Nicole RudolphThe early 18th century is a severely underrated era when it comes to menswear. Early on in the domination of the three piece suit, but hardly indicative of the business attire of the future, fashion at this time looked to excess and drama. And with the ever present popularity of pirate lore, it really should be more popular!
The Golden Age of Piracy is often cited as around 1650-1730s, but the era we know best in modern day comes just after the war ended in 1715. So many ships and sailors were left without permission to do the work they had been doing for years- raiding Spanish ships. It's the time of Calico Jack, Mary Read, Anne Bonny, Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, and more. As of late, a few of those names have been particular popular in modern media, with Our Flag Means Death growing a massive fandom. And though the show does not in any way claim to be historically accurate (it's more like it's full of historical easter eggs?), the influence of historical fashion is obvious. So, rather than a pointless and scathing review of everything that is NOT accurate, I thought we'd all be better served to look at what inspired this show and so many other pieces of media through the years!
This week is all about the gentleman- what was worn as Fashion by the average and elite in Europe and the colonies in which the aforementioned pirates roamed. And next week, we can cover the pirate! To top it all off, this video also focuses a bit on the wrapping gown style that appears a few times in the show, with just a dash of historically accurate cosplay to end it.
Fashion in the Age of Pirates (& making an Our Flag Means Death historically accurate cosplay)Nicole Rudolph2022-05-01 | The early 18th century is a severely underrated era when it comes to menswear. Early on in the domination of the three piece suit, but hardly indicative of the business attire of the future, fashion at this time looked to excess and drama. And with the ever present popularity of pirate lore, it really should be more popular!
The Golden Age of Piracy is often cited as around 1650-1730s, but the era we know best in modern day comes just after the war ended in 1715. So many ships and sailors were left without permission to do the work they had been doing for years- raiding Spanish ships. It's the time of Calico Jack, Mary Read, Anne Bonny, Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, and more. As of late, a few of those names have been particular popular in modern media, with Our Flag Means Death growing a massive fandom. And though the show does not in any way claim to be historically accurate (it's more like it's full of historical easter eggs?), the influence of historical fashion is obvious. So, rather than a pointless and scathing review of everything that is NOT accurate, I thought we'd all be better served to look at what inspired this show and so many other pieces of media through the years!
This week is all about the gentleman- what was worn as Fashion by the average and elite in Europe and the colonies in which the aforementioned pirates roamed. And next week, we can cover the pirate! To top it all off, this video also focuses a bit on the wrapping gown style that appears a few times in the show, with just a dash of historically accurate cosplay to end it.
00:00 The Golden Age 02:34 Tailor Makes the Man 04:44 Textiles 08:26 Shirt & Stockings 10:18 Breeches 13:02 Waistcoat 14:25 Coat 15:33 Cravat & Shoes 16:38 Wigs & Hats 18:27 Wrapping Gowns & Banyans 21:17 Patterning 23:06 Construction 29:42 RevealHow the Boredom Epidemic ruined HobbiesNicole Rudolph2024-10-12 | If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Click betterhelp.com/NicoleRudolph for a discount on your first month of therapy.
Sometimes you come across a quiet little bit of research that absolutely changed our entire world. I've always wondered how we ended up with teaching the arts in schools and with such a wide proliferation of hobbies. Turns out, the mid 20th century thought we'd all be working 3-5 hours a week and be bored to death. The fight to get free time, and the fight to fill it, has left us with some dramatic problems.
From hobby horses to the Haymarket Riots to the Boredom Epidemic, the history of how we all got hobbies is crazy.
00:00 Riding the Hobby Horse 04:53 Middle Class Women's Time 11:23 40-hour Weeks 16:15 Boredom Epidemic 21:04 Art in School 23:24 "Useful"Hobbies & The Boredom EpidemicNicole Rudolph2024-10-11 | Full video up Saturday October 12. From the 8 hour work day to teaching Art in schools, the story of how hobbies became an option for all of us is full of drama. In fact, we rioted to get our free time, then a panic over mental health filled it all back up. The world we were promised and prepared for is one of 5 hour work weeks and free education for all.
