Victorian themed wedding... guests need Victorian themed clothes

[LiesDoNotBecomeUs]

I'm not sure if this is the right place (I might be 150 years too late for this style advice).

I'm invited to a September wedding with a Victorian theme. (The family celebrating are Victorian society members in a city with proud Victorian-heritage.)

I need a 'Victorian-ish' outfit for the occasion but am mature, apple-shaped (tall -but size 16 and mostly belly).

I can improvise for children's book day events and things like that but this is a serious adult occasion - in a church - and my sewing skills are poor to appalling. (I'm known for messy injuries with sissors and stitching my -several years in the making- apron to my own skirt.)

Worst of all, I've a horrible idea that Victorian-ish means tight waist (I've never seen mine) and ballooning skirts.

I'm going to look like an appropriately themed traditional boiled pudding aren't I?

Can anyone help on how I can go about this? What style could pass for Victorian and not get me placed on the desserts table with custard?
(I've even considered arriving as a ghost.)

There's an excellent Instagram account called sewthroughtime that may provide you some outfit inspiration.

It sounds like they don't want you to come in COSTUME, just fashionable clothes with a Victorian vibe. E.g.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/organic-cotton-shirred-midi-smock-dress/p/clp22563199#intid=pid_pg1pip46g4r3c1|prodflag_Online%20Only

https://www.wyselondon.com/products/harri-silk-velvet-dress-umber?variant=40611550756953

My BIL dressed in lederhosen and pole danced at my brother's wedding to SIL. You dont even want to know what her wedding dress was. There's plenty of us weirdos out there 😅

Pay an A level student to make you something for their coursework? I knew a bride who wanted a medieval-style wedding dress, and did this. Much cheaper than what it would have cost a qualified professional.

Perhaps a corset (a proper one) could fashion you a temporary waist??

I think this is brilliant.

Except Pip meets Miss Havisham in 1814 or 1815 (the novel timeline begins in 1811/12 and is narrated by adult Pip in 1840), and she was jilted some years before he first meets her, Dickens' notes say he only intended her to be mid-30s (though she's often played as ancient), so she would have been jilted in whatever brides were wearing around 1800?

Which could be a great way of referencing a Victorian style icon while not actually wearing Victorian dress.

I have much love of this wonderful world.
Strangeness is all around here... I'm glad it continues out of sight too.

Miss H does only wear one shoe though. That could be awkward for the dancing.
(There is bound to be dancing!)

This might be nice

https://www.azazie.com/products/azazie-bondi-bridesmaid-dress?color=eucalyptus&campaigncountry=IE&utm_term=1056567&country=IE&currency=EUR&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA_OetBhAtEiwAPTeQZ8B_YET-9s3YiiQ1gBotL4KoHJ1mReasVYwFQ1A7t7w4oqSS8lL8_BoCzfEQAvD_BwE

I would think they are going for Victorian glamour rather than fancy dress something like this? A bit of a nod to Victorian fashion?

https://www.nobodyschild.com/green-cord-long-sleeve-starlight-midaxi-dress.html?glCountry=GB&utmsource=NMPi&utmmmedium=cpc&utmcampaign=PaidSearch&gaddsource=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAOetBhAtEiwAPTeQZ9NwRc30LmkDUs7AlkPkjZuppBGwjFJZdilIPlnz5cNPoyWVOWs83hoCjC0QAvDD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.boohoo.com/puff-sleeve-button-through-midi-dress/GZZ61318-140-18.html?gadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAADlwhrXg944c3XSSSsPeLkAagQL3&gclid=CjwKCAiAOetBhAtEiwAPTeQZ9ZFCNJD3Iyw0q4wwaT-ImjKW9uoQA-fGdKBW9G2QiX7rDmh-sF54xoCQZMQAvDD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

www.johnlewis.com/boden-tulle-ruffle-midi-dress-onyx-green/p109595803?size=12

Of course - I forgot that!

So OP, wear the empire line that suits you and bend the rules a bit about which year it is now (say 1840!). If you want to add more authenticity, you could always set fire to yourself at the reception! 🔥

None of these are Victorian.
Go all out - a massive crinoline with hoops underneath, tight bodice, complicated high hair, lace gloves and a hacking cough to simulate TB.

The Victorians weren't known for wearing dresses slit up to thigh level, though.

What a fabulous thread! Op, you are hilarious. I'd probably go as a man in a frock coat with a colourful waistcoat.

OP I love your rejection of MN "how dare these people order me to leave my house to go to their wedding!" orthodoxy even in these quite challenging circumstances. It almost sounds as if you actually like your friends! Are you absolutely sure you're on the right website?

Anyway, I think you should try and find somewhere you could try on a corset. You never know, it might look great?

PMSL at actually liking your friends!

This thread has really cheered me up. So many ideas. The Laredoute blouse is gorgeous. Can you ask others who are going what they will be wearing?

It's going to be the most fun wedding. Lucky you.

How about a Victorian riding habit? I wore something similar for my son's Cosplay wedding (it was a real wedding, he just has a lot of Cosplay friends). I bought a red sort of ringmaster's type jacket on Etsy and a long black skirt that looks like it has a bustle (it doesn't, but it has like a kick pleat at the back). The jacket has a nipped in waist which gives some shape to it (I did also wear a corset on the top half, but you wouldn't have to), and a top hat with a veil. The plus is that you can also get away with flat boots if you struggle with heels or you can wear, like I did, boots with little heels.

This dress would work although it makes me laugh as it is the double of the Laura Ashley bridesmaids dresses my cousin chose for her wedding in the 1970s. Downside was that LA didn't do children's clothing in those days so my mother swore for days over the elaborate pintucked bodice in the original. (Mine is still going strong granddaughters later though - not sure a modern one will be as well made).

https://joanieclothing.com/laura-ashley-x-joanie-avalon-campion-floral-print-high-neck-prairie-dress.html

Ha.

My friend came to our wedding in a dress made entirely of bras.

Embrace the weirdness!

Oh dear lord, @londonmummy1966 - That. Is. Hideous.
I remember only too well those Laura Ashley dresses and will admit to having an orange and brown one in 1977....😧

Picture?

It is nice, but what about it is saying "Victorian" to you?

And wearing a bridesmaid's dress to a wedding at which you are not a bridesmaid is generally frowned upon. I can't imagine that wearing an off-theme bridesmaid's dress is an improvement.

'Bit' is doing some.heavy lifting there.

I love this idea 😀