Uploaded May 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
I didn't intend to make a Gilded Age ball gown that actually fits the MET Gala theme, but it just worked out that way! This historical fashion ensemble is the final installment of my Grape Gown series, an early 1890s Italian Renaissance Revival gown (and matching accessories).
As with all the garments I make on my channel, this one is 100% hand sewn using just a needle and thread, and I'd reckon it took around 200-250 hours to complete all the parts, but that's a pretty rough estimate.
The Gilded Age was a period of rapid economic growth in the United States from about 1870 to 1900, and some incredibly charming ensembles existed during those decades, serving as plenty of inspiration for the 2022 Met Gala theme "Gilded Glamour", yet many in the fashion and more niche historical fashion community have expressed their disappointment in the execution of this year's theme.
So I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to not only make this ball gown for the event I had planned, but also to live out my historical fantasies where someone shows up to the MET Gala wearing full late 19th century garb.
I hope you enjoy watching the making of this ensemble which in total consists of some refashioned shoes, the umbrella skirt, detachable train, capelet, jabot, soft hat, bodice, and detachable undersleeves.
And most of all, I hope you enjoy watching the reveal which I put a lot of thought into, as I wanted to step it up a notch.
Thank you so much for your support and I'll see you all in two weeks for another video.
🕯 Support my art on Patreon: patreon.com/vbirchwood
✨ Leave a donation: ko-fi.com/vbirchwood
🌙 Books I read, supplies I use, gear I film with (affiliate links): amazon.com/shop/v.birchwood
🪡 Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/vasibirchwood
📖 Business inquiries: sofie@helmtalentgroup.com
Sources:
The MET:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art.jpg
Sracer357, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art_(The_Met)_-_Central_Park,_NYC.jpg
Hugo Schneider, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Modern Runway Show:
pixabay.com/videos/fashion-show-models-clothing-25245
Fashion Plates 1889-92:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Freja-_illustrerad_skandinavisk_modetidning_1889,_illustration_nr_8.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Le_Moniteur_de_la_Mode_1890,_nr._2636c,_No._32_Toilette_de_Mad.e_Duboys.,_RP-P-2009-3742.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La_Nouveaut%C3%A9,_1891,_No._C12_Passementerie_et_Fournitures_(..),_RP-P-2009-1635.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Journal_des_Demoiselles,1_fevrier_1892,_No._4871_Toilettes_de_Mme_Galard_(..),_RP-P-2009-1548.jpg
Industrial Growth in the Gilded Age:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Health_and_pleasure_on_America%27s_greatest_railroad.._(1890)_(14574212178).jpg
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_first_oil_district_in_Los_Angeles,_Toluca_Street,_ca.1895-1901_(CHS-3686).jpg
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilded_Age#/media/File:69workmen.jpg
Gilded Age Art:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Miss_Frances_Sherborne_Ridley_Watts.jpg
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Madame_X_(Madame_Pierre_Gautreau),_John_Singer_Sargent,_1884_(unfree_frame_crop).jpg
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Edinburgh_NGS_Singer_Sargent_Lady_Agnew.JPG
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:John_Singer_Sargent_-_Morning_Walk.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mary_Stevenson_Cassatt,_American_-_Woman_with_a_Pearl_Necklace_in_a_Loge_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
William Shakespeare:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Shakespeare_MET_DP860173.jpg
Revival Movements:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Caroline_Bardua_-_Portr%C3%A4t_Dorothee_van_Herzseele.jpg
1825 - Ackermann's Repository Series 3 Vol 5 - January Issue
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/82623
Military Coat Example:
C. 1880s-90s commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jacket_and_sword_belt_(AM_1943.88-4).jpg
Boater:
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/113053
Stay Tape:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bodice,_woman%27s_(AM_9203-1).jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bodice,_woman%27s_(AM_9203-6).jpg
Grape Tendrils:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vine.jpg
pixabay.com/photos/grapes-green-juicy-tasty-3437572
Soft Hat:
babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.31951000680968p&view=1up&seq=295&q1=beret
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Le_Moniteur_de_la_Mode,_1896,_Nr._3227e,_No._3_Garnitures_et_Passementeries,_RP-P-2009-3767.jpg
#metgala #gildedglamour #historicalfashion
I didn't intend to make a Gilded Age ball gown that actually fits the MET Gala theme, but it just worked out that way! This historical fashion ensemble is the final installment of my Grape Gown series, an early 1890s Italian Renaissance Revival gown (and matching accessories).