Edited with DaVinci Resolve: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve 🎶Music via Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.comThe (ancient) History of Modern Fashion TrendsNicole Rudolph2024-09-21 | Thank you Birch Living for sponsoring! Click here birchliving.com/NicoleRudolph to get 25% off your Birch mattress (plus two free Eco-Rest pillows!) during their Extended Labor Day Sale. Offers are subject to change. #birchliving
It seems like we have a constant onslaught of new trends every year with an overturning call back to decade after decade. Whether it's the bright and colorful 1980s or funky Y2k fashion, we're always looking back to find inspiration. But, we're running through decades in just a couple of years. Are we really speeding up that much? Has fast fashion, or the micro trend popularity, really put an end to the trend cycle?
Turns out, this is nothing new. We've been harkening back to bygone days for centuries for style inspiration. Its just that this time, we have the whole internet at our disposal. When we bring back bell bottoms, there's a host of pictures from runway to highschool students showcasing the last round. We know more about the past than we ever have before. But that doesn't mean the trend cycle is useless. It can tell us so much about how we as a society feel right now, and maybe even where we are headed next.
So, let's take a look at Fall 2024 trends to see how they have fared over the last few centuries!
00:00 Old is New 05:14 Silhouette & Sleeves 08:38 Bell Bottoms 15:26 Mary Jane Shoes 18:20 Suede 24:19 Leopard Print 29:48 Future ForecastingThe History of Bell Bottoms: Trend Cycles & Fast Fashion PreviewNicole Rudolph2024-09-20 | Full video up NOW. Supposedly the trend cycle is speeding up to the point that it's going to break due to everything from fast fashion, to microtrends, to individualism. But, how far back does this cycle actually go? Is there actually a consistent pattern that we can track through time and see it speed up? Or is there something more complex at play? Let's look at some modern Fall 2024 trends to understand how styles come and go. Starting with Bell Bottoms! Flared pants have been a popular style off and on for around 200 years, but we rarely talk about them being around before the 1970s.
Edited with DaVinci Resolve: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve 🎶Music via Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.comThe Dirty History behind Thrifted ClothingNicole Rudolph2024-09-14 | Visit Lume at bit.ly/LUME-NICOLERUDOLPH and use my code NICOLERUDOLPH. Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with Lume Deodorant and get $5 off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off + free shipping) for new customers! Thanks to Lume for sponsoring this video!
Second hand clothing has been around for all of history. Markets and shops devoted to this business have found entire neighborhoods in large cities. But today our version of thrift shops is entirely different. They are often large, international brands that are brightly lit, organized by size and type. There are entire communities of people devoted to shopping there, showing off their hauls and wardrobes discovered in the giant stores. There's also the subset of antique and vintage shops that focus on certain eras or styles. It's nothing like what thrift stores looked like only a century or two ago. So what happened to take these shops out of the stereotypes of back-alley piles of disease riddled clothing to a thriving activity? And how did they get those stereotypes in the first place? Were Victorian second-hand shops the menace they were accused of being?
00:00 Custom-made Problems 03:37 Market Demand 06:15 Sellers 11:59 Reputation 14:47 Charity 19:49 Vintage TrendsThe History behind Thrifted FashionNicole Rudolph2024-09-13 | Full video out Saturday Sept. 14. Second clothing hasn't always been the brightly lit international brand name store experience it is today. It took quite a bit of effort to change that.
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Whether we've worn high heels or not, we've heard the stories of sore feet, twisted ankles, and the curse of fashion. Most often, women are blamed for being silly and vapid for wearing them, supposedly all in the name of attracting men. Yet, men have been some of the loudest dissenters when it comes to high heels in the last few decades. Clearly, there's more to these shoes than just "sexy". If we wind our way back to the origins of heeled shoes, a different story is told. One where men are just as fond of high heels as women, where function and form go together. Somehow, over the centuries, shoes went in different directions based on gender. Slender, high heels came to represent femininity for some and anti-feminism for others. So, yes, men did invent high heels. And they have made them for centuries (shoemaking has always been mostly men). But the idea that they did so to hobble women looses validity when we realize they did it first. The 17th century just wasn't ready for how far fashion would go, nor how much the Victorian era would despise it.
