The Historical Dressmaking group welcomes anyone interested in creating and learning more about historical fashion. From making your own dresses, jackets, bonnets or just adapting modern clothing to fit historical silhouettes.

Led by Carol, an experienced costume creator, our group is dedicated to finding events where we can showcase our outfits. You can make an entire outfit or simply an accessory, making the undergarments is optional. We aim to capture the essence of each era, so garments don’t need to 100% historically accurate- Bridgerton style interpretations are more than welcome!

Our meetings are varied, ranging from research, finding appropriate patterns and fabric selections, fitting assistance and sharing sewing knowledge. We also view online clothing collections in house and at local and London museums, discussing the fibre content, construction techniques and social context of the clothing.

Following on from our successful Jane Austen Picnic at Box Hill in July 2025, which we will be attending again in 2026. We are making dresses for the period of around 1880, the natural form era, with the purpose of attending an afternoon tea at a local venue.

2024 Jane Austen Picnic on Box Hill.                         Photo courtesy Leatherhead Museum and Steve Stuart