Certain occasions called for specific types of apparel. A woman in mourning, for example, was expected to outfit herself with a very specific wardrobe; not only was it to be in black, but only certain fabrics were considered appropriate. The length of time a woman had to wear these items depended on the closeness of the family member she mourned, and could range from a few months to an entire year (or longer). A wedding also involved many fashion choices, not only for one's wedding gown but for a trousseau of clothing one would take to one's new home (or on one's honeymoon). Fancy dress balls called for elaborate costumes; in fact, entire books were written describing the customary guises for a costume ball and how they should be made. (The Victorian lady wasn't really expected to use her imagination here; instead, she was expected to come as a fairly standardized character from fiction, history, folklore or Bible days.)

On Dress at the Theatre (Demorest, 1873)

One should not, this author reminds us, attempt to rival the costumes on stage with our own -- as illustrated by the lady with a bird-of-paradise upon her head...

Mildred's Graduation Dress, by Flora Ellice Stevens (Demorest, 1888)

The Costumes of Hospital Nurses (Girl's Own Paper, 1890)

An exhibition of dolls demonstrating the dress of hospital nurses/sisters throughout the empire.

On the Purchase of Outfits for India and the Colonies, by Dora de Blaquière (Girl's Own Paper, 1890)

What to pack if one is about to live abroad.

Costumes for Lawn Tennis, by Isabel A. Mallon (Ladies' Home Journal, 1892)

The Dress for Bicycling, by Dora de Blaquière (Girl's Own Paper, 1896)

A Young Servant's Outfit, and What to Buy for It (Girl's Own Paper, 1896)

Include a complete breakdown of costs.

Wedding Clothes & Trousseaus

Wedding Clothes, by Florence B. Hallowell (Demorest, 1884)

On the follies of spending lavishly on impractical clothes for a trousseau, and how to plan one more wisely.

Nellie's Trousseau, Arranged by Nellie's Mother (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1888)

Hints on an Inexpensive Trousseau, by Margaret Erskine (Girl's Own Paper, 1891)

How to prepare your entire wardrobe for married life, with a complete list of what each item will cost! The article is followed with a commentary from a reader who has more cost estimates to suggest.

A Servant's Wedding Outfit, by Maude Robinson (Girl's Own Paper, 1891)

The cost of putting together a complete trousseau for a servant.

The Trousseau of Today (Girl's Own Paper, 1900)

Mourning Clothes

The Habiliments of Grief, from a Commercial Point of View (Godey's, 1863)

Mourning Attire, by S.F.A. Caulfeild (Girl's Own Paper, 1881)

Some of the history of mourning attire, what is appropriate, and how to provide for others.

Etiquette of Mourning (Collier's Cyclopedia, 1882)

When should one wear black for mourning? For how long? How does one observe mourning for different degrees of relationships? This article explains exactly what to wear during one's period of grief.

The Habits of Polite Society, by S.F.A. Caulfeild (Girl's Own Paper, 1882)

Among other topics, this article covers the etiquette of mourning and mourning attire.

The Fashion in Mourning Goods, by Isabel A. Mallon (Ladies' Home Journal, 1892)

Fancy Dress & Costume Balls

Fancy Dresses [for a Costume Ball] (Godey's, 1873)

Children's Calico Balls (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1879)

Children's Christmas costume parties.

Costumes in the Greek Play at Harvard (Century Magazine, 1882A)

If you've ever wondered how to create convincing Greek costumes...

Children's Fancy Dress for Christmas Parties (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1883)

"Fancy costumes are particularly well adapted to little folks, a fact which of late years has come to be recognized, and at many juvenile parties character costumes are de rigeur."

Some Curious Fancy Dresses, by Framley Steelcroft (The Strand, 1895A)

This elaborate outfits designed for the famous British costume ball might be just the thing for your Victorian Halloween party!

Masquerade Costumes Representing the Twelve Months of the Year (Toilettes, 1898)

A full-page illustration from a fashion magazine offering idea for masquerade costumes.

A Masquerade of Cats (The Strand, 1904B)

A masquerade ball given by the Connecticut Cat Club.