00:00 Origins 02:39 Into Europe 09:26 Practical Luxury 12:43 Growing Apart 17:21 Rising Concerns 21:10 Medical Panic 26:04 GenderingThe Hidden History of High Heels is...Men?Nicole Rudolph2024-08-23 | Full video up now! Turns out there's a lot more to the history of high heels than we've been led to believe. Despite their reputation as anti-feminist torture devices only worn for the attention of men, they have quite a varied past.
We've long made fun of the extremes of Victorian etiquette- everything from how they dress to how they eat. But, is there more to it than just a silly set of rules? It turns out, the middle class had lots of reasons for needing the pile of lengthy manuals. It was just about being fashionable, or acting like the rich. They were developing a system of manners that is still with us today- even if we have left off a few of the more complex parts.
00:00 Mesopotamia to Middle Class 06:11 Manuals Make-up 11:32 Greetings & Gloves 15:26 Hats Off 20:01 Traveling 23:48 Clothing 28:17 Modern EtiquetteVictorian Hat EtiquetteNicole Rudolph2024-08-09 | Full video August 10th! The 19th century had some strange and excessive etiquette by our modern standards, but maybe it makes more sense than we realize! Hat etiquette and how to greet people properly was high on the list of complex instructions in manuals during this time. But, it also would have been something you saw every time you left the house.
Tailoring used to be far more dramatic, even after we had moved over to off-the-rack mass production. The ideal body shape for men has long focused on the broad shoulders and generally shapeless body. It turns out, however, that this might be because of fast fashion more than it is about our own ideals! As of the late 1910s menswear was particularly curvy, with a broad chest and hips, but narrow shoulders and waist. I've always wondered how the silhouette actually looks on a moving body, rather than just in fashion drawings. So, today, I'm experimenting with some old drafting patterns to bring this era back to life!
00:00 Patterning Trends 07:36 Cut & Shape 10:29 Proportions 13:10 Internal Structure 17:03 Curvy Collars 19:26 Hiding in Linings 21:58 Sleeves 24:18 RevealMaking a 1910s Tuxedo PreviewNicole Rudolph2024-07-19 | A little experimental research this weekend working on understanding the silhouette of menswear in the late 1910s. It gets surprisingly curvy for a few years and I've always wondered just how the shape looks on a real body.
Edited with DaVinci Resolve: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve 🎶Music via Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.comThe Scandalous History of the TuxedoNicole Rudolph2024-07-06 | The tuxedo had a strange and rather controversial start in the 19th century, even before it gained its popular name. Moving from the Prince of Wales to "dudes" getting kicked out of parties for wearing the casual style, it threatened to completely up-end decades of established formal fashion. The resistance to the style was strong, but the trend was stronger. It not only brought with it a new opportunity for formal attire, but a lasting impact on how we divide our event etiquette. Over 150 years later, almost nothing has changed about the tuxedo- except the name.
00:00 Etiquette for Dress 02:41 Prince Albert & the Smoking Jacket 05:31 Tuxedo Park Dudes 09:27 Frog Tail Woes 11:46 Dinner Jacket 13:23 Where to Wear 15:21 Black v. White Tie 18:17 Skirts & Shrimp VariationsThe Drama Behind the TuxedoNicole Rudolph2024-07-05 | Join me Saturday, July 6th, for the full story on how the infamous Tuxedo became so popular despite the protests of the more traditional set.
Edited with DaVinci Resolve: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve 🎶Music via Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.comHow much clothing did they *actually* have back then?Nicole Rudolph2024-06-15 | It's one of the most common questions, but also one of the most complex. The mythology surrounding our closet is difficult to prove or disprove, because every person is different. Our best bet is to take a look at the multitude of information available to piece together a story. From budgets to government surveys to fashion magazines, how much clothing (and how much you should spend on it) has been a hot topic for decades.
