Vinyl Victorian fashions
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Email AppFollowing on the heals of our last post regarding SteamPunk fashions, we figured we’d talk about some of the interesting fashions we’ve seen on the web combining Victorian design with shiny vinyl fabric.
Fashion is a constant evolution, a mixture of cultures, new materials, and modifications to century old designs. Mixing ultra shiny and modern vinyl with Victorian patterns leads to breathe taking fashions.
To the left is an 18th Century Countess gown made from shiny black pvc fabric featuring an under corset, underskirt, overdress, and pocket hoops to hold the dress out on the sides. This was produced by battyazac on Etsy and is described by her:
“The corset is made in the 18th century conical style which gives maximum cleavage, and is fully steel boned. Laces closed up the back, and has straps with adjustable lacing. The underskirt ties closed at the back waistband and is made of yards and yards of pvc fabric. The overdress is poly boned for shape and support, laces closed up the front, has elbow length sleeves with a scalloped flounce lined with black lace, and a mega full skirt. The pocket hoops are made of satin and have hoop boning for shape.”
Another great source of inspiration from a truly amazing designer and business woman are the fashions of Artifice Clothing. It’s great fun to peruse their site and see the cutting edge designs that they implement with vinyl and stretch vinyl fabrics.
They have a line of Victorian inspired vinyl fashions:
Not only has the setting of the outfits brought them to life, but also note the lace gloves, hats, and over the top vinyl boots used with the outfits.
While the dresses themselves come very close to sticking to historical design, a pair of high heeled vinyl boots serves as a distinct element from the 20th century and adds a modern edge.
These throwback designs in latex are fabulous !! I wouldnt wear it for halloween–lol thats a bit insulting, really. The original use of the Pannier shown here dates back to the early 17th C, its height was during the life of Marie Antoinette, in about 1766. The drawnup bustle form is also classic rococo; more like 1740-1755, in the “shepherdess” forms popular in Versailles…but worn through out Northern Europe for dancing…..eventually becoming the “overskirt” and bustle, in the Victorian Era of the following century.
Only someone who cant sew would comment that this would be used for Halloween–lol. Making these dresses at all from a pattern is “extremely difficult” ; to make them in latex shows mastry and sophistication.
My regret about these dresses shown is that they dont exhibit any use of lace ornament, which was a staple of the Rococo period. Lace at the elbow, throat, ruching in the overskirt, flounces in the underskirt ; these make the garment more interesting to the eye and more fun to wear.
Love these designs – will have to reconsider my original idea for halloween 🙂