Historical Book Nerd

Historical Book Nerd A place for me to dump all my historical costuming and reenacting stuff.

I'm not sure how I feel about this 1810s British dress. The net is machine-made with hand-embroidered flowers. While exq...
21/03/2026

I'm not sure how I feel about this 1810s British dress. The net is machine-made with hand-embroidered flowers. While exquisite, I don't particularly like the black, especially over the off-white fabric.

No.1 Royal Crescent is a museum that shows what the life of well-to-do family and their servants was like in the late 18...
10/03/2026

No.1 Royal Crescent is a museum that shows what the life of well-to-do family and their servants was like in the late 18th. I have no idea how much this gown is original or replica (the stays don't look quite right and the pocket looks too new), but it's so pretty.
I like the trim on the gown. And I find it interesting how the underpetticoat skirts are attached to the bum-roll.

Loving these women from the c.1511 fresco "A Tournament at Brescia." The minimal headgear and jewellery, the big puffy s...
20/02/2026

Loving these women from the c.1511 fresco "A Tournament at Brescia." The minimal headgear and jewellery, the big puffy sleeves, the way the skirts of their gowns stand away from their legs. The woman at the back who looks like she's spying on the other two.

The white gown is a wedding dress from 1883. I like the bodice (other than the overly narrow waist), especially the faux...
18/02/2026

The white gown is a wedding dress from 1883. I like the bodice (other than the overly narrow waist), especially the faux-filled-in neckline. Not too keen on the skirt with its asymmetrical tucks and pleats in odd places.

The black gown is a mourning dress from the 1850s. I love the panel of tight pleating and runching down the front.

31/12/2025

Happy New Year everyone. Here's my historical new year's resolutions, aka a list of the things I want to create this year:
- a French hood (I've wanted one for years)
- one kirtle to rule them all (from the Burnley and Trowbridge video)
- 18th century mits
- a sack-back gown (aka robe à la française) and necessary underpinnings
- 1790s open robe
- Regency Ball gown using the white, sequined fabric I bought last year
I would also like to get into the 1840s, but I feel like making such an outfit might be too ambitious (I would have to make a whole period appropriate corset, then multiple petticoats before the dress and accessories).
What news year's resolutions do you have for 2026?

I made this blue 18th century gown in 2018. I didn't use a pattern (I based the bodice off a modern dress) and was reall...
08/12/2025

I made this blue 18th century gown in 2018. I didn't use a pattern (I based the bodice off a modern dress) and was really just going for the general 18th century look.

In France at the moment and saw this gorgeous black cotton gown from the second French empire at the Musée du Vieux Nîme...
24/11/2025

In France at the moment and saw this gorgeous black cotton gown from the second French empire at the Musée du Vieux Nîmes. Isn't she beautiful?
I particularly like the way she closes at the front.

I made this yellow gingham 18th-century petticoat in 2017. I felt it was a bit plain and had a bit of fabric leftover, s...
31/10/2025

I made this yellow gingham 18th-century petticoat in 2017. I felt it was a bit plain and had a bit of fabric leftover, so I added the ruffle across the front; I should have placed the ruffle a bit lower.

This was my first 18th century stomacher, made in 2017 without a pattern. I wanted something a bit fancy, hence the embr...
23/10/2025

This was my first 18th century stomacher, made in 2017 without a pattern. I wanted something a bit fancy, hence the embroidery, but the embroidery was also done without any sort of pattern and limited experience.

These are my attempt at more historically accurate pockets (mostly an older looking fabric, a thinner ribbon, and two po...
06/05/2025

These are my attempt at more historically accurate pockets (mostly an older looking fabric, a thinner ribbon, and two pockets on the same ribbon).

This was my first attempt at making a pocket. The fabric was leftover from my first pair of 18th century stays.
04/05/2025

This was my first attempt at making a pocket. The fabric was leftover from my first pair of 18th century stays.

I made this 18th century bum roll because the bum pad I had made earlier felt to large (despite following the pattern cl...
02/05/2025

I made this 18th century bum roll because the bum pad I had made earlier felt to large (despite following the pattern closely). It is filled with small fabric scraps.

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