Your Wardrobe Unlock'd

Plagued by unfinished costumes? Sick of all-nighters? Big ideas that never quite come off? Here's how to make sure it works next time.

Serena examines authentic skirt construction step by step, completing and adding the final flourishes to the gown.

You can easily picture your spectacular new gown trailing behind you as you make a grand entrance... but what about the dust?

Jason gives detailed instructions on constructing the period trousers he showed us how to draft last month.

Serena discusses real eighteenth century bodice construction methods, and then builds one step by step using those principles.

Christina translates some gorgeous but cryptic Victorian instructions into modern-style knitting and crochet diagrams, and then tries them out.

A bad fabric choice can cause an accurate, researched, handsewn reproduction to look disappointingly modern. Here's how to do it right.

Step-by-step instructions, with photos, for recreating five late Victorian evening hairstyles. All are suitable for the Natural Form era and DPP.

I'm back with a tailoring topic that some of you requested and I'm more than happy to supply: how to cut and sew a pair of gentlemen's trousers. 

A wonderful example of fashionable US Victorian day dress, composed of polonaise and trained skirt. Part 2 features the complete pattern.

I have the honor to own my great-grandmother’s 1875 wedding dress. The more I look closely at this heirloom, the more fascinating it is!

Lynn continues her series on Natural Form Era Victorian hairpieces by showing step-by-step how to create a curly hairpiece, pin curls and curly bangs.

How to make several must-have Victorian hairpieces from an inexpensive but lifelike synthetic hair. Let's start by making a switch.

An introduction to late 18th century frippery and furbelows - the items commonly used to complete feminine ensembles of the beau monde.

A wonderful example of fashionable Victorian day dress in America, composed of polonaise and trained skirt. Part 1: overview & skirt pattern.

Making sense of the vast array of shirts, breeches, trousers, waistcoats, jackets and coats, stocks, stockings, garters and cravats.

A close look at an authentic Victorian dress, with many photos, construction and sewing details, and fashion plates of the time.

We answer your questions about the Double Period Project and about lace knitting patterns.

Hecklinger's Ladies Garments, published in 1886, includes wonderful engravings of fashionable trimmings. We add the instructions!

Making sense of ladies' underwear 1876-82.

2: What to wear over the corset and under the dress, plus fabrics.