December concerts require Victorian attire
(except recital)
VOENA's Holiday tradition year after year! You may need a new Victorian costume, donate or sell or rent your old one. For a new dress, look for satin material.
In general, girls under age 13 will need a caplet or jacket, a hoopless petticoard, straight leg pantaloons, and white knee socks. The skirt part of their dress will need to be mid-calf length so that their pantaloons can be visibly seen underneath their skirts. Although they are period correct, we cannot have hoop skirts for this age group due to performance staging needs (sitting down, standing closely together, etc.) Most hoops are removeable or it's possible to find hoopless petticoats (like this one on Amazon). Shoes for this age group (girls under 13) should be black matted flats - no shiny leather finish. Heels are reserved for girls over 13 in long dresses.
Clever ways to find satin material dresses are searching in thrift stores. Bridesmaids dresses and Victorian blouses work as a base to add trimmings and sashes to. Some of you may have a seamstress in the family or want to hire. DON'T START UNTIL YOU HAVE APPROVED THE "LOOK" THAT YOU ARE GOING FOR WITH ME!" I can't stress this enough because there have been a few past families who did not seek approval and ended up with a dress from the wrong era, the wrong material, the wrong hair/shoes, and had to start all over again! Here are recent links that are loaded with bargain ideas when you start to put your costume together!.....
https://recollections.biz/clothing/CivilWarGowns.html
https://vintagedancer.com/victorian/victorian-civil-war-costumes-budget/
https://www.jjshouse.com/Cheap-Junior-Bridesmaid-Dresses-c9/?ucid=3859&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIw-zn1Iy28wIVszytBh3kUQIlEAAYASAAEgJg5PD_BwE#/
(except recital)
VOENA's Holiday tradition year after year! You may need a new Victorian costume, donate or sell or rent your old one. For a new dress, look for satin material.
In general, girls under age 13 will need a caplet or jacket, a hoopless petticoard, straight leg pantaloons, and white knee socks. The skirt part of their dress will need to be mid-calf length so that their pantaloons can be visibly seen underneath their skirts. Although they are period correct, we cannot have hoop skirts for this age group due to performance staging needs (sitting down, standing closely together, etc.) Most hoops are removeable or it's possible to find hoopless petticoats (like this one on Amazon). Shoes for this age group (girls under 13) should be black matted flats - no shiny leather finish. Heels are reserved for girls over 13 in long dresses.
Clever ways to find satin material dresses are searching in thrift stores. Bridesmaids dresses and Victorian blouses work as a base to add trimmings and sashes to. Some of you may have a seamstress in the family or want to hire. DON'T START UNTIL YOU HAVE APPROVED THE "LOOK" THAT YOU ARE GOING FOR WITH ME!" I can't stress this enough because there have been a few past families who did not seek approval and ended up with a dress from the wrong era, the wrong material, the wrong hair/shoes, and had to start all over again! Here are recent links that are loaded with bargain ideas when you start to put your costume together!.....
https://recollections.biz/clothing/CivilWarGowns.html
https://vintagedancer.com/victorian/victorian-civil-war-costumes-budget/
https://www.jjshouse.com/Cheap-Junior-Bridesmaid-Dresses-c9/?ucid=3859&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIw-zn1Iy28wIVszytBh3kUQIlEAAYASAAEgJg5PD_BwE#/
If you have a past Victorian costume that doesn't fit you any more, contact Annabelle@voena.org (or text 707-333-9829) with a picture and description and a request if you want to rent it out, sell it, or donate it. Yet, I do know so many of our alumni hold on to their Victorian and never want to give it up because it means so much to them!