1865 Reproduction Riding Habit

[helen]

I have a 1865 reproduction military style riding habit used by ladies riding side saddle. The only information I have on this outfit is Reflecting the age of Queen Victoria at Balmoral Scotland. I am after information regarding what boots & what type & colour petticoat are worn with this outfit & any other information or links to web sites with information would be great. As I am wearing this outfit in a costume class & would like to be correctly attired

[Jock Scot]

I have a 1865 reproduction military style riding habit used by ladies riding side saddle. The only information I have on this outfit is Reflecting the age of Queen Victoria at Balmoral Scotland. I am after information regarding what boots & what type & colour petticoat are worn with this outfit & any other information or links to web sites with information would be great. As I am wearing this outfit in a costume class & would like to be correctly attired

First of all, welcome from Inverness-shire.

My mother used to ride to hounds side saddle, but that was in the 1930/40/50's so maybe her attire would have been quite a bit different,I really don't know.Maybe this might help.

From what I remember and I was not really of an age to take much notice, she(mother) wore some sort of riding britches(dark in colour) under a heavy large very dark blue voluminous skirt, with a dark green lining and I think that was silk, that draped oh so elegantly and casually over part of the horse and her when mounted. She wore super highly polished, just below the knee, black riding boots and the very short spurs.On the upper half she wore a matching lady's "hunting cut" jacket(cut short a bit like a kilt jacket length) and around her neck a silk hunting stock held together with a gold pin(a bit like a traditional kilt pin). On her head she wore some sort of black bowler hat with a net veil of some kind.

[JSFMACLJR]

I have a 1865 reproduction military style riding habit used by ladies riding side saddle. The only information I have on this outfit is Reflecting the age of Queen Victoria at Balmoral Scotland. I am after information regarding what boots & what type & colour petticoat are worn with this outfit & any other information or links to web sites with information would be great. As I am wearing this outfit in a costume class & would like to be correctly attired

Jock's description seems right to me. My grandmother and one of my aunts rode side saddle when they hunted, and this is what I remember as well.

Question: what do you mean by "a 1865 reproduction military style riding habit used by ladies riding side saddle"? I do not believe ladies served with any branch of the armed forces in 1865.

[Jock Scot]

Question: what do you mean by "a 1865 reproduction military style riding habit used by ladies riding side saddle"? I do not believe ladies served with any branch of the armed forces in 1865.

Good question. The only lady that I have ever seen riding side saddle in uniform, is HM Queen Elizabeth (our present Queen, who is an accomplished horse woman) at The Trooping of The Colour and she did so for many years.For the last few years she has arrived and departed the ceremony by horse and carriage, but there must be some archive pictures available.

[Cynthia]

I think what she means is a military-inspired garment. Women's fashion through the ages have taken inspiration from men's clothing -- including military.

Helen, I'm no expert on 1865, but I found a few links for you. It sounds like you would wear a long skirt without a hoop crinoline. I'm not sure about the shoes. Please keep in mind, I don't know about some of these websites' accuracy and whether the information is 100% authentic:

http://www.corsetsandcrinolines.com/...p?index=186043

http://users.tinyworld.co.uk/sidesad...%20detail.html

a modern rider in that style:
http://ridingaside.blogspot.com/2009...reat-news.html

Scroll down to "outerwear":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1860s_in_fashion

I hope some of these links have helped you.

[Cynthia]

I also found this:

http://www.marquise.de/en/1800/pics/1866_7.shtml

If you look very closely, you can see a bit of her shoe. I can't tell if it's a low-heeled, ankle or just over ankle-length lace up boot, or if it's a full riding boot.

[B R Gordon]

Jock's description is very close to my recollection. We had only one woman who rode to hounds side saddle and she wore a habit very close, but not quite as elegant as Jock's mother.

I believe that for a costume, a habit based upon Jock's description would work splendidly.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Fanny Duberly accompanied her husband, Captain Henry Duberly, to the Crimea in 1854, during "the Russian-Turkish" War, and to India in 1856 when his regiment (8th Irish Hussars) went to quell the Mutiny (where she took part in a cavalry charge). There is, in wikipedia, an excellent photograph of her at Balaclava (taken by Roger Fenton). She is sitting her mount, with Captain Duberly looking on.

Google "Frances Isablla Duberly" for the full story...

[Bugbear]

Posting a Wikipedia link goes against my morals and ethics, but... MOR suggested it.
Frances Isabella Duberly - Wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Isabella_Duberly

There's a picture, but can't say if it's the one being discussed.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Posting a Wikipedia link goes against my morals and ethics, but... MOR suggested it.
Frances Isabella Duberly - Wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Isabella_Duberly

There's a picture, but can't say if it's the one being discussed.

Thanks Ted!

Yes, this is the redoubtable "Mrs. Jubilee" as the troops called her. What's interesting is the apron worn over her legs... it must have been insufferably warm (hot?) in the Crimea, to say nothing of India.