Give your Civil War Dress a little extra flare with a hoop skirt!

Ladies Undergarments in the 1860’s consisted of about seven layers of clothing under the dress.  Cotton bloomers, a chemise and corset, a camisole, the under petticoat, the pantelets, and the over petticoat. Not to mention of course, the stockings and garter as well.







Hoop Skirt/Full. This hoop skirt is made with four rows of featherbone hooping and is the fullest hoop skirt available with the largest hoop at the bottom measuring 108” around.  It is by far the best choice to add the most fullness to your Civil War gown.















Hoop Skirt/Medium Fullness. While this hoop skirt is not quite as full as the one pictured above, it does provide a nice amount of fullness for a Civil War dress.



















Hoop Skirt/Minimum Fullness. This “hoop skirt” has one narrow hoop at the bottom edge of the hoop skirt and is designed to help an ankle length dress hold it’s shape.  It can be used for a Civil War dress, although it is not designed to provide the fullness shown in the typical costume images you see for Southern Belles gowns.

The civil war era carries with it a history of dark days of war and yet at the same time there are many pre-civil war charming and beautiful memories that are important to remember and that still intrigue us in today’s modern times.

Here at Civil War Dresses.org you will not only find a selection of 1860’s dresses and costume accessories, but a few interesting tidbits of 1860’s history.  For example one historian does not agree that the average lifespan was 39 in the 1860’s. According to this viewpoint, the typical age span in civil war era was generally the same as today. The statistics are based on numbers that include childbirth mortality rates, etc. thus lowering the average lifespan to 39, but a typical adult would live into their 60’s or 70’s.  For example: Dorothea Dix, Superintendent of Female Nurses for the Union, lived for 85 years; Florence Nightingale lived to be 90 years old; and Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, lived to the age of 91.

Hoopskirt History – Crinoline, Petticoat

This video demonstrates getting dressed with a hoop skirt, snood, and hat, and also describes the history of the hoop skirt (crinoline).

Hoopskirts 101

Step back into the Civil War Era with a pair of Victorian style shoes or boots to complete your Southern Belle ensemble!

Lace Victorian Granny Boots – Ivory, Black, Gold, or Pink.  Lovely Victorian replica design with see through lace sides and a 2-inch heel. Available in whole sizes – 6M/US through 10M/US.




Ivory Lace Victorian Mid-Calf Boots. Elegant ivory Victorian style calf-high lace up boots featuring see through lace sides and a 2” heel.  Sizes available: 6,7,8,9,10 (US sizing)

Ivory Lace Victorian Tall Boots or Black Lace Victorian Tall Boots. Lace-up Victorian boots with the see through lace on the sides and a 2.5” heel.  These boots feature a zipper on the inseam for ease in getting the boots on and off.  US Whole Sizes: 6 through 10.





Notation regarding the above styles of lace boots. When researching the various options of Victorian style shoes our researchers found that several customers who purchased the lace boots shown above, stated that the boots have a strong odor when you first open the box but after letting them air out for a while they were fine.






Black Lace-Up Granny Boots. Lace-up ankle boots designed with a Victorian flavor and a 3-inch heel.  Comes in US sizes 6,7,8,9,10.

Black Lace-Up High Heel Boots. These black high heel boots feature a lace-up front with a zip closure on the inseam and make a fun accent to a Southern Belle outfit.  They come in Small (6-7), Medium (7-8), or Large (8-9).










Amelia Black Victorian Boots. Featuring a 1-inch sculpted heel, a lace-up front, and detailed scalloped trim. These vivacious Victorian boots come with an inseam zipper and make an authentic finishing touch to a Civil War costume.      Size selections range from 6 through 10 in U.S. sizing.

Black Mock Button Victorian Boots. Featuring mock buttons with a ruffle edging around the button mock closure these boots have a 4” heel and a 1” platform sole.  Available in whole sizes 6 -11 in US sizing.

Ruth Victorian Boots/Tan Mock Button & Ruth Victorian Boots/Black Mock Button. With a classy Victorian button design on the sides, these calf-length boots feature a 4-inch heel, a side zipper closure and come in tan or black. Sizes: 6-10 (US sizing, whole sizes only)






Mary Jane Black Platform Shoes. Although these are not specifically “Victorian” style, they come in “wide width” and blend very nicely with a Civil War dress.  With a 4” sturdy heel, these black patent leather shoes are available in womens sizes: 7W, 8W, 9W, 10W, 11W, 12W, 13W (U.S. Sizing)

Eden Black 3” Heels. Comfy “classic black” style shoes that look very nice with a Civil War dress.   These shoes have a black strap and silver buckle and sturdy three inch heels that are easy to walk in!  Available in regular width U.S. women’s sizes 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.

