and was researching info about them and vaguely remember reading that. I felt a bit weird wearing mine thinking "mutton dressed as lamb" LOL (im kidding just a wee bit.... I wore that blouse out)

this is my favorite kind of video!

Filled with a neck fill piece...you mean a yoke? I haven't watched the whole vid yet but early on one of the many gorgeous 😍 illustrations ( maybe one day we will get to have the artist name attached !) there was a sash. Did this copy the soldiers one?

Loved these dresses, especially closer to the later styles.

I really appreciate those videos! ❤ Wish they would do better for you, don't know why they don't!

I love this series so much! I did not know about the Garibaldi shirt, and I am so excited to know about it now! I enjoyed this very much! My favorite eras are the two bustle. It's no surprise to me that my favorite fashion plates in this video were from 1869! Thank you so much!

I love your video! but I wish you would leave the pictures longer on the screen - at all time in fact 🙂

I would love to see you do a project with the Swiss bodice to overskirt! That plate is gorgeous!

I really like how you explained this

So. Many. Pretties. 🤩

Thank you for the research and I will fail to understand peoples lack of interest. You make it interesting and informative. Loved the Swiss waist that was essentially a skirt :D.

Wow I loved this! 1867 is probably my favorite year for fashion and I loved learning about it! Also I noticed those Watteau pleats one time and have been waiting for someone to bring it up! I really enjoyed this and I hope you do more!

I love the designs with the decorated sheer over layers! I agree that the red and blue dress with Swiss waist would be cool to recreate, too.

I hope you'll be able to do more, I hadn't thought that fashion trends would have changed year to year as much! But I also appreciated that your sources did include some German / Austrian items too. I was curious how much regional variation there would be (I just found this rabbit hole).

I love seeing all of the fashion plates and how the styles evolved. Would love to see you make that red/orange dress with the sheer black overlay sometime!