Girls’ and Boy’s Fancy Costumes
Posted on July 21, 2007 - Filed Under Fancy Dresses Described
Girl’s and Boy’s Fancy Costumes is a section from Fancy Dresses Described, or, What to Wear at Fancy Balls by Arden Holt. Fifth Edition, London; 1887.
I’ve broken down the costume ideas into alphabetized groups for easier browsing. Find inspiration for an authentic Victorian style Halloween party with the following:
Juvenile Fancy Balls are much the fashion, and the current is setting towards all that is quaint and picturesque. Some of the best dresses worn by young people are suggested by the illustrated books, fairy tales, and other works of fiction, specially written for them.
Costumes for Children: A-B
Posted on July 21, 2007 - Filed Under Fancy Dresses Described
ALICE IN WONDERLAND. The characters in this popular tale are greatly in favour with children. Alice is dressed in low bodiced white muslin short frock with sash. The Lion and Unicorn as faithful copies of their pictures. The March Hare in a brown coat and waistcoat, with hare’s head and feet. White Rabbit in a check suit, with rabbit’s head and feet. Cheshire Cat in a coat of chinchilla. The Duchess in a pale rose-coloured over-dress with lilac front trimmed with ermine; large head-dress of ermine; pendent veil. The Rose in satin rose leaves mounted as a Mother Hubbard hat; and the bodice and skirt like rose leaves; sleeves and bodice, green satin. Lily, the flower for headdress; bodice and skirt of yellow silk, brown border to skirt. The Caterpillar is cleverly adapted from Tenniel’s sketches, with green cap, and leg coverings like a caterpillar. The Chess Men are faithful copies of the pieces in chess. Cards, after those in the pack. (See Q, for Queens of the Pack.) Kings, with gold crowns, velvet robes, and the insignias of the suits.
Costumes for Children: C-D
Posted on July 21, 2007 - Filed Under Fancy Dresses Described
CANACE (Chaucer). Dress of terra cotta silk, close fitting; long pointed shoes of old gold satin; hair plaited round the ear; silver coronet; gold veil; falcon on wrist.CAVALIER DRESS (For boy, after Von Hughenburg). Dutch type. Broad-brimmed Flemish hat, with ostrich feathers; doublet and waistcoat; breeches to knee; sword-belt crossing bodice; tie at throat; hat and plumes; shoes with bows; gauntlet gloves.
Costumes for Children: F-G
Posted on July 21, 2007 - Filed Under Fancy Dresses Described
FAIRY. Short tulle diaphanous dress, with low full bodice, covered with silver spangles; silver belt at waist; wings of gauze on wire attached to back; hair floating; a silver circlet on the head. Or, for a Fairy Queen, a crown, the wand, to be carried in hand, becoming a sceptre. Stars should be introduced on the dress and on the satin shoes.
FRANCIS I. A flat-brimmed cap, sometimes jewelled, and always bordered with an ostrich feather; doublet of plain or figured silk, with slashed puff sleeves to the elbow, and tight to the wrist; over the doublet a breastplate as part armour; Norman chaussés or hose, striped and fitting exactly to the limbs; broad-toed shoes with slashed tips.
FERAMOZ (Poet of Cashmere). White gauze and silver turban, with jewels; satin jacket embroidered, having hanging-over sleeves; under-vest and sleeves of brocade; full white lawn shirt, showing Indian scarf round waist; velvet breeches, with silver buttons to the knee; silk stockings, small low shoes; a guitar in hand.
FIANCÉ, VILLAGE (Boy). Striped blue and white silk trousers, silk stockings of a darker shade of blue; black shoes with buckles; red silk waistcoat; white shirt; dark blue cloth jacket, with revers and large buttons; large bouquet of flowers, fastened to the jacket with a bunch of ribbons; high collar; silk necktie; grey hat trimmed with blue ribbons and aigrette; cane in hand.
FIGARO (Barber of Seville). Dark green velvet Spanish jacket embroidered in silver; white satin waistcoat; green velvet breeches with pink ribbons; pink sash with silver fringe, and necktie; Spanish hat; pink bows on shoes, white silk stockings; mandoline in hand.
Costumes for Children: H-J
Posted on July 21, 2007 - Filed Under Fancy Dresses Described
HAMLET. Long black cloth cloak scalloped black velvet jerkin trimmed with jet, black velvet sword-belt, and bonnet with black plume ; black silk tights, black velvet shoes slashed with satin.
HARLEQUINETTE. Short skirt of orange, blue, and scarlet, arranged in diamonds; jacket, bodice and tight sleeves, opening over a white waistcoat, a red scarf round the hips; black cocked-hat, black cloth gaiters, black silk mask, and black wand; or wooden baton in the hand. Or, white tulle dress and low black velvet bodice, with diamonds. Or, orange, black, and red satin carried diagonally across skirt to hem; mask and wand. Or, short pleated black, red, and yellow satin skirt draped with red satin; tunic meeting cuirass bodice, copied from harlequin; tight fitting coat; short black satin shoulder cloak, with straight upstanding collar; lined red ruff at throat; cocked hat; powdered hair.
HEARTS, KING OF. Red and white striped stockings; blue justaucorps, cut in points, and covered with hearts; a large satin collar, in shape of two hearts; red cap, with hearts; tight and hanging sleeves; sceptre with hearts.
HEARTS, QUEEN OF. Red velvet princess dress with hearts, square cut at neck; sceptre in one hand, bouquet in other; pointed cap.
HENRY VI, wears a felt hood or bonnet, with short tippet and single feather; a doublet of braided silk, cut round even with the shoulders, a separate scarf covering the latter; loose sleeves, trimmed with fur; tight hose; high boots of brown leather, long-toed and spurred.
HERALD. White felt hat with feather; the tabard coat yellow, green, or blue, with the arms embroidered in gold or silver, and a shoulder jacket of contrasting colour; tight silk hose; trousers striped or parti-coloured; and a trumpet.
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