In the 1860’s women wore stylish Victorian Era footwear which remains popular even today.  Just like in modern times there were many different women’s shoe styles available during the 19th century.  Ladies needed work shoes, everyday shoes, walking shoes, and dress shoes, and with style choices of lace-up or high-button, flats, low heels, high heels, and slipper shoes.

Civil War women wore cotton or wool stockings in the 1860’s that were white or black, and even sometimes in colors or stripes.  These stockings came to just above the knee and were secured with a garter.  For a simple alternative to be worn with a Civil War costume you could substitute with a modern thigh high stocking in white or black to give the same effect.

The Victorian Lady on Southern Etiquette

Watch closely as they dance for a glimpse at the ladies lace-up boots.

Girls will get to experience “putting themselves in someone else’s shoes” by putting on a pair of dress-up shoes from another era and imagine what it might have been like!

Finding Victorian style shoes for girls in today’s marketplace is almost impossible. So we’ve come up with the selections below, and while they are not necessarily replicas of Victorian shoe styles, they are selections that will blend very nicely with a beautiful Civil War Era dress.  And most importantly the girls will have a great time wearing any of these adorable shoes!

Lace-Up Black Boots-Child. Your Civil War sweetie will feel like she’s back in the 1860’s with these Victorian style boots that feature a lace up front with a zipper in the side seam which makes it easier for her to put them on.  They have a broad 1 3/4” heel and are available in sizes: Small 11/12, Medium 13/1, Large 2/3, and X-Large 4/4.5 (U.S. Sizing).






Eden Child’s Shoe/Black. These shoes are a perfect addition to a child’s Civil War Dress.  They feature a simple strap with a silver buckle and a wide 1.75” heel.

They are available in the following sizes: Small (11/12); Medium (13/1), and Large (2/3); however, some of the customer reviews state that these shoes run big, so you may want to order a smaller size than you normally would.





Classic Black Mary Janes-Child. These basic black shoes feature a simple design with a strap and buckle closure that are perfect for a little girl to wear with her Southern Belle gown!

Based on customer reviews these shoes run big so you may want to order one size smaller than usual.  Despite the sizing issue these shoes still earned an overal 4 Star Customer Rating.

Sizes: S (11-12); M (13-1); L (2-3); XL (4-4.5)





Clear Girls Princess Shoes. When she slips her foot into these shoes, she’ll feel like a beautiful southern princess! These little slip-on shoes feature a silver glitter heart and a 2-inch clear heel with the feel of a glass slipper.  They are available in U.S. Sizes: 2/3(Large); 13/1(Medium); 11/12(Small)

Child’s Clear Princess Sandals. She’ll feel all grown-up when she wears these pretty little sparkly sandals with a clear heel and silver leaf accents and ankle strap.  These are available in child’s whole sizes 10 through 4 (US sizing).

These darling little sandals ranked at a 4 1/2 Star Rating by customers.

Clear Child Princess Flats. Every little princess needs a pair!  These pretty little shoes feature a simple design that gives the look of a glass slipper and also has a 1” see-through heel.  A glittery silver heart embellishes the front of the shoe.

Customers loved these shoes and gave thema 4.5 Star Rating saying how their little girls loved wearing them!

Sizes available are U.S. Sizes: Small(11-12); Medium(13-1); Large(2-3)

White Child Ballet Style Shoes & Pink Child Ballet Style Shoes. These  comfortable little shoes are the perfect finishing touch for her new Southern Bell dress!  These darling flats are available in pink or white and feature a simple bow on the front and a strap over the foot.

They are available in Girl’s whole sizes 11-12 Small; 13-1 Medium; and 2-3 Large.

Children’s shoes during Civil War times were basic shoes that were functional and sturdy.    While most girls in the 1860’s wore shoes of a more practical nature, today’s little girls usually have the most fun pretending to be a grown-up Southern Belle with a pretty Civil War gown and dress-up shoes!  And how great is it when children can have fun dressing up in a costume and also get the benefit of re-living a bit of history at the same time!?!

If you need some stockings for your little Civil War gal, then check out these charming lace tights to add an extra special touch to her costume, and you can do it for less than $5.00!

Thigh highs in the 1800’s! Well, almost…

During the Civil War Era ladies stockings would be held in place by a garter just above the knee.  Finding replica Victorian stockings for a costume is next to impossible, so if you’re wanting to stay as close to the style of that time period, then the modern thigh highs found below make a great alternative.