00:00 Elinor or Ann Eliza 03:56 18th c Inventories 08:33 Ready to Wear 10:31 Household Budgets 16:59 Clothing Prices 21:29 Wardrobe Lists 29:20 Nothing but UnderwearHow much clothing did they have back then?Nicole Rudolph2024-06-14 | Full video up now! We're looking at budgets, wardrobes, prices, and more to understand how the clothing we own has changed over the last couple of centuries.
Edited with DaVinci Resolve: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve 🎶Music via Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.comA Colorful History of Rainbow FashionNicole Rudolph2024-06-01 | Ever since we managed bright and colorful dyes centuries ago, we've been combining them in as many ways as possible! It's no surprise that the rainbow has been an inspirational part of fashion for just as long. Whether it's embroidered arches or multicolor ombre, it doesn't take long to track it back centuries. In fact, it's been so influential we invented entirely new technology to make better rainbows, and then named it after them! So, today, I'm going to be showing off some of the most eye catching variations of this theme for the beginning of Pride Month! From Tudor to Victorian to the roaring 20s, being colorful has always been a fashionable choice.
00:00 ROYGBIV 02:51 1600-1800 Brocades 05:39 1800-1850 Ombre Shading 09:15 1850-1900 Stripes to Aniline 12:33 Fancy Dress 13:57 1900-1930 Colorfast 15:24 1930-2000 Technicolor 17:34 Pride & MoreColorful Fashion HistoryNicole Rudolph2024-05-31 | Too many examples of colorful fashion to fit in to the full-length video! So here are a few of my favorites that didn't make it in (or at least parts of them didn't make it in.....why chickens??)
Our feet are incredibly complex, and yet we learn so little about them. Instead, we suffer through so many uncomfortable shoes thinking they'll just "break in" eventually (or out feet will just toughen up). But, often things don't get better. The nuances of our feet and how they are proportioned, how they move and change, even the shape of our toes, makes some shoes incredibly incompatible. To say nothing about how modern shoes put aesthetics ahead of comfort!
00:00 Bones & Boots 05:46 Variables 08:01 Proportions & Width 11:16 Toe Shapes 14:07 Arch 17:17 Heel Space 19:47 Pressure Points 22:48 Materials & ChoicesWhy Your Shoes Dont Fit : PreviewNicole Rudolph2024-05-17 | Full video Saturday May 18! Let's talk about the problem areas we often encounter with our feet and shoes- and how to make better choices when shopping for a new pair!
When Consumption peaked in the early 19th century, there was a panic over how to manage the growing numbers. It wasn't a predictable disease- hopping from person to person with months or years before symptoms appeared. Which led doctors to believe that it wasn't contagious, but instead fueled by their family history and activities. It was a disease that could be found in the upper classes, affecting young and seemingly healthy people. So they looked to fashion and fashionable activities as the culprit. Everything from corsets to reading novels took the blame, and we've never recovered from the stereotypes. The idea that women are vain and obsessed with fashion solidified with the propaganda, as did the unfounded fear of corsets, the modern concept of purity and modesty, and so much more. Today it's common to see fashion cited as one of the exciters of consumption, despite our modern knowledge that it's a bacterial infection. It's not because we blame their thin shoes or high collars, it's because we've been taught they were so silly about vanity that they endangered themselves to achieve it. Using poisons, starvation, and more to achieve the "look". But, the reality is, the romantic nature of consumption in the era wasn't due to fashion, it was due to the ideals of the time expecting young women to be frail and demure, expecting young men to be intellectual and modest. Tuberculosis excited these features, bringing the victims closer to their ideals of heightened sensitivity and religious dependence. All to say, by also blaming fashion for the romance around tuberculosis, we ignore the actual reasons which are still with us today. We still have an "ideal" of womanhood that includes personality traits and activities that aren't healthy. We still treat illness as a form of redemption or punishment. We still blame those who are ill (especially chronic) with not doing the right things to stay healthy, while also making those things difficult to achieve. Just think about how much healthier (physically and mentally) a population who had safe ways to walk around every day would be! But instead we blame people for not getting in their car, driving across town, paying a monthly fee, and spending hours inside at a gym.
