So what does the VintageDancer team (Debbie and Oscar) wear when we dress up? A bit of everything! From Victorian to the 1980s, we have done every decade at some point in the last 15 years. If you count living through the 1980s to now, then we have costumes for over 100 years in history.
I put together all the photos I could find of our outfits. Some are quite good, others … well… I wish I could go back and redo them. Good or bad, here they are for you to enjoy.
Victorian
Debbie began with Victorian costuming when she worked the Dickens Fair in San Francisco. Together we ventured into Nevada’s role in the Civil War, plus attended a few balls and picnics. Oscar usually fights for the South, because someone has to play the “bad guy” and they have more fun than the Northern Troops. We were then married in 1890s Victorian clothes.
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- Civil War Outfits
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- Off to the Civil War Battle
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- Civil War Era Day Dress
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- Victorian Ball
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- Victorian Beach Picnic
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- Victorian Beach Picnic
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- Dickens Fair Worker (Low-Middle Class)
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- Dickens Fair as a Young Family
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- Plaid Victorian
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- 1880s
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- 1880s
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- Saloon Girl Costume (Late 1880s)
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- Nightmare Before Christmas themed Victorian Costumes
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- Our Final Moulin Rouge Steampunk Costumes
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- Oscar in a Top Hat
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- My Final 1890s Wedding Gown – Isn’t It Beautiful! Even more so in person
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- So Handsome!
See more photos of our Victorian wedding here.
Edwardian
Our very first costume event together was a 1910-1920 historic house tour. We have had over 10 years of Titanic Tea party events with our local historical costume society.
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- Our First Event! 1911 Inspired Costumes
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- An Original Heavy Cotton Edwardian Era Dress Worn while I was 4m Pregnant
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- My Edwardian Motoring Outfit
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- 1915 Sailor Themed Summer Outfit
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- Oscar’s White Summer Suit, 1910s
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- Late Edwardian Era Dance
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- My 1890s Suffragette Costume Made from a Linen 1980s Jessica McClintock Suit
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- Titanic Tea Party Outfits
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- DIY Titanic Tea Dress with Long Gown, Light Floral Silk Robe, and a Silk Sash
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- Thrifty Titanic Costume
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- 2012 Titanic Tea
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- My DIY Titanic Dress
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- Ghost on the Titanic
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- Titanic Movie Inspired “jump” Dress and Oscar’s Pinstripe Suit
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- Oscar’s Edwardian Thrifted Costume
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- My 80s does Victorian / Edwardian Tea Dress
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- Mary Poppins and Bert (Jolly Holiday) Costumes
1920s Costumes
Our favorite annual event is the Lake Tahoe Great Gatsby Festival. We have plenty of 1920s costumes because of it.
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- 2009 Gatsby Tea Costumes – Our Very First Year!
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- 2016 Gatsby Outfits
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- Pink at the Gatsby
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- Prince Naveen from Disney’s Princess and the Frog
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- Seersucker Suit on the Left, Ivory Linen Suit on the Right. Both are Perfect for Hot Summer Events
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- 1922 House Dress (Handmade)
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- 1920s Zorro
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- 2019 Oscar’s Boating Outfit – Striped boater Jacket with White Pants and Hat
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- 2019 – Our 20s Swimsuits
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- Striped Linen Suit by Perry Ellis
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- Oscar’s All White Gatsby Summer Outfit
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- One of my Unique Vintage Flapper Dresses (on a tall model this would have been at the knee, but on me it’s perfect for the 1920s)
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- 1920s-1930s Summer Casual Fashion with a Patterned Sport Coat over Light Pants and Straw Boater Hat
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- Men’s Swimsuit (Circa 1915-1920) I made for Oscar using a Henley shirt and Swim Shorts. Trimmed in Binding Tape.
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- A Black Sheer Lace and Sequin Scarf was the Perfect Accessory for this Early 20s Outfit
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- Seeing the Downton Abbey Movie in 1920s Style
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- Beach Pajama Outfit: Wide Leg Palazzo Pants, Sleeveless White Blouse, Knit Beret Hat, and Low Heel Oxfords
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- My 1920s Inspired Casual Sporty Look: Cardigan Sweater over a Loose Blouse and Pleated Skirt with Two Tone Oxford Shoes
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- My Dress Made from ‘Pretty Frocks’ Booklet
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- At the Tea Dance
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- Checking Makeup in my 1920s Style Fringe Shawl and Fur Collar
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- Final Up-Cycled 1920s Dress
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- I Sewed this Early 20s Dress and Hat from a Striped Knit. Not my Best Handmade Outfit, but it was Unique!
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- A Spin in the Garden
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- Peaky Blinders
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- Suave
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- Sessions Family – 1920s Day Wear
1930s Costumes
We don’t have many 1930s events, therefore we have fewer costumes. It is a shame, because it’s such a wonderful era!
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- Oh Gatsby!
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- My Thrifted 1930s Outfit with Matching Skirt and Jacket, Polo Shirt, Belt, Neck Scarf, and Hat
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- 1930s Daytime Suit
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- Striped Sport Coat and White Trousers
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- Honeymoon on the Queen Mary
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- 1930s Reproduction Suit with Vintage Inspired Overcoat, Fedora Hat, and Two-Tone Wingtip Shoes
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- My 30s Date Night Outfit with Fur Collar Winter Coat
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- Dad and Daughter
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- My House of Foxy Beach Pajama Set
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- Casual 1930s
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- Oscar 1930s Summer Suit with Plaid Sport Coat and Striped Shirt Over a Pair of Vintage Pants. Topped with a Straw Panama Hat
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- Me, Dressed for a Gatsby Festival, Wearing the Floral Dress and Edith Hat Mentioned Above
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- Post Office Tour
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- A Day at the Post Office
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- 1930s Indiana Jones Costume
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- Love this Photo!
1940s Costumes
Sadly not many 40s events, but we still dress up vintage for date night and swing dances.
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- Wearing a 1940s Reproduction Suit from Chester Cordite
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- Original 1940s Dress
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- 1940s Sport Coat (light) and Vest, over Dark Trousers, Two-Tone Shoes, and a Grey Fedora Hat
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- 1940s Men’s Sportcoat and Vest-Only Outfits
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- Oscar in Fedora Hat, Vintage Tie, Pinstripe Pants, and Two Tone Shoes. Very Vintage!
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- Concert with Cab Calloway
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- New Zoot suits
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- My Rosie Look
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- 1930s-1940s Men’s T-Shirt and casual Trousers with Cap
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- A Bold Red Lipstick is All You Need for the 40s
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- 40s Tea Dance
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- 30s-40s-50s ish
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- USO Dance
1950s Costumes
Since we are home to Hot August Nights, we have a few ’50s outfits. Oscar dresses in ’50s clothing almost daily (at least the shirts).
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- Date Night 50s
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- Date Night
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- Vintage Cocktail Dress
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- Everyday 1950s
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- Plaid Western Shirt, Dark Blue Jeans with a Roll Cuff, and Black Boots
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- A Homemade 1950s Skirt with Vintage Accessories, 2013.
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- Hawaiian Hula Girl Linen Shirt
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- 1950s Winter Party Outfit – Wool Dress, Long Gloves, Heels, Jewelry
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- My Vintage 50s Tea Dress
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- Genuine Vintage 1950s Suit
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- Debbie- 1950s Hot August Nights
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- A Little Retro Filter goes a Long Way for Creating Vintage Memories
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- Hawaiian
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- Picnic
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- Easter
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- Tiki for Christmas
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- Our Family of Matching Tiki Room Clothes
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- Sports Themed Event
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- Everyday 50s
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- 50s Christmas
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- Aww so cute
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- Pinup 50s
1960s Costumes
Mad Men inspired a few early 60s costumes. My 40th birthday was supposed to be 60s theme but… pandemic.
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- Mad Men Dance
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- Holiday Party
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- My Jackie O Style Outfit with Shift Dress and Crop Jacket
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- 1960s Era Costumes
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- My Bouffant with Long Hair
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- My 60s Mad Men Inspired French Twist with Bouffant Top Updo
1970s- 1980s Costumes
Hmm, we need to do more of these decades….
80s All Day
Halloween Costumes + Other Themes
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- Vintage 1950s Spider Queen Costume DIY
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- Doctor
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- Mary Poppins and Bert (Jolly Holiday) Costumes
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- Vintage Strawberry Shortcake and her Strawberry Baby Costumes
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- Carl and Ellie and Parrot from UP
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- Vintage Ghost Bride and Groom
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- Our First Cruise in All White
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- Lake Tahoe Renaissance Fair
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- 18th Century
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- Regency
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- Wonder Woman
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- Circa 1985 (I am Lucy)
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- Witch
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- Incredibles
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- White Witch from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Steampunk Costumes
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- Our Final Moulin Rouge Steampunk Costumes
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- Oscar in a Top Hat
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- Men’s Victorian Steampunk Costume
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- Debbie- Steampunk a la Prego
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- Victorian Wild West Costumes (Photo by Chris Stowel)
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- Wild West Theme Steampunk Costumes
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- Steampunk Ball, Nevada theme
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- Thrifted Steampunk Costume
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- Steampunk Indiana Jones
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- Steampunk Train Conductor
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- Maternity Steampunk
Debbie Sessions has been teaching fashion history and helping people dress for vintage themed events since 2009. She has turned a hobby into VintageDancer.com with hundreds of well researched articles and hand picked links to vintage inspired clothing online. She aims to make dressing accurately (or not) an affordable option for all. Oh, and she dances too.
