$50 No-Sew Dickens Era Challenge Part 1: The Base Ensemble

November 13, 2019
$50 No-Sew Dickens Era Challenge Part 1: The Base Ensemble

By Lauren Moyer
GBACG Webmistress & Social Media

Hold on to your bonnets for a two-part blog post on my $50 No-Sew Dickens Ensemble! Showing that you don’t have to sew or spend much to look fabulous at Dickens!

My $50 outfit with no corset or accessories

As a costumer and a board member of GBACG, I spend a lot of time at events and talking to people online about costuming, expectations and confidence in the hobby. One topic I’ve heard many times and it breaks my heart is a statement similar to: “I wish I could join in the fun, but I don’t know how to sew/I don’t have money to buy accurate dresses/I’m worried I’m not historically accurate enough.”

As someone neck-deep in this hobby, I want people to participate no matter their skill level and to encourage everyone’s own view of costuming, whether it’s Historical, Steampunk, mash-ups, cosplay, etc. So I’ve been thinking a lot about how we as a group can be more encouraging and accessible to those who watch the fun from afar and want to participate. 

With this thought, I decided to challenge myself to make a great costume that can be repeated without sewing a stitch!

So here were the rules I gave myself: 

  • Absolutely no sewing, safety pins only (the costumer’s holy grail).
    Many people do not have sewing machines, or space for them, or finances to purchase or the confidence to use them. Why should they feel they can’t participate in dress up?
  • Store-bought new.
    Although I prefer thrifting to buying new, I understand that perfect thrift store finds are time intensive and not easy to replicate. So I bought new clothes through Amazon, which is more accessible to the masses, this way you can buy the same or use the look to buy/thrift something similar!
  • $50 max.
    I understand that for some $50 is a lot of money, but I wanted to put a limit on spending. This $50 does not include accessories that I’ll find around my house, just the base outfit that you can decorate your own way.

The Base Costume

I chose for my first No-Sew $50 Challenge to make a daytime Dickens look. I have ballgowns but nothing that looks more appropriate for Dickens Fair wintery daywear. This also is an era that I myself am not particularly interested in, so I wanted something that looked good and I could put together quickly! As you may know Amazon prices fluctuate, so what I paid may not be the current price, but through their suggestions you may find something similar.

Inspirational ladies, those blouses, those sleeves, the different fabrics!

My inspiration is a daytime look with a blouse, a skirt with hoop, and a decorated bonnet (I know these pictures don’t have bonnets, I’ll explain later <3). This seems to be a look that can be easily replicated, but also allows the person to individualize their look. I am not focused on historical accuracy of colors or fabrics, only the overall look.

Here is how I spent my $50 for the base outfit (not including shipping). I’ve included additional options that I have not purchased, so I can’t speak to the quality.

Bonnet

This is important for a good seasonal look for daywear for the 1850s’ look, you never would have your head not covered outside! Especially in December in old London-town

Blouse

I wanted a blouse that looked similar to the “garibaldi sleeves” of the era. Those blouses have puffed sleeves, lower shoulders and a high neckline. I searched a lot for “puffy long sleeve button down,” “bishop/balloon/lantern/peasant sleeve button down”. I was looking for a button down that could close at the collar and had full sleeves.

Skirt

This skirt needed to be long enough and big enough to go over a hoop or stiff petticoat, so I searched for “flowy maxi skirts” or “long circle skirts” or “dance boho gypsy skirt” to find options.

Hoops

The hoops I use I bought from Amazon years ago for $14.99 and unfortunately are no longer for sale. The silhouette you are looking for is a bell shape not a triangle lampshade, A-line shape, most bridal hoops can be adjusted but not all. Changing the shapes of modern bridal hoops will take your costume to the next level. This hoop has served me so well and I don’t see why I’d take the time to make my own hoop.

Just put some regular boots on, fix your hair and you’re good to go!

So here is my $50 (well $49.67… including the hoop I bought years ago) basic Dickens look. I’m wearing this outfit over a regular slip and bra and no corset. I added a wider leather belt I had in the closet to hide the elastic of the waistband and I safety pinned the top of the collar together. I wore knee socks and black laced-up Dr. Martens-style boots, cause you won’t see the shoes much anyway!

At this point I was really happy with the overall look, I felt good in it and love the shape of the sleeves and it was glorious to spin around in! I didn’t feel like wearing a corset was needed, especially if you’re just dipping your toes into the era, just make sure the skirt hits your smallest section of your waist or middle torso, having the skirt too low will not create the right silhouette. I would also suggest safety pinning the blouse to the skirt because the silky poly definetly got blousy and pulled out of the waistband after moving around!

In Part 2: Elevating the Look I will show you how to elevate this look by decorating your bonnet with lace, ribbon, fake flowers and hot glue. I will also show how accessories can add to the ensemble, and show you the look in a corset (a modern one available to buy so you still don’t have to sew a stitch!).

Looking cute corset-less
Published
November 13, 2019
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