Victorian Costumes Printables

I called these “Victorian Costumes,” but that’s not an entirely accurate name for them. Today, we would call them costumes, and we think of them as something worn mostly for Halloween, but back then, they were referred to as “fancy dresses” and were worn at masquerade balls, fancy dress parties, and themed events throughout the year. The illustrations on these free ephemera sheets come from a “fancy dress” catalog I found that dates back to the late 1880s.

Scroll down all the way down, and you’ll find two different collage sheets. The first is a sheet of larger 2.5” x 4.25” journal cards followed by a sheet of slightly smaller 2” x 3” journal cards. Of course, using them as journal cards is only a suggestion. There are a ton of other ways you can use them for crafting, collage, mixed media art, etc.

If you like these, you may also want to check out the Victorian section of my free printables library or the Fashion/Costume section. You might like these Victorian ladies’ fashion ephemera sheets or these sewing diagrams ephemera sheets from the Victorian period.

2.5” x 4.25” Journal Cards

"Fancy dresses" in the Victorian era were extravagant costumes people wore to parties and events. These weren't just any costumes; they were all about being creative and dressing up according to a specific theme. Imagine stepping into the past, becoming a famous character from a book, or transforming into a mythical creature.

These costumes were incredibly detailed and well-crafted. The materials used were often really fancy, like silk, velvet, and lace. They were often adorned with ribbons, embroidery, and other decorations. So, they were like pieces of art that you could wear.

Accessories were a big deal too. Masks, wigs, gloves, and jewelry were carefully chosen to match the costume and make it even more exciting. Masks, in particular, were popular because they added an element of mystery to the outfit.

Some folks made their own costumes, but there were also professional costume makers who were really good at creating these amazing outfits. If you had the money, you could get them to design a costume that was historically accurate and breathtaking.

Fancy dress parties weren't just about dressing up; they were also a way for people to escape their normal lives and have fun. They allowed for creativity and role-playing, and they were a big part of the social scene back then. These events were often talked about in society news and shown in drawings and photos.

Fancy dress parties even had an impact on everyday fashion. Some of the costume elements and designs ended up influencing what people wore on a regular basis.

As time went on, fancy dress parties became less popular, but they left a legacy. Today, we still enjoy dressing up in costumes for events like Halloween, costume parties, and cosplay. So, the spirit of creativity and self-expression from the Victorian era lives on in our modern celebrations.

2” x 3” Journal Cards

Use these in art journaling, junk journaling, bullet journaling, collage, artist trading cards (ATCs), scrapbooking and other mixed media artwork and crafts.

If you enjoy these free printables, be sure to follow me on Instagram and Pinterest, so you’ll see when I post new ones.

You may also enjoy these free collage sheets.

Terms of use:
Free to use for personal or commercial projects. You may print the collage sheets as many times as you wish for your personal crafts or in your projects to sell, including: art journals, scrapbooks, junk journals, collage art, etc. You may not redistribute or sell the collage sheets “as is" in either print or digital form.

If you wish to share the files on your own website, please do not make the files available for download directly from your site. Instead, include an image with a link back to this site.

To the best of my knowledge, these are all royalty free images that are in the Public Domain in the US. However, you should always do your own research if you plan to use them commercially.