Victorian Tennis Dress, Take Two!

Since I wore my Victorian tennis dress to Costume College this year, I thought I'd add some new details about it. While I went into a little construction detail, I didn't show how it was put on.

I'm actually taking the dress off in this series of pictures, but it's essentially the same, and much less hectic than getting dressed at Costume College!


The bodice fastens with a series of hooks and thread eyes that go diagonally from the right shoulder to the waist closure just to the left of the center front. The collar and bow at the neck close with two hooks and thread eyes. I fastened those last.


Just keep going until the waist, where the waistband closes with two hooks and thread eyes.


The skirt is very heavy since it's a front overskirt, back overskirt, and fully pleated skirt all on one waistband. After very carefully putting it on over my head, it fastens to two buttons in front.


It fastens to four heavy hooks and eyes in back, and then closes at the center back. The back overskirt then fastens over the center back closure, on the left side. I'm holding it out straight, and you can see the hooks on the left.


All that's left then is to add the belt (which closes with pins--I never got around to closures!) and the collar.