At Wimbledon College of Arts, the Costume Design course is run in parallel with Costume Interpretation. In the last term of 1st year they made a men’s tailored waistcoat. I watched my flatmate make hers with jealous eyes.

So now I’ve decided that I’m going to make one too! I’m going to make mine fit me. The waistcoat I have chosen to make is from 1850-1900 (the stripy one on the left).

1850-1900 from ‘Men’s Garments 1830-1900’ by R. I. Davis

I researched women wearing waistcoats in this period, finding fashion plates and photographs. I love when women wear masculine dress, so finding the book Women in Pants was fun though not very helpful in this instance.

1888 and 1889 from ‘Victorian Fashions A Pictorial Archive’ by Carlo Belanger Grafton

1893 and 1896 from ‘Victorian Fashions and Costumes from Harper’s Bazar’ by Stella Blum

1890s, 1898 and 1899 from ‘Paris Fashions of the 1890s’ by Stella Blum

1896 from ‘Women in Pants’ by Catherine Smith and Cynthia Grieg

I’ve decided to emulate this outfit from 1893. Loving the shirt and tie, and the matching jacket.

1893 from ‘Dressed to Impress’ by Christina Walkley