MTF Crossdressing during Civil War?

[moderntrickster]

I've been on Google for hours now searching for everything within the realms of male crossdressing, victorian era and civil war as well as everything in between it seems and I'm still not getting a very good idea of what I'm looking for

Comments

[chinikunohana]

well, it's modern, but here is an article about a [male] corsetier with some pictures in it...

http://coilhouse.net/2008/03/mr-pearl-on-corsetry-technology-and-posession/

[moderntrickster]

This is excellent, thank you!

[chinikunohana]

oh, and... I think that your character could wear chokers or high collars to make his neck appear more feminine...

and 1860's a "real lady" had to have pale, dainty hands [I remember Scarlett's sisters crying about damaging theirs because of cotton-picking in 'Gone with the Wind'] and since men's hands are usually broader and bigger, maybe he could wear gloves too.

as for shoulders, it seems like shawls were in-style then, so maybe these? capes weren't practical with hoop dresses.

[moderntrickster]

Ah! That's a really good idea. Thank you!

Pale, check. He's very thin/lean so he has never long/thin fingers as well. But I always work in gloves regardless because I love them. And the shoulder-length shawls that I think you're talking about I've always heard referred to as capes, but that's just a semantic thing so yes! I hadn't thought about the chokers/collars though so thank you for that! :D

[chinikunohana]

shawls are folded pieces of fabric just draped around shoulders and capes are usually knee/floor length. Then there are capelets which are much more tailored than shawls. Both capelets and shawls will make his shoulders appear smaller...

here are some pics:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Racinet-regency-empire-shawls-1888.jpg - shawl
http://i53.tinypic.com/dfhah5.jpg - capelet

as for the choker/collar thing, this guy does that pretty well -- http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/12778387/HIZAKI+grace+project.png
http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/16700000/Hizaki-hizaki-16784732-500-511.jpg

[moderntrickster]

Oh! Thank you, this is fantastic! My "resources" folder is growing quite large tonight - with no complaints from me at all.

You're wonderful <3

[chinikunohana]

you're welcome! ♥

[nuranar]

Ooh, I just saw that capelet picture - gorgeous. Is that Elisabeth of Austria? So pretty! It's probably shortly after the Civil War. The capelet effect isn't terribly common, but sometimes it shows up as part of outerwear. Elisabeth was royalty, too, so she had a bit more leeway. ;) The blue lines of trim were, though, and that's really the effect that serves to minimize the shoulders. She's wearing the small standing collar and brooch, too, that will hide his throat. Various capes and cloaks and mantles were actually pretty popular for outerwear as well.
http://www.thegracefullady.com/civilwargowns/cdvs_winterwear.htm