00:00 Contagion & Confusion 06:26 Predisposition 10:04 Beauty Ideals 15:23 Fashion as Villain 23:38 Lasting ConsequencesWhen we Blamed Tuberculosis on Fashion?Nicole Rudolph2024-05-03 | Full video Saturday. When consumption was at its peak in the early 19th century, they desperately searched for any reasons behind the spread of the disease. It seemed to defy logic; crossing boundaries of class, race, and gender with no predictability. Instead, they turned to ideas of "excitement" where blame fell onto actions like drinking, dancing, long walks, and even reading novels. Fashion was at the forefront of blame, however, with everything from shoes to hats being cast into doubt. Obviously, it changed almost nothing, and fashion continued to be worn despite the constant complaints.
Historical tailoring can easily become overwhelming with the number of options there are for construction! So, I'm going to look at two of the antique waistcoats in my collection, both from around the turn of the century, to see two ways of managing this garment. The first is a summer waistcoat, so it has no internal layers and all quick machine stitching. The second is a formal style meant to be worn with a tail coat, so it has canvas on the interior and a lot more hand-stitching.
00:00 Introduction 01:46 Antiques 06:16 Supplies 15:32 Summer Construction 26:55 Evening Construction 41:22 RevealA Tailoring of Two Victorian WaistcoatsNicole Rudolph2024-04-19 | Sewing two reproduction 1900s waistcoats to test out different tailoring construction methods based on antiques in my collection. Full video out Saturday!
Edited with DaVinci Resolve: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve 🎶Music via Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.comThe Actual History of Pink for Girls and Blue for BoysNicole Rudolph2024-04-06 | It may feel like the idea of pink for girls and blue for boys has long been a part of our society. However, it wasn't that long ago that the lines were far from clear. In fact, the saying was even reversed in many areas! Not only that, but blue and pink weren't even common clothing colors for infants until the 1920s. So what did we use the colors for? And how did they end up being chosen? And why is pink so "girly" now that men refuse to wear it? It turns out that may be a very complex set of questions. But, with a little bit of French and Dutch translation, we may be able to open up some forgotten history.
00:00 Colorful Myths 02:43 Royal Infants 05:29 Dutch Announcements 09:23 Color Meanings 11:37 Laundry Problems 15:29 Layette Options 17:44 Colorfast Opportunities 21:07 Instituting GenderWhy is it Pink for Girls and Blue for Boys?Nicole Rudolph2024-04-05 | Preview for a full-length video coming soon! Why is it that we ended up with such strong notions of gendered colors? How did we pick pink and blue? Why is it that pink has become so strongly associated with feminine things? Turns out, the history is far from clear. We've gone through decades of mixed ideas of colors.
While the idea of boycotts goes way back, the name only dates as far as 1880. But the name took hold fast and became a standard in an industrial world. After WWI, when prices had nearly doubled due to inflation, there was a big threat of sudden deflation. Companies were threatening to lower wages, but without lowering prices. More and more evidence of profiteering was showing up and laws were being put into place to crack down. But it wasn't a smooth process. By 1920, people were fed up with how much clothing cost and decided to start what was meant to be a long term boycott of overpriced garments. While the spectacle only lasted a few weeks, the effect it had was wide spread. In the mean time, thousands of Americans had added denim to their wardrobe. Overalls and jeans had a sudden boom in popularity that never really left. They also started their life as a middle-class garment with the same spirit of rebellion that would follow them well into the 1970s.
00:00 The Great Inflation 06:39 Profiteering Problems 10:42 Organizing a Boycott 15:45 Long Term EffectsThat time we wore Overalls to Boycott?Nicole Rudolph2024-03-15 | In 1920 inflation had doubled the cost of clothing and concerns over profiteering led to boycotts all over the country. One major boycott was the "overall movement" where thousands donned denim to protest. Full video coming soon!