Thigh High White Stockings with Bow-Adult

Thigh High Black Stockings with Bow-Adult

Girls Lace Tights

Girls White Tights

GIrls Pink Tights

Stockings in the 19th century were mostly hidden by a lady’s skirt and petticoats.  Vintage Victorian stockings typically have a plain design that was made of cotton or wool, occasionally sporting a fancier knit pattern, and were designed to provide comfort. Affluent women would purchase silk stockings for special occasions, with some even including an embroidery design on the stockings.

Women’s Fashions of the Civil War

If you’re interested in how civil war women wore their stockings, at minute 1:24 you’ll hear how they wore them in that era.

Gloves are a

must-have accessory

for every genteel Southern Belle!

White Child's Gloves

Black Child's Gloves

Long White Gloves-Child

Long Black Gloves-Child

Black Fingerless Lace Wrist Gloves

White Fingerless Lace Wrist Gloves

White Ruffled Lace Wrist Gloves

Black Ruffled Lace Wrist Gloves

White Lace Fingerless Gloves

Lace Fingerless Gloves-Black

Long White Lace Gloves

White Stretch Lace Elbow Gloves

White Mesh Gloves

White Stretch Elbow Gloves

Opera Length Black Satin Gloves

Long Dark Pink Gloves

Women’s gloves were a part of a Civil War era lady’s outfit.  Ladies of the Civil War Era would wear gloves when going out, for example when going to Sunday church, or going on a visit, or out to a dance.

Civil War Dresses.org is also a good resource to find other 1860’s costume accessories such as Civil War Handbags, Lace Parasols, and Lace Fans.

1860’s Costume Ball

Many of the women are wearing gloves with their 1860’s era dresses and looking quite elegant!

To get the full effect of a Southern Belle during the Civil War Era add a wig with the 1860’s style!

Women in the Civil War Era typically wore their hair long and curly.  Top off your Civil War outfit with a Southern Belle wig that has an authentic historical style from the 1860’s.

Instead of spending hours trying to style your hair in the long curly hairstyle of the 19th century, an inexpensive costume wig is a great choice.  Keep in mind that the wigs shown below are “costume” wigs made of synthetic fibers and while the quality is good, it is a costume wig and definitely not the same quality of a wig made of human hair.  With that in mind, purchasing a wig for your costume is truly a fantastic option and at a surprisingly low cost!

There is one other simple solution available besides buying a wig or attempting to style your own hair — and that is to purchase a “snood”!

A snood was a type of hair ornament, typically of crocheted lace, used to either cover a bun or a long section of hair at the back of a woman’s head.

Southern Belle Wig-Child

1860’s Era Wig-Child

1860's Era Wig-Adult

Blonde Southern Belle Wig-Short Curls

Blonde Southern Bell Wig-Long Curls

Scarlet Wig-Brown

Scarlet Wig-Black

Southern Belle Wig-Black

Southern Belle Wig-Large Black Curls

Wig Cap for Blonde-Brown Wigs

Wig Cap for Black Wigs

Snood (22 color choices)

Beaded Bow Barrette with Snood

Women’s hairstyles of the 1860’s were numerous, with many wearing their hair in long and curly ringlets while others chose a more conservative style often worn up in a bun.  Hair nets or snoods were also popular during this time period.

Civil war-era hair styles

Gone With The Wind Spoof by Carol Burnett – Part 1

Gone With The Wind Spoof by Carol Burnett – Part 2

Every sophisticated Civil War lady needs a proper handbag to accessorize her 1860’s outfit!

Much like today, women of the 1860’s would carry a different handbag for different occasions.  Even back in these days there were fashion magazines that would tout the proper bag for a certain event.

Just what items would a fine lady carry in her drawstring bag in the 19th century?  You could expect to find such things as rouge, a fan, a bottle of scent, and even smelling salts.

Southern Belle Bag-Ivory

Southern Belle Bag-Ivory/Burgundy

Midnight Blue & Black Purse

Black Drawstring Bag with White & Black Netting

Maroon Drawstring Purse with Pink Trim

Black & White Satin Pouch

Pink Print Drawstring Bag

Pink Drawstring Purse with Black Trim

Southern Belle Bag-Pink

Burgundy Drawstring Bag with Leafy Trim

Powder Blue Drawstring Bag with White Marabou

The origin of purses and handbags is believed to have been derived from early pouches that were used for many different purposes.  Some would hold seeds or medicinal items, while others were used to carry religious items.  Pouches can even be seen in early history being carried around the waist in Egyptian hieroglyphics.

