Female servants working ‘upstairs’ – in the main part of the house, would usually wear a smart black uniform with a pristine white apron. This was because they would be seen by the family they worked for and so had to be ‘presentable’.
What did female servants wear in the Victorian era?
Upper servants often had ‘neater’ uniforms, as these women would be seen by the family and their guests. Unlike the lower servants, there was less chance for these girls to get dirty, so they often sported the black afternoon dressed with white collars, cuffs and a lace-trimmed apron.
What did servants wear during the Victorian era?
Servants wore turned up collars with a plain necktie or cravat and a crisp, white shirt. Plain, dark coloured waistcoats were worn by all the menservants and were usually a cast-off from the master. Trousers can be either long or short, tucked into socks or cut off and elasticated at the knee.
How did Victorian maids wear their hair?
Victorian ladies often styled their hair in simple chignons or coiled or interwoven plaits. (Petit Courrier des Dames, 1861.) A simple chignon or “bun” was another option for the Victorian lady of more moderate means. All that was needed was a handful of pins.
What did maids wear?
Most women, nevertheless, worked as maids-of-all-work for the middle and lower-middle classes and wore a print dress with a cap and a rough apron in the morning to do heavy-cleaning duties followed by a black dress and a more delicate white cap and apron in the afternoon to welcome guests and perform lighter tasks.
What were female servants called?
A maid, or housemaid or maidservant, is a female domestic worker.
What did female serfs wear?
Peasant men wore stockings or tunics, while women wore long gowns with sleeveless tunics and wimples to cover their hair. Sheepskin cloaks and woolen hats and mittens were worn in winter for protection from the cold and rain.
What did domestic servants wear?
Some ladies wear fancy dresses with lace or ruffles. But other women wear blue or gray dresses with white aprons and white caps on their heads. Some gentlemen wear colorful vests and ties, but there may be men wearing plain black pants and simple shirts and vests or even work aprons.
Did servants wear corsets?
Perhaps corsets were acceptable to those who bore the pain to be attractive. But the female servants downstairs are obliged to wear corsets as well, even though they don’t share the same fashion worries. The corsets often make it painful to bend down to clean grates or scrub floors.
What color do servants wear?
Soon, the color blue itself became associated with the state of servitude. As such, it is a good choice for someone wishing to dress as a maid, cook, or other type of servant.
At what age did Victorian girls put their hair up?
15/16
Long hair was considered desirable but it had to be worn properly in public in order to be considered respectable. In the 1830’s young girls were expected to wear their hair up when the reached the age of 15/16.
What was Victorian hygiene like?
Showers were not yet en vogue and everyone bathed to keep clean. Poorer families would have boiled water on the stove then added it along with cool water to a wooden or metal tub, usually in the kitchen area, when it was time for a deep scrub down.
Why were ladies maids called by last name?
In the servants’ hall, a lady’s maid took precedence akin to that of her mistress. In Britain, a lady’s maid would be addressed by her surname by her employer, while she was addressed as “Miss” by junior servants or when visiting another servants’ hall.
What is a maid outfit called?
Overview. A maid uniform is a style of uniform worn by female cleaning staff. The popularized concept of such a uniform typically consists of a black dress, a white apron, and a hairband or cap of some sort.
What is the maid headpiece called?
mob cap
French maids wear symbols of Revolution on their heads.
There’s always a weird little lacy hat on her head. That’s called a “mob cap,” which symbolizes a woman’s willingness to beat you to death with a garden rake or institute a system that leads to being tried in an afternoon and beheaded.
At what age did girls become maids?
Girls, often aged 13-14 years old, sometimes as young as eleven, were employed as the lowest order of servants: maids.
Was being a ladies maid a good job?
A lady’s maids’ job description was vast and required a knowledge that may now be lost in time. Traditionally, the lady’s maid was not as high-ranking as a lady’s companion, who was a retainer rather than a servant, but the rewards included room and board, travel and a somewhat improved social status.
What is a female butler called?
1 Answer. Traditionally, a male servant in charge of a household was called a butler, while a female with essentially