Edited with DaVinci Resolve: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve 🎶Music via Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.comWhen Men Had Too Many Pockets: Dangerous Victorian HistoryNicole Rudolph2024-03-02 | 🔎👒 Download June's Journey for free here: https://woo.ga/nys3an9p Thanks to June's Journey for sponsoring this video
While the complaint about women's pockets being substandard compared to mens has long existed, the sheer volume they were up against in the 19th century would have been difficult to match. Twelve was considered bare minimum before adding an overcoat, which doesn't even account for "specials" that tailors could add anywhere from inside another pocket to the outer coat sleeve for a lady's hand to stay warm while walking together. The problem starts when you realize just how easy it was to toss something in a pocket and loose or forget it. Especially since some of those pockets were set in the tails of coats and ended up UNDER the person when seated. More than a few entertaining stories of strange and regrettable choices abound. Everything from explosions to alligators!
00:00 Importance of Pockets 04:23 Standard Locations 09:18 Approved Contents 13:32 Bad IdeasWhen Men Had Too Many Pockets : PreviewNicole Rudolph2024-03-01 | What would you do with more than a dozen pockets? Find out the strange things they filled them with in the 19th century in my next video. Including more than a few choices that ended in disasters! You'll be glued to your seat for this one!
Women's boots have really only been popular for just over 200 years. And during some of their earliest days they went through some of the biggest changes! My collection of antique shoes has grown to over 50 pairs, and about 1/3 of those are boots. Ranging from flashy red silk to worn out black leather, they show the dynamic range that women had to choose from in different eras. The 19th century Victorians brought back heels, popularized elastic, and got more than a little experimental with their styles. In the early 20th century boots became a big part of fashionable city life, but never lost their creativity.
00:00 1840-60 04:21 1860-80 08:45 1880-1900 12:55 1900-1920 15:51 1920-1940 19:25 Galoshes & Carriage Boots100 years of Antique BootsNicole Rudolph2024-02-09 | Ladies boots have changed so much since they became popular in the early 1800s! Take a look at some of the iconic styles through the decades. Full-length video out on Saturday!
Edited with DaVinci Resolve: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve 🎶Music via Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.comThe Victorian Foot Fad Inspired by a Horror Novel : Weird Fashion HistoryNicole Rudolph2024-01-27 | In 1894 Trilby arrived and the world of literature would never be the same. A bohemian horror story with a tragic ending, centered around a perfect pair of feet. Though the name mainly lives on in trilby hats today, the novel had influence over so much more. It popularized pedicures, inspired countless texts and performances (including Phantom of the Opera), started a wave of celebrity feet pictures, littered us with foot themed merchandise, and gave us a villain whose name is still remembered a century later. Dozens of articles have been written about the impact Trilby has had on literature, art, fandom, and fashion. And yet, the story itself has been largely forgotten.
00:00 The Tea on Trilby 02:09 Synopsis 07:23 The Perfect Foot 10:57 Merch 12:49 Pedicures 15:14 Celebrity FeetThe Victorian Foot FadNicole Rudolph2024-01-26 | When I stumbled across the term “Trilby feet” I didn’t realize just how much I was going to find. From pedicures to merch to arguments with Whistler to inspiring Phantom of the Opera, it was hugely impactful on so many areas. Including our modern opinions on feet. Full video Saturday January 27
Edited with DaVinci Resolve: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve 🎶Music via Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.comStop Idolizing Coco Chanel : a shocking history of theftNicole Rudolph2024-01-13 | Coco Chanel is held up as the "inventor of the modern woman" and a classic style icon today. While her personal life story has been told many times over, in many ways, it's only been recently that documents proving her spy work during WWII have been dug up. And even with knowing she has a dishonest past and problematic opinions, history still gives her credit for all of these amazing fashion inventions. As if the lies she told about far more serious things were indicative of the possibility that she might be lying about that as well. So, today we're digging into the major claims Chanel made about her early design work that we still credit her with today: jersey knit and the little black dress. And why she chose to claim these as her own years later. Turns out, there's more than a little suspicious behavior.
Books referenced: Mademoiselle by Rhonda K. Garelick amzn.to/3tPzDom Sleeping with the Enemy by Hal Vaughan amzn.to/3tOAV36
00:00 Early Influencer 03:27 Jersey Knit 09:14 Little Black Dress 14:51 Girl Bossed too close to the sun 23:58 Rebranding 29:10 Taking CreditThe Truth Behind Chanels DesignsNicole Rudolph2024-01-13 | Full video Jan 13. Coco Chanel claimed many novel fashions as her own ideas in the 20th century. From jersey knit to the little black dress (and even trench coats??), she says she "invented the modern woman". But how much of that is true? Let's unravel the web of lies.
