Dressing up in a 1865 Ballgown

Dress and hair: Nikita Ivanovsky
Model: Elena Safronova
Video: Olga Akulich
Crinoline by Anton Priymak

[acertainhuman]

people need to bring back ballroom parties so all of us could wear 1800’s gowns and spin everywhere

[normabumbaugh]

I’ve never been so thankful for zippers in my entire life!

[Blue-rldp]

Goodness, I see a lot of questions regarding "bathroom" duties in a dress like this. Allow me to describe... There is a piece of furniture called a wash stand. It has a flat space to accommodate a basin and pitcher for washing. Often there's a mirror on the back. Below is a cupboard. Open this cupboard and there is a "close stool" inside. Again, this is a wood furniture looking item sometimes called a commode. In richer houses it's very nicely carved and polished. Usually round, but could be hexagon or even square. There's a handle on the front so you can slide it out of the cupboard into the room as far as you'd like. From fairly early on they actually had wheels. You slide the stool out and lift the hinged lid. Inside is a chamber pot.

The lady backs up to the stool, lifts the back of her skirts and petticoats, and drops them behind the stool so that it is under the skirts with her legs. Then she lifts one side of her skirts and, as she sits, uses her hand to be sure that the split crotch of her drawers opens wide enough to avoid soiling. Then she does her business. After applying use of a drying cloth she stands, lifts the back of the skirts again, and steps away. A properly oiled hinge to the lid will let the trailing edge of her skirts drag closed the lid behind her, otherwise the maid will take care of everything. With no immediate maid present a proper lady will nudge the stool (or commode) back into the cupboard with her foot, but leave the door open to indicate to an arriving maid that disposal is needed. Any cloths used are dropped into a basket left for such purpose.

Once permanent indoor plumbing was invented guest toilet facilities were normally further from the wall than they are these days specifically to accommodate hoop skirts. Some modern wedding venues I've seen are still this way with a toilet one or two feet forward from the wall so that wedding dresses can be dropped down behind the pot instead of bunched up behind.

[bethkrager]

At first I was confused by the 3 petticoats. Then I realized the 3rd was the gown when you put on the red bodice.

[rainyreverie]

Everyone’s talking about how complicated the dress is, I just wanna talk about how beautiful she looks at the end!!!

[glamam]

I honestly think the 1800s were so beautiful as far as fashion goes

[Blue-rldp]

I grew up in the 50's. This explains why, even then, nearly everything a woman wore went on over the head. I remember my mother teaching me to dress and asked why I couldn't just step into a poodle skirt and then step into the petticoats that went under it. She was appalled. "Because this is the way it's done." I was told. Even now there are women who pull a modern narrow skirt down over their head instead of stepping into and pulling it up.

[alyupde]

I bet this made abstinence easier for the teens. “How do I get this off of you?”

[sweetmother]

I am clapping for him for doing ALL that lacing up!👏👏👏

[omega]

Imagine having to go to the bathroom with all that on, that would be a nightmare

[claudia_in_colour]

A slow clap for not messing up the beautiful hairdo while putting on all those layers. I cant even put on a T-shirt without messing up my hair!

[roxiepoe]

It would be delightful to have more information about the gowns. Reproduction? Original? Maker? Both are quite lovely.

[aisa]

I wanna wear a dress like this before i die 😍

[firefly]

Gosh dressing up in 1800s ballgown is literally one of my dreams! The dresses are so beautiful ☺️

[pv]

Would love to see more close ups of the dress and hair.

[caroljones]

Thank you for the glorious music of Tchaikovsky accompanying the video.

[xavierob]

This is fantastic! I'm a very passionate historical dancer and I so miss our beautiful historical balls!

[robertcarter]

She is dressed perfectly for a lovely Valentines Ball!!!

[kayvonfoerster]

What an amazing gown and a beautiful young lady. Wow.

[Наталья-ждъ]

Это так красиво и грациозно ! Женщина одета, как женщина...Браво!!!😀