As with all the garments I make on my channel, this one is 100% hand sewn using just a needle and thread, and I'd reckon it took around 200-250 hours to complete all the parts, but that's a pretty rough estimate.
The Gilded Age was a period of rapid economic growth in the United States from about 1870 to 1900, and some incredibly charming ensembles existed during those decades, serving as plenty of inspiration for the 2022 Met Gala theme "Gilded Glamour", yet many in the fashion and more niche historical fashion community have expressed their disappointment in the execution of this year's theme.
So I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to not only make this ball gown for the event I had planned, but also to live out my historical fantasies where someone shows up to the MET Gala wearing full late 19th century garb.
I hope you enjoy watching the making of this ensemble which in total consists of some refashioned shoes, the umbrella skirt, detachable train, capelet, jabot, soft hat, bodice, and detachable undersleeves.
And most of all, I hope you enjoy watching the reveal which I put a lot of thought into, as I wanted to step it up a notch.
Thank you so much for your support and I'll see you all in two weeks for another video.
🕯 Support my art on Patreon: patreon.com/vbirchwood
✨ Leave a donation: ko-fi.com/vbirchwood
🌙 Books I read, supplies I use, gear I film with (affiliate links): amazon.com/shop/v.birchwood
🪡 Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/vasibirchwood
📖 Business inquiries: sofie@helmtalentgroup.com
Sources:
The MET:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art.jpg
Sracer357, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art_(The_Met)_-_Central_Park,_NYC.jpg
Hugo Schneider, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Modern Runway Show:
pixabay.com/videos/fashion-show-models-clothing-25245
Fashion Plates 1889-92:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Freja-_illustrerad_skandinavisk_modetidning_1889,_illustration_nr_8.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Le_Moniteur_de_la_Mode_1890,_nr._2636c,_No._32_Toilette_de_Mad.e_Duboys.,_RP-P-2009-3742.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La_Nouveaut%C3%A9,_1891,_No._C12_Passementerie_et_Fournitures_(..),_RP-P-2009-1635.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Journal_des_Demoiselles,1_fevrier_1892,_No._4871_Toilettes_de_Mme_Galard_(..),_RP-P-2009-1548.jpg
Industrial Growth in the Gilded Age:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Health_and_pleasure_on_America%27s_greatest_railroad.._(1890)_(14574212178).jpg
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_first_oil_district_in_Los_Angeles,_Toluca_Street,_ca.1895-1901_(CHS-3686).jpg
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilded_Age#/media/File:69workmen.jpg
Gilded Age Art:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Miss_Frances_Sherborne_Ridley_Watts.jpg
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Madame_X_(Madame_Pierre_Gautreau),_John_Singer_Sargent,_1884_(unfree_frame_crop).jpg
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Edinburgh_NGS_Singer_Sargent_Lady_Agnew.JPG
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:John_Singer_Sargent_-_Morning_Walk.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mary_Stevenson_Cassatt,_American_-_Woman_with_a_Pearl_Necklace_in_a_Loge_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
William Shakespeare:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Shakespeare_MET_DP860173.jpg
Revival Movements:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Caroline_Bardua_-_Portr%C3%A4t_Dorothee_van_Herzseele.jpg
1825 - Ackermann's Repository Series 3 Vol 5 - January Issue
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/82623
Military Coat Example:
C. 1880s-90s commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jacket_and_sword_belt_(AM_1943.88-4).jpg
Boater:
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/113053
Stay Tape:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bodice,_woman%27s_(AM_9203-1).jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bodice,_woman%27s_(AM_9203-6).jpg
Grape Tendrils:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vine.jpg
pixabay.com/photos/grapes-green-juicy-tasty-3437572
Soft Hat:
babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.31951000680968p&view=1up&seq=295&q1=beret
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Le_Moniteur_de_la_Mode,_1896,_Nr._3227e,_No._3_Garnitures_et_Passementeries,_RP-P-2009-3767.jpg
#metgala #gildedglamour #historicalfashion