Edited with DaVinci Resolve: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve 🎶Music via Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.comMaking 100 year old Comfy Slippers: Free Pattern!Nicole Rudolph2023-12-30 | Naming a shoe "comfy" peaks my interest, but finding out it sold for over 40 years tells me it isn't an exaggeration! Daniel Green patented their comfy slipper construction in 1908, but this style has it's origins in the 1880s. And it continued into at least the 1960s! If you're looking for a comfortable (and warm) house slipper, this has you covered. Great for every day, simple to make and size, and if you wear historical clothing from 1880-1960 you absolutely NEED this! I will be slipping a pair into my ball gown pocket next time. Check out the free pattern below and some of the recommended supply stores to get started!
00:00 History 05:19 Measuring 08:09 Pattern Adjusting 18:32 Supplies 21:27 Cutting Out 24:17 Sewing100 year old Comfy SlippersNicole Rudolph2023-12-30 | Take a look at this lovely pair of antique comfy slippers- sold for nearly 40 years! It was such a popular design that the company patented it in 1908 and continued to sell a similar style well into the 1960s. Full video on the construction (with free pattern!) comes out December 30.
Edited with DaVinci Resolve: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve 🎶Music via Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.comVictorian Christmas Decor was WEIRD (and dangerous)Nicole Rudolph2023-12-16 | Ever wondered what a Victorian Christmas looked like? While they certainly had the greenery we’ve come to know as tradition, it turns out they were a bit more creative than expected in the 19th century! Trees were covered in fake snow, palm trees were all the rage, and don’t forget the glitter. It’s one big, messy craft project and no one has a vacuum cleaner. Nevermind the goblins hiding in the foliage. No “dark yule” themes here, just chaos and sparkle.
00:00 Greenery from Afar 05:33 Strange Meats 07:41 Glitter & Snow 11:30 Fear of Fire & GoblinsstmasnVictorian Christmas FiresNicole Rudolph2023-12-15 | Full video up now! The 19th century did Christmas decorations to the extreme. And sometimes that ended in disaster. Before electric lights were an option, filling your tree with candles and lanterns was the fashion, much to the chagrin of the insurance companies.
Edited with DaVinci Resolve: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve 🎶Music via Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.comI made 500 years of Historical ShoesNicole Rudolph2023-12-02 | Thank you Birch Living for sponsoring! Click here birchliving.com/NicoleRudolph to get 25% off your Birch mattress (plus two free Eco-Rest pillows!) during their Extended Cyber Week Sale ending December 3 . For your little ones, check out the Birch Kids Natural Mattress which is a 2023 Good Housekeeping Parenting Awards winner! Offers subject to change. #birchliving
I started shoemaking about ten years ago when I realized I'd never find a pair of shoes that fit me like I needed. And even though the first pair failed to fit, I loved the challenge and 40 pairs later it never fails to be full of surprises! Starting in 18th century women's styles, I ventured out to range from the 15th century up through the 1920s. It never ceases to amaze how every era has it's own methods of construction and details of style.
00:00 First failure, first success 05:53 New construction 08:02 Learning to walk 11:57 Venturing out 15:29 New eras 18:21 On video 22:08 Future projectsHow to Make an 18th century Gown by yourself with NO patternNicole Rudolph2023-11-18 | Shop Brooklinen’s biggest sale of the year by clicking my link here bit.ly/nicolerudolphyt This video is kindly sponsored by Brooklinen
While I've made countless 18th century gowns for myself and others at this point, I've never had to pattern on myself by myself. Considering the most detailed part of the gown is often the back, that creates a very complex problem! But with a ball looming and a new pair of stays to fit over, I had to come up with a system to work through those issues. And along with a couple days of diligent hand sewing, I was able to pattern, fit, and make an 18th century ball gown in time.
