Fashion historian Christine Scott visits the Merchant's House Museum.

National Underwear Day—This fashionable woman in the 1860s is wearing a chemise and drawers, a corset was gusseted and boned to give a full bust and hips and small waist, a hoop skirt supported a wide skirt, and several smoothing petticoats would also be added. Are you feeling cooler now?

The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "From Queen To Empress: Victorian Dress 1837–1877," December 15, 1988–April 16, 1989.New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Costume and Character in the Age of Ingres," September 9–November 21, 1999

Explore Hanna Helena Gerhardt’s 172 photos on Flickr!

In year two of the Antwerp Fashion Academy we have to produce a historically accurate costume with all layers and all accessories. I chose a 1872 victorian day dress, and to go with it I needed to create 7 pieces of underwear. To document the dressing progress, I took pictures of each layer. Worn here: open crotch drawers, lace collar chemise, tight lacing corset with steel boning, bustle cage made of steel, simple jersey socks after victorian pattern

North America's #1 auction house for Couture & Vintage Fashion. Augusta Auctions accepts consignments of historic clothing and textiles from museums, estates and individuals.

Posts about elliptical hoop written by Melinda