During the 18th century handbags were first called indispensables, then were later referred to as ridicules, which then in the mid 1700’s became known as reticules.

During the 19th century women usually carried a drawstring bag.  These bags were commonly made of net, velvet, or brocade and were embellished with embroidery, beaded trim, and various lace accents.

As the history of handbags continues, with the development of railroads, the term “handbag” began to be used to describe hand-held luggage bags.  It wasn’t long before the term handbag was thought more of as a purse rather than luggage. Some of the top names associated with exclusive purses in modern  times had their beginnings during the 1800’s.  For example, Louis Vuitton was a luggage packer for the wealthy in Paris and in 1854 he began manufacturing trunks and luxury goods, then in the late 1800’s he introduced his first handbag.

Civil War Era drawstring handbags remain a classic favorite throughout the history of purses and will make a lovely finishing touch to an 1860’s ensemble.

Civil War Dress Competition

Check out the accessories – purses, parasols, gloves, hats & wigs in this video.

A fine southern lady will be ready to take a stroll down memory lane with a beautiful lace parasol!

A Civil War Era parasol was a bit of a status symbol indicating that a woman was not just a commoner who instead would wear the less fashionable bonnet that had become a thing of the past, but a fashionable lady of position in society.  Any self-respecting lady would carry a parasol to maintain her fair skin, unlike that of a working woman.






White Ruffle Lace Parasol. This beautiful lace parasol measures 27.5” in diameter and is accented with white lace ruffles giving it a more elegant look.    Customers who have purchased this parasol rated it with 4 and 5 Star Ratings.








White Lace Parasol

or

Black Lace Parasol

A lovely accessory that will complement any 1860’s era ensemble! When we reviewed this item, the white parasol was rated with a 4 Star Rating and the black parasol earned the highest possible 5 Star Rating.  We might add that a few customers that mentioned the white parasol did not hold up well but most were still pleased with it overall.
























Red & Black Lace Parasol. This parasol features a black  lace design with red lining and is accented with a dainty black lace ruffle.  The perfect accessory for a Civil War Gown!












The parasol was introduced to America in the mid 1700’s from the East Indies and by the middle of the 19th century the popularity of parasols had risen to new heights. Most American women, whether rich or poor owned two parasols, one in black and one in white.

The parasol and the umbrella are not to be confused, as etiquette called for the man to  carry an umbrella for the woman in the rain.  Parasols were dainty and delicate in design and were often used to communicate a lady’s intentions for a certain gentleman by a genteel twirl of her parasol.

A southern lady’s ensemble would not be complete without an elegant wide-brimmed hat or parasol, and women’s gloves and a lace fan were equally important!

Parasols!

A flirtatious and fashionable lace fan is a perfect addition for a Southern Belle’s ensemble!

A lace fan served more than one purpose!  Not only was it used in a practical fashion to fan one’s self on a warm summer day, but it was also a flirtatious tool of communication to let a gentleman know of a certain lady’s intentions!  Of course an essential accessory for a Southern Belle.

Southern Belle Lace Fan. An elegant look with lace and gold accents earned this fan a 4.5 Star Rating by customers who purchased it!  Good quality for a low price!

Black Lace Fan

or

White Lace Fan

This 9” lace fan comes in black or white with a simple lace design that makes a perfect accent for Civil War Era costumes.  Customers gave this fan a 4 Star Rating!

Red Lace Fan. This lace fan is made of plastic with gold trim and is a lovely touch to an 1860’s gown.














A proper pair of gloves as you hold your fan will give an elegant look to your Civil War costume!

The history of the fan is quite interesting.  In the late 16th century simple bamboo and paper fans were introduced to Europe from the Far East.  By the 17th century fans were being embellished with ivory, delicate carvings, and were being made of paper, silk, and even some lace. 16th and 17th century fans would most often be decorated with classical or biblical scenes.

During the 18th century machines began to be used to print designs for fans which meant fans could be produced at a lower cost and fans grew in popularity in all levels of society. The decoration of fans began to change in the late 1700’s to scenes depicting mythology or English gardens.

During the 19th century fans began to be produced by manufacturing companies and the detailed design and intricacies began to decrease as the demand for higher quantities increased.  In the 1800’s machines now had the capability to do machine embroidery and engraving, although fan painting became a popular pastime for ladies during the Victorian Era.

Southern Belle Flirts With A Lace Fan Part 1

Southern Belle Flirts With A Lace Fan Part 2