00:00 Design 07:42 Patterning 18:16 Back, Front, First Fitting 23:53 Finishing the Bodice 27:19 Sleeves 33:37 Skirt 36:41 RevealHand sewing an 18th century Gown PreviewNicole Rudolph2023-11-17 | Full video Saturday Nov 18. How to pattern, fit, and make an 18th century gown by yourself.
Edited with DaVinci Resolve: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve 🎶Music via Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.comThe Controversial History of Color Season AnalysisNicole Rudolph2023-11-04 | The trend of finding your color season has produced dozens of filters on tiktok, various fashion YouTube videos, and angst for countless people just trying to decide on their next shirt. But where did it come from, and how does it work? Or does it work at all? There are plenty of mentions of the origins being found in the 1980s, but the story of color seasons goes back a little bit further. In fact, the history of color analysis has a much older origin story that may take you back to your Art 101 class. It may also answer some questions about how the system does, or doesn't, work. The rules had to come from someone- and the answer may be a 19th century Frenchman.
00:00 Finding Seasons 06:09 Undertones & Lipstick 10:18 Victorian Rules 13:30 Color Theory 18:26 Self AnalyzingThe History behind Color Season AnalysisNicole Rudolph2023-11-03 | Full Video Saturday Nov 4th. Though the idea of "color seasons" often gets attributed to the 1980s, it has a far more expansive history behind it. Color analysis has been around for much, much longer and the history behind it can actually demystify the process.
Edited with DaVinci Resolve: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve 🎶Music via Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.comGoing on a ✨Fantasy✨ Photography Retreat: sewing 3 simple costumes in 3 weeksNicole Rudolph2023-10-21 | Thank you Birch Living for sponsoring! Click here birchliving.com/NicoleRudolph to get 20% off your Birch mattress (plus two free Eco-Rest pillows!). Check out the Birch Kids Natural Mattress for your little ones, a 2023 Good Housekeeping Parenting Awards winner!
Follow along with my process to prepare and attend a fantasy photography retreat on the coast of Oregon! It was a few months of planning, a couple very frantic weeks of sewing, and four very intense days with four separate themes: Elves, Nymphs, Pirates, and Seaside Romantic. Each one with it's own location, style, and costumes.
00:00 Intro & Plans 06:46 Making Elven 10:47 Making Seaside 13:56 Making Nymphs 16:43 Planning Pirates 18:21 The Event 22:06 BTS FootageThe History of Ghost Fashion: How to Dress like a Victorian SpiritNicole Rudolph2023-10-07 | 👒🔍 Download June’s Journey for free now using my link: https://woo.ga/1phsqu
Have you ever wondered how ghosts got their clothing? What fashions led to the white sheet with holes for eyes? And why is nearly every ghostly media set in the Victorian era? We associate all of these strange things with spirits from beyond for a few good reasons- and that can provide us with ample inspiration for a haunted capsule wardrobe!
00:00 History of Ghosts 06:33 Art Themes 09:34 The Transparent 11:56 The Shadow 14:30 The Frame 16:14 The Wait 17:47 The WindsweptThe History of Ghost FashionNicole Rudolph2023-10-06 | Ever wonder how ghosts got their sheet? Full length video is up now!
Edited with DaVinci Resolve: blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve 🎶Music via Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.comI Made Leaf Shoes out of REAL Leaves!Nicole Rudolph2023-09-23 | What else do you do with giant leaf leather than make a pair of leaf shoes? I've wanted to experiment with different plant leathers to see how they compare to the types of leathers that work well for shoes. It took a long time to finally source some of the raw material, but with an elven photoshoot coming up, it seemed like the perfect time!
I had to be a bit creative with this design and process, however, as leaf leather is much more fragile and unforgiving than regular leathers. So not every style or last shape would do well. Shoemaking is usually a tough process that puts a lot of stress on the materials in order to get a clean shape. In the end, it was more like making a paper shoe than a leather one!
00:00 Leaf Leather 04:02 Design 08:06 Prep 10:16 Lasting 19:15 Finishing 21:27 RevealMaking Leaf Shoes PreviewNicole Rudolph2023-09-22 | What do you do with a giant leaf? Find the full video on Saturday Sept 23rd!