Comments on: Wearing an 1875 bustle gown in 2008

By: Logansport, Indiana: Antique cabinet card of young woman in black with bustle dress « White Feather Photo Revival

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:26:19 +0000

[...] Bustle: an Apologia. Follow her links and you’ll find another enlightening discussion: Wearing an 1875 bustle gown in 2008. From a very helpful timeline at The Costumer’s Manifesto. Share this:TwitterFacebookLike [...]

By: Dori Garbutt

Dori Garbutt — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 15:21:32 +0000

Wow! Just Wow! on so many levels. I’ve never worn a corset so I have thoroughly enjoyed your description and explanations. I’m intrigued with the dresses of the Bustle Era, both early and late, so Victorian Dress Diaries are fascinating~I wish that I could find more to peruse. I sew, sort of, thus I’m truly enjoying reading about how you constructed your garments. I am appalled that ‘Lady Bean’ felt compelled to leave such unpleasant comments; you show such grace and dignity in your reply. I thoroughly agree with the visitors’ comments to ‘Lady Bean.’ Reading your blog is a joy. I thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences both in sewing and wearing. Sincerely, DoriG

By: Megan

Megan — Tue, 10 May 2011 13:54:07 +0000

Thanks for your great descriptions of wearing that gorgeous dress. I am an historic house museum curator, and I’m writing a furnishinngs plan for a lady’s bedroom. I was pretty sure I shouldn’t use an armchair in there. I’ve worn period clothing exactly once and my skirt has no bustle, so I wanted more information. Thanks for sharing, and for much-needed confirmation!

By: Melissa Virag

Melissa Virag — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:28:58 +0000

Wow! I don’t think I could ask for better praise! There is nothing like such praise to make one feel duty bound to produce!

By: Cat (ainead)

Cat (ainead) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 06:36:50 +0000

I am a costumer in Brisbane, Australia, who has made her own share of Victorian outfits and read a number of online blogs devoted to the creation of period clothes.

I found your analysis of wearing a corset and gown in a modern world to be an interesting read, even for someone who has worn a corset before.

I also think that the work you have put into blogging about the actual experience of wearing a period outfit is very useful and informative for many sorts who may never wear a period outfit but be fascinated by reading someone’s experience. (Including costuming students, fashion design students and writers of period novels.)

I don’t think your blogging is begging for praise in any way (though it certainly deserves it) but is rather refreshingly different to so many of the other costuming blogs out there.

I’ll be keenly following from now on!

By: javier

javier — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:02:15 +0000

Dear Melissa:

My name is Javier Cuesta and I’m owner of websites http://www.kulturagotika.com and http://www.gothic-culture.com

I tried to contact you by email but was unable to find one so I’m writing this comment hoping you read it.

I’m writing because I wanted you to know that i wrote an article in both my sites about your experiences in wearing a Victorian dress, you can read the English version in http://www.gothic-culture.com (the other site contains a translation into Spanish as well made as I could).

I added some links linking here site but please feel free to contact if you want more links elsewere or if you want any part of the articles changed or removed, I also used some photos of your website, hope that’s not an issue.

Sincerely yours:

Javier.

By: alexandra

alexandra — Sat, 23 May 2009 03:10:45 +0000

Melissa, I think you have shown a very Victorian restraint in your response to Lady Bean. I would only wish that I could be so polite in the face of such misguided criticism. Bravo!

By: baited

baited — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:00:50 +0000

“it’s growing more disappointing to see that most people can’t truly live it these days,”; So disappointing, it would seem, that the ‘esteemable’ Lady Bean would flout the life virtues she so laments. I would say more, but it would only serve as fodder.

This particular blogger is exhibiting an uncanny poise in the face of such unfounded criticism, and having read this blog in its entirety I’ll claim that Lady Bean has-been rash in each and every one of her judgements. Good form suggests an apology after deeper reading.

By: Melissa Virag

Melissa Virag — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:43:51 +0000

Thank you, Lady Bean for the comment. I admire your spirit, and your comments and am glad to hear from someone so passionate on the subject. That you view the process as an internal one and that it is not something done for a very unflattering need for attention is likewise refreshing.
One can often wish that one could wear a corset or a beautiful gown, leave calling cards or respect social traditions and ritual – or whatever _historically_ Victorian may be – without being labeled as odd. The socially graceful and sensitive whatever their props should be rewarded, not punished, lauded, not abused. Though I would not pretend to deserve either the criticism or the honor of being called a revivalist of Victorian society, I would view those who had earned such a title as being interesting and deserving respect.
The Victorian era had its fair share of disrespectful and superficial individuals, just as any modern era. No era in history was free of those, though the platforms differ. Just because a woman’s hands were gloved, her hair combed over rolls, her diction clean, and her corset tightly laced does not necessarily mean she was any less internally coarse, vindictive, or aggressive than a jeans-and-t-shirt-wearing woman from 2009. Good behavior and social consciousness are timeless, though rich social protocol, such as the aesthetically wonderful Victorian era dogma, can sometimes curtail some fringe social hostility, and smooth some jagged edges.
There are no Victorian societies here in Rochester. I envy those who live in larger cities where one is available and where one can lace a corset in anticipation for an event. It seems I am lucky in that I have not physically encountered women who use ‘historical costuming’ as an opportunity to flounce around in a dress for attention. I am sorry you haven’t been so lucky.

By: Lady Bean

Lady Bean — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 23:45:17 +0000

So, while this is indeed a refreshing change from the usual blog, are you looking for some sort of reward because you made a gown, wore corset, did your hair authentically?

I wear a corset all the time because it makes the clothing sit in a much nicer way and it’s no big deal, I don’t brag about it but will inform people what it is like if I’m doing a period event and the ask.

Why is it that all the Victorianists out there today are all in this sort of hobby like it’s some kind of competition and want recognition for their own individual accomplishments rather than just enjoying it without having to slapping everyone over the head with it for attention?

What’s worse, is that most of you don’t really seem to understand the underlying meaning to life as lived by the Victorians! Atleast not in a way that puts all this knowledge (which becomes otherwise useless) to good purpose in a modern so society so badly dissected by the very loss of those life virtues that we need seriously reconsider who WE are and how we’ve failed! There’s much more to the Victorian period than just playing dress up and it’s growing more dissappointing to see that most people can’t truly live it these days, just play foofoo fantasy in their glorious gowns for a few hours and go back to conformity when out in the real world.

Anyone can make a gown for a period event, but learning to do it just for yourself and not to make a statement is a totally different experience. Especially when you truly believe in everything once associated with those fashions and do it facing public criticism but continue doing it because, again, you believe in it in more ways than average superficiality.