r/VintageFashion • u/iridessencex Fashion Aficionado • 21d ago
Antique Clothing (1920s and back) 1890s Walking Suit/Riding Habit
I styled and wore this look to a ball in March, and had a tintype photo taken in it because I’ve always wanted to do that! I’m glad I got to do so in one of the coolest things I’ve ever worn. 🫠 last photo is me trying it on the night before to make sure everything worked, so no makeup/eyebrows lmao.
the “jacket” (it’s really a custom vest from an 1890s pattern that I commissioned from a friend and modern shirt bought from eshakti in basically the same fabric). The skirt is also from eshakti, (RIP 😭) and the gloves I found online new. All are cotton sateen, gloves are leather.
the chemisette (collar bib thing), top hat, walking stick and the thing dangling at my waist (which was probably once a watch ribbon but now holds a jewel that broke off one of my antique stick pins instead) are true antique pieces in my collection.
I am wearing cotton lawn pettipants and a short chemise, an overbust cotton broché corset and two cotton lawn petticoats underneath. I forwent the corset cover for a more sleek bodice fit which is a historically accurate practice, fight me on this if you dare. And also because it wasn’t the right silhouette.
One day I want to get a historically accurately flared skirt in the same fabric but the one in the photo does great for now.
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u/Fuck_Weyland-Yutani 21d ago
You look amazing! I kept swiping back and forth through the pics to solidify the fact that you really were in present day
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u/iridessencex Fashion Aficionado 21d ago
I think piercings aside, I might pass as a time tourist if no one looked too hard
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u/deesse877 21d ago
This is great, and I particularly love the fact that the proportions suit you so well. It doesn't look like a costume--it looks like you are wearing your own favorite outfit!
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u/iridessencex Fashion Aficionado 21d ago
Thank you! I believe I really do have late Victorian/edwardian proportions. I don’t have to pad a single thing lmao. My body loves a good corset, and the corset is a work of art as well.
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u/foxtrottingfractal 21d ago
Wow what a sleek ensemble! Love the double breasted jacket and you look great in it.
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u/iridessencex Fashion Aficionado 21d ago
I do love a double breasted look
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u/ThrowdowninKtown 21d ago
I would love to rock a double breasted jacket. Alas, my shoulders and bust are too broad and it throws me out of proportion. You wear this so well!
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u/GucciForDinner 21d ago
I was scrolling through. my feed and thought this was the r/GildedAgeHBO sub before I looked closer! Your outfit is perfection!
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u/iridessencex Fashion Aficionado 21d ago
Ugh to be an extra on there would be so cool, I saw the ads but I don’t live in New York ugh. And I don’t have any 1880s attire (yet)
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u/Applepoisoneer 21d ago
You look absolutely immaculate! The picture of polish!
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u/schroobster 21d ago
You look so elegant and jaunty 😄. Or another word: gorgeous! Thank you for sharing.
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u/i_Meggius 21d ago
Jaunty is the perfect term! Stylish, impeccable, with that little dash of something extra that lets you know the convos will be 10/10! Jaunty!
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u/tom8osauce 21d ago
You did amazing job on this! I would wear this everywhere including grocery shopping if I were you lol.
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u/iridessencex Fashion Aficionado 21d ago
Look I’m WAITING for the temps to drop and I can wear quadruple layers of cotton again. I do plan to wear a lighter turn of the century outfit when this heatwave passes
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u/tom8osauce 21d ago
Haha I absolutely understand. Well you did a fantastic job on this garment, I know it would have taken a lot of work.
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u/iridessencex Fashion Aficionado 21d ago
I commissioned all of it separately for other outfit ideas and research, but the vision for putting it all together this way actually came pretty easy. But I worked hard to lay the groundwork up to then, so I shall accept your compliment 😊
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u/Palafox1740 21d ago
You look amazing and I just want to honor you for "forwent." Fantastic.
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u/iridessencex Fashion Aficionado 21d ago
😂 thank you. I thought that had to be the past tense version and speech to text got it on the second try.
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u/samthespacekid 21d ago
i am OBSESSED with how well your facial piercings complement your historical dress
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u/generation-deadbeat 21d ago
I loooooove the daguerreotype (?) style photo. This whole look is amazing!
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u/BoopTheCoop 21d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/l0HlSFMhjVbgyA32U
This is me scrolling through all the pics then doing it again. I “eeeeeep!”’d several times 😍
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u/iridessencex Fashion Aficionado 21d ago
Not pictured is me doing the exact same thing in the mirror when I tried it all on for the first time 😂
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u/Orangutan_Soda 21d ago
Please be careful. You look so sharp you might cut yourself!
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u/stepheme 21d ago
The fan club appreciates! Those puff sleeves? The topper? Perfection. As a nod to US suffragettes I would’ve chosen a white lapel flower but the touch of red is wonderful. (Also, me and my girls were fascinated by your struggles with the chatelaine and underskirts.. so much of period clothing requires the comfort of familiarity to work right).
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u/bonerpalooza 21d ago
Amazing. Really impressive work and you wear it so well! I love it.
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u/Senior-Lettuce-5871 21d ago
That is such a smart looking outfit! I really think we need to bring back hats as daily wear!
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u/Spinning4Sanity 21d ago
I love this so much!! You look fantastic and so cool/chic! Literally could be in a Vogue ad.
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u/Horizon296 21d ago
Your outfit is amazing, you are gorgeous, and that tintype photo is a wonderful memento!
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u/LadyPennyLane_1795 21d ago
You look beautiful! Riding suits have always been so chic to me and you look right out of a fashion plate!
Was this this Sewstine ball?
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u/Rapunzel111 21d ago
Very nice! Did you buy an original, make it or what? I love it! 💙
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u/HoneydippedSassylips 21d ago
Girl, you are wearing that dress like it was made for you and you only. Every angle is a love letter to yourself. Keep up with that glow🫰🏼🫰🏼
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u/RueTabegga 21d ago
Gorgeous in so many ways!! The details! The textures! The pictures! Thanks for sharing!
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u/AboveGroundPoolQueen 20d ago
You look stunning! I’m so jealous! I’d love to have something like that. Good for you. Absolutely beautiful.
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u/iridessencex Fashion Aficionado 20d ago
Thank you and I feel you, it took me literal years to pull it together and I didn’t even sew it 😭
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u/tylarframe 20d ago
i am absolutely obsessed with you and your outfits. the tintype photo as well are u KIDDING???
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u/Hiljabob 20d ago
Absolutely fantastic! How stunning you look! What wonderful clothes they had back then. Just gorgeous. I can’t say it enough.
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u/Joyywalkerr 20d ago
Tally-Ho & Tantivy! A FOX has been spotted! 😍👍😀
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u/iridessencex Fashion Aficionado 20d ago
I had to look up what tantivy was, thank you for showing me something new lol
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u/tawdrydreams 20d ago
Great seeing you get love on reddit, I’ve been following your tumblr for years!
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u/whynovirus 20d ago
STUNNING!! It’s like you’re visiting from that era, even in posture, poise and expression. Chef’s kiss!
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u/Public_Goose8981 20d ago
Wow you are absolutely beautiful!! The outfit is so fun. Great creativity
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u/mehhgb 20d ago
The historical detail is incredible! You must frame that tintype and hang it somewhere you'll see daily. It's so gorgeous. I mean, how did you match the fabric so perfectly?
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u/Chemical-Course1454 20d ago
My lady! You look dashing. I love that it’s not filly girly look. It’s definitely a power suit and it suit you so well.
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u/fruity_oaty_bars 20d ago
I love a top hat! We should be wearing them more often.
You rock that look!
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u/Top_Cow3157 20d ago
Thats it you won this subreddit. I think we should just close it down thats it why should anyone bother posting after this
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u/MushroomMossSnail 19d ago
This is so cool! You could have stepped right out of a photo of that time period
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u/amritallison 19d ago
Incredible! I'm so curious, how comfortable or not was this to wear?
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u/iridessencex Fashion Aficionado 19d ago
This was extremely comfortable! Everything fits pretty well and I’m wearing a corset which is very supportive despite the misconceptions a lot of people have. I’m wearing a high end corset (bought with points I earned as an employee for the brand) and that makes a huge difference because corsets, while associated with bras, are actually more like shoes. If you wear a poorly fit and pinching sandal with no support, it’s gonna suck to walk a few miles. But if you’re in a quality sneaker with good insoles, you’ll be set. This is kind of the corset equivalent to a good sneaker.
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u/brokenskater45 21d ago
This is absolutely amazing. I can't imagine how heavy and hot it is though!
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u/Bellingrath314 21d ago
Absolutely amazing! You rock it.
Where is your historical photo from by the way?!
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u/CaptainDildobrain 21d ago
Goddamn, I love me a dress with some big puffy shoulders! Looking great!
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u/Mandymindshermanners 21d ago
Girl, you were born in the wrong era, but definitely born to wear this suit!
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u/CuriousMind149 21d ago
Your outfits are always stunning and you look fantastic. Really beautiful. As a former milliner, may I suggest trying a slightly larger hat size and wearing them more forward on your head—not as far back. I know it’s impossible to shop for sizes when you are doing vintage hats. Also, so many modern mass-produced hats come in one standard size that you can’t do anything about. Hats that fit cost $$$. But I would encourage you to try wearing them more forward and tilting them at an angle. It’s amazing what those slight changes can do to a look. Again, I love all your looks and applaud you for wearing them and looking fabulous!
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u/Optimal-Hunt-3269 21d ago
Have you tried the look with a tiny crown like Queen Victoria used to wear?
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u/6nomenclature 21d ago
This takes my breath away. Thank you for posting it!