Welcome to Miss Brenda's Clothiers Bio page!

My name is Brenda Kennedy (formerly Brenda Brown), of Miss Brenda's Clothiers. I have 30+ years of sewing experience. I love all types of sewing (except mending, of course!), but my passion lies in Victorian clothing. I'm an avid collector of paper doll books on the Victorian period and have a small library of books full of Victorian fashion plates from that time period. I love to find a fashion plate or photo of a Victorian dressed lady and challenge myself in duplicating it. If I'm not sewing, I'm researching my next Victorian Costume. I give special attention to ruching; pleating, gauging, laces, trims and buttons - everything that gives the "Victorian" dress the appeal of that era.

WHAT IS THE VICTORIAN ERA?

Queen Victoria ruled England from 1837-1901.Before this time, men were the focus of fashion, but with a queen in power, women surged to the forefront. The role of a wife became to show of her husbands status and wealth to the public, the husband receding into the background. Many different clothing styles came and went during Queen Victoria's reign.

During the 1880's-1900's, ladies fashion passed through more changes than any other time period. The ladies of the Victorian Era dressed opulently. The symbol of their wealth was sumptious clothing. The ladies Victorian dresses and gowns can only be described in one word: "beautiful," and ladies were impeccably dressed to the finest detail, no expense spared.

Fabrics used for ladies Victorian dresses and gowns were silks, satins, velvets, taffetas, bolt laces, organdies, chintzes and silk-cotton blends, brocades and jeweled fabric. Trims included furs, silk laces, crocheted laces, feathers and ostrich plumes and decorative felts. Colors for ladies clothing ranged from rich, deep purples, lavenders, magentas, blues, greens, reds, grays to blacks. In addition, soft pastel colors were used, but mainly for adornment such as peach, pinks, lavenders and blues.

See Miss Brenda Kennedy (formerly Brenda Brown)'s gorgeous Victorian Bustle Dress costume styles for sale! Check back often on these pages to see her newest Victorian Costume creation additions!