Victorian Society members embrace lifestyle of an earlier era
Remember how fun it was when we were children spending an afternoon
with the costume trunk, piling on the dress-up clothes? For some grownups, the
fun never stops.
with the costume trunk, piling on the dress-up clothes? For some grownups, the
fun never stops.
We met a couple of ladies a couple of weeks ago at Oak Hill Day in Annandale decked out in full Victorian regalia, complete with big hats and long
skirts. They were there to promote the Victorian Society at Falls Church, an
organization of history enthusiasts who don’t just read about the Victorian
era, they take part in living history events and parties where they dress up and
take on the mannerisms of the period.
skirts. They were there to promote the Victorian Society at Falls Church, an
organization of history enthusiasts who don’t just read about the Victorian
era, they take part in living history events and parties where they dress up and
take on the mannerisms of the period.
In the photo, Karla Pringle (right) is wearing an 1890s-era gored
skirt made for her with modern-day fabric, a new blouse that looks old, a vest from
a vintage shop, and a hat she made herself.
skirt made for her with modern-day fabric, a new blouse that looks old, a vest from
a vintage shop, and a hat she made herself.
Lynda Lau’s outfit (on the left in the photo) is from about 1900, “when ladies’
clothing started to get a little more tailored,” reflecting women’s increasing
involvement in more sporty activities, she said. The sleeves are little shorter
than more formal outfits, but that meant one had to wear longer gloves. Her
pocket watch and boater hat are antiques, and Lau made the hat trim. The rest
of the outfit was made for her by a seamstress.
“When you put the clothes on you feel totally different,”
says Lau. “You talk differently, and comport yourself differently.”
says Lau. “You talk differently, and comport yourself differently.”
Lau has about 20 outfits from the 1860s to 1912, including a
bathing costume, yachting outfit, and several ball gowns, most of them custom
made. Few modern women could actually fit into authentic period clothes, as
people were shorter and thinner back then and had small shoulders, she notes.
bathing costume, yachting outfit, and several ball gowns, most of them custom
made. Few modern women could actually fit into authentic period clothes, as
people were shorter and thinner back then and had small shoulders, she notes.
“I enjoy the lifestyle, the customs, the social life, the
things they did, the things they ate. I love going to tea,” says Pringle about
her fascination with the Victorians. Regarding the way women were treated back
then, she acknowledges, “I’m not too happy about that part.”
things they did, the things they ate. I love going to tea,” says Pringle about
her fascination with the Victorians. Regarding the way women were treated back
then, she acknowledges, “I’m not too happy about that part.”
Lau noted there were some Victorian women who fought for
women’s rights, such as Anna Howard Shaw, a suffragist. Lau sometimes portrays
Helen Churchill Candee, a socialite born in 1858, who had been abused by her
husband, left her family, and had a successful career as a writer and interior
decorator. She was a lady ahead of her time,” says Lau, who enjoys researching
Victorian women “who set out to better their lives and change things.”
women’s rights, such as Anna Howard Shaw, a suffragist. Lau sometimes portrays
Helen Churchill Candee, a socialite born in 1858, who had been abused by her
husband, left her family, and had a successful career as a writer and interior
decorator. She was a lady ahead of her time,” says Lau, who enjoys researching
Victorian women “who set out to better their lives and change things.”
The Victorian Society was started in 1995 by people who
lived in Victorian-era houses in Falls Church. Currently, it has about 140
members from throughout the region.
lived in Victorian-era houses in Falls Church. Currently, it has about 140
members from throughout the region.
The group has an annual Halloween party, featuring “odd
occurrences” and spooky readings from the works of Charles Dickens and Edgar
Allen Poe. There’s an annual Civil War-era Christmas celebration and a Burns
Night celebrating the Scottish poet. Members come in costume to the annual
White House Easter Egg Roll and the Falls Church Memorial Day Parade. They
visit historic sites, write articles about historical issues, for the society newsletter, and get together frequently for teas.
occurrences” and spooky readings from the works of Charles Dickens and Edgar
Allen Poe. There’s an annual Civil War-era Christmas celebration and a Burns
Night celebrating the Scottish poet. Members come in costume to the annual
White House Easter Egg Roll and the Falls Church Memorial Day Parade. They
visit historic sites, write articles about historical issues, for the society newsletter, and get together frequently for teas.
They’ve also published three books: Afternoon Tea in the
Victorian Tradition, with recipes for things like scones, finger sandwiches,
and teacake; Entertaining Victorian Style; and Victorian Falls Church, with
lots of old photographs.
Victorian Tradition, with recipes for things like scones, finger sandwiches,
and teacake; Entertaining Victorian Style; and Victorian Falls Church, with
lots of old photographs.
It’s all educational, as well as fun—and it seems like it’s way
more entertaining to dress up in fancy costumes for tea parties and balls than
to put on scratchy uniforms and re-enact bloody Civil War battles.
more entertaining to dress up in fancy costumes for tea parties and balls than
to put on scratchy uniforms and re-enact bloody Civil War battles.
