I have always enjoyed dressing up, especially in clothes of the past, but for a very long time I had no sewing skills to aid my want of a whole wardrobe stuffed full of historical garments. Especially Victorian dresses.
After spending most of my life being unable to sew in a straight line, I started teaching myself in 2016 with the intention of creating one dress. The rest, as they say, is history. I fell down a rabbit hole and unlocked a passion.
I’ve always loved and been fascinated by the Victorian era, and my interest in the fashions has always been a large part of that. As such, I have amassed quite the library because I’m not content with just making new dresses to wear but also understanding the history and the processes.
I have a living historian approach to my costuming – I want to know how these clothes felt to wear and to move in, how and why the fashions changed, what fabrics were used and what techniques were employed. It is partly because of this that I ended up being responsible for organising and presenting the Victorian Fashion Show in Oamaru as part of the Heritage Celebrations (for a few years, anyway).
And, I can assure you that corsets are not the horrible torture devices that Hollywood would have you believe – I have walked long distances, run, skipped, danced, moved furniture, carried heavy objects, swung on swings, and even jumped on a trampoline while wearing mine.
I started this blog in 2017, and I also have a Facebook page, and an Instagram account that I post to. Through these I have been able to connect with some wonderful historical costumers from around the world who are so friendly and encouraging. People that I see in Oamaru are often very excited to see my finished projects as they have been following the progress during the year.
I love that I have found a hobby and a creative outlet that brings me so much joy! I feel most like myself when I’m dressed as a Victorian and it’s such a wonderful feeling. And, yes, that does mean that as a fully grown adult I am inclined to twirl about in a garden, sit sidesaddle on a penny farthing, or even flash my ankles occasionally!
Miss Temby 