1870s Undergarments (2025)

Undergarments for 1870s dress

BA Graduate Project 2025 - "The Age of Innocence"

The following photographs showcase the 1870s-inspired undergarments I constructed for Ellen as part of my BA Graduate Project in 2025. These pieces include a structured corset with a busk and boning, a bustle reinforced with boning and finished with a pleated hem, and a softly ruffled petticoat. The female silhouette of the 1870s was highly defined and relied heavily on such undergarments to achieve its distinctive shape. Rather than the outer gown alone, it was these carefully constructed layers—corsets, petticoats, underskirts, and the lobster bustle—that created the exaggerated form, emphasizing a cinched waist and a pronounced back profile. This foundation was essential in shaping both the fashionable silhouette of the period and the overall presence of the wearer.

Fabrication Process