From here to Victorian (on the cheap)

Want to dress up for Victorian Day but don’t have the resources to go all out? Here are some simple ways to get a great 19th century look, quickly and cheaply.

For women, a simple late Victorian/early Edwardian costume

This look is pretty easy to achieve with inexpensive items that you may already have.

To approximate the look, you’ll need:

Two Edwardian women, early 1900s, both wearing white blouses and full skirts

✓Loose-fitting white blouse with a collar. No need to be fancy; a plain blouse is fine.
✓Ankle-length skirt (not fitted). Any colour will do, but darker colours work better.
✓Boots or any sort of shoes, except sandals, sneakers, or cowboy boots.
✓Optional: straw hat (the kind with a flat brim; not cowboy-style)

To finish off your outfit, wear your hair up or pulled back into a bun. Women of this era rarely wore their hair down in public, except for evening affairs.

If you don’t already have these pieces in your closet, check out your local second-hand or thrift store. They’re often a great place to find inexpensive costume pieces.

For men, an easy casual Victorian outfit

Men’s everyday wear in the 1800s was very much like today’s formal wear. Pretty much any suit will do, but be sure to wear a bow tie or ascot - not a modern styled tie.

Don’t have - or prefer not to wear - an entire suit? No problem. It’s easy to pull off the casual look with a few pieces.

Late Victorian man reading, wearing a white shirt, bow tie, dark trousers, and a bowler hat

What you’ll need:

✓ Light-coloured button-down shirt.
✓ Bow tie (clip-on is fine)
✓ Suspenders
✓ Dark-coloured slacks
✓ Almost any shoes, except sandals, sneakers, or cowboy boots. Would your grandpa have worn them? If so, they’re perfect.
✓ Optional: bowler or top hat.