Becoming Victoria: Let's start at the very beginning (as Maria Von Trapp would say)

"Becoming Victoria"

I am honoured and excited to have been invited by the Llandrindod Wells Victorian Festival committee to appear as a young Queen Victoria at this year's festival from 22nd-28th August 2016. In preparation for this role I will be designing and making the costumes for the young queen over the coming months. These will be authentic reproductions of the fashions of the early years of Victoria's reign and will include a range of 1840s women's garments from corsets and petticoats to day dresses, ball gowns and bonnets. This blog will document and share my progress as I research, design and stitch each element to reveal the secrets of "Becoming Victoria".

Saturday 11 June 2016

Let's start at the very beginning (as Maria Von Trapp would say)

So it begins... 71 days until the Llandrindod Wells Victorian Festival and almost a score of garments and accessories to be completed. Dressing Her Majesty for daytime and evening appearances will require a range of different items including:

1 chemise
1 pair of drawers
1 corset
1 corded petticoat
1 flounced petticoat
1 over petticoat
1 chemisette for daytime wear
Day dresses
An evening gown
Bonnets for daytime wear
An evening headdress
Shoes and dance slippers

...and no doubt a few things I haven't yet accounted for!

All of these will be reconstructions of the styles and fashions of the 1840s when Victoria reigned as a young queen. The designs and, wherever possible, the materials and construction techniques will be as historically accurate as possible in an effort to recreate an authentic representation of early Victorian dress.

Regular updates of my progress with this exciting project will aim to share aspects of my research and the processes of designing and making these historical costumes step-by-step. I hope that you will enjoy watching these garments take shape as I work on "Becoming Victoria" and I invite you to share your thoughts, comments and questions.