I received two questions this week about dressing in 1830s clothing (dresses) for theater and school events. One was about dressing the part of Cosette in a production of “Les Miserables” and the other about portraying Angelina Grimke, a social activist. The 1830s is not an era I have researched much, nor is it a very popular time period to re-create (the fashions were a bit silly.) But that doesn’t mean I am not up for a challenge.
So how do you dress like an 1830s woman but on a student’s budget?
Start with puffy sleeves.
1830s dresses and hats – dinner dress (L), carriage dress (M) and promenade dress (R)
Ginormous puffy sleeves are the one unmistakable design detail of the 1830s. Puffy sleeves have come in and out of fashion throughout the years. In fact, they are back in again today (2019) but on a smaller scale. Prior to now the 1980s were full of them, taking inspiration from the Leg O’ Mutton sleeves from 1890-1906 and Gigot sleeves in the early to mid 1830s.  Here is some fashion history of the 1830s decade: https://www.
1830s summer dresses and hats
How to DIY a 1830s dress:
Option 1. Costume rental.
If you need to be accurate see if you have a local costume rental house. Local theater companies and universities may also have costumes although they usually do not rent them to the public. You can also check etsy.com or ebay.com and see if anyone is selling a pre-owned 1830s dress. The purchase cost will be the highest spend, aside from hiring someone to make a dress for you. You can get dress patterns on etsy. Look at pictures on google image search or Pinterest to see colors and patterns to emulate. Remember most illustrations of the era were of ladies high fashion. Middle and lower classes would be been more simple dresses with less puff in the sleeves.
Option 2. The 1980s
Seek out a vintage 1980s dress with puffy sleeves. Prom and wedding dresses have them in abundance. Again etsy.com and ebay.com will be good places to look as well as any local vintage or thrift stores. Don’t be afraid of a white wedding dress. It can (usually) be dyed in whatever color you want. Add some trim and a belt sash plus accessories to transform your dress from the 1980s back to the 1830s. See how I used a 1980s prom dress in this DIY Victorian ballgown (first example.)
A short teal 80s prom dress over a blue circle skirt. Voila! Victorian ball gown
Option 3. Modern Dresses
A third option is to hunt for a long puffy sleeve new dress. They are in fashion right now although most that I can find are short dresses, blouses, and sweaters. The bigger the sleeves the better. You can layer a full long skirt over a short dress or blouse if you need to. Add a sash belt, a lace shawl, gloves, and a bonnet hat to take your costume to the next level. For shoes look for a simple pair of ballet flats, low heels or soft lace up booties.Â
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- This puff sleeve top paired with a full skirt –>
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- A basic full skirt like this plus a puffy sleeve top or dress
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- A puffy sleeve dress like this is close enough for a simple 1830s costume
Option 4. Pick another decade
Another option is to set your clothes back 10 years to the 1820s. While not accurate to the era, for a school event it should be enough to “look historical.” The 1820s is part of the late Regency era (think Jane Austin.) There are a lot more clothing options for this time period and more or less affordable too. They are also easier to sew if you know someone who can make one. Search for “Regency” or “Jane Austin” dress on etsy for some ready-made options.
You could also go forward 10 years into the early Victorian era (1840s) but the gowns will be more expensive to make/buy. There are some affordable Victorian-era costumes here for women.
For children’s clothes look here. The costume for Susan B Anthony/ Harriet Tubman is the one I recommend for the closest 1830s match for a middle-class social activist character.
What other ideas do you have for a quick and cheap 1830s costume?