Getting Dressed as Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837 at the age of just 18. She would become known for the mourning dresses that she wore later in her reign but the Victorian era was full of distinct fashion styles. In this video, our historical interpreter gets dressed as Queen Victoria in an 1840s day dress, typical of something that young Victoria may have worn early in her reign. They will talk us through each step of the dressing process, from her shift and corset to her hair, bonnet and accessories.

Image credits
Queen Victoria by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1866 © National Portrait Gallery, London
Queen Victoria by Aaron Edwin Penley, circa 1840 © National Portrait Gallery, London
Corset tightening. Coloured etching by W. Heath, ca. 1830. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Fashion plates:
Courtesy British Library, The Powder Puff
Courtesy British Library, 7742.de.8
F60147-27, From the British Library archive
Cup.702.e.2, From the British Library archive
Cup.702.e.2, From the British Library archive
Casey fashion plate, v. 39, plate 113, Los Angeles Public Library
Fashion plate, Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.)
Crinolines by the River, John Leech, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Queen Victoria by Thomas Fairland, after Franz Xaver Winterhalter lithograph, (1847) © National Portrait Gallery, London
Queen Victoria by Richard James Lane, lithograph, published by Joseph Dickinson 24 May 1837 © National Portrait Gallery, London
Dresses, Met Museum, New York. Credit lines:
1974.194.5, Purchase, Irene Lewisohn Bequest, 1974
1985.138.2a, b, Purchase, Irene Lewisohn and Alice L. Crowley Bequests, 1985
C.I.66.35.1, Purchase, Irene Lewisohn Bequest, 1966
C.I.69.14.10a, b, Gift of Mary Pierrepont Beckwith, 1969
1985.155, Purchase, Gifts from Various Donors, 1985