For guests at our event, Victorian costumes are optional. However, we do require them for vendors, performers, and volunteers. Whether you’re required to wear a costume, or you want to wear one just for fun, we have the info and resources here to help you get started. Enjoy!
It’s easy and fun to dress as a Victorian.
Local Stores with Victorian Attire
- Solstice – 104 N. Pine St. – a wide variety of costumes, cloaks, and more for reasonable prices.
- The Hat Store – 314 Broad St. – a large selection of hats including top hats, bowlers, and more.
You don’t have to spend lots of money or time to make a great costume.
Here are some simple ideas:
- Wear a vest over high-collared shirt.
- Put knee socks over jeans or pants to look like knickers.
- Attach feathers to a broad-brimmed hat and put on a pair of long, elbow length gloves.
- Shirt sleeves pushed up with elastic at the elbows
- Tie a long scarf over a blouse, sweater, jacket etc.
- Drape a shawl over a blouse or shirt
- Wear suspenders over a plain, plaid or paisley shirt
- Wear a bow tie or string tie.
- Try a top hat, a bowler or a fake handlebar mustache!
- Add some ruffles! A ruffled apron over an ankle length skirt or a ruffled cap.
- Leather boots
- Go with natural materials when possible (wool, linen, cotton, leather)
Worried about staying warm?
- Wool coats are a great addition to your costume and are easy to find second-hand
- Wool socks and leather booths, will help keep you warm and dry.
Minimum Requirements
We’re celebrating a specific moment in history — 1850-1900 — and we do our best to represent this period as authentically as we can. We have three basic costume types. Please choose the one that work best for you. If you’re inspired to build a costume that’s historically accurate to our period, but that varies from these basic minimum standards, please do!
PLEASE AVOID:
- Bright colored or neon clothing
- Shorts and leggings
- Synthetic materials (spandex, polyester, etc.)
- Skirts that fall above the calf
- Tank tops, knit shirts (including T-shirts), clothing with words or images
- Flip-flops, open-toed sandals, light-colored tennis shoes
More ideas can be found by visiting these links:
- DIY Victorian Costumes on Pinterest
- eHow Ideas for Homemade Victorian Costumes
- Victorian clothing Search Results on Google
- Victorian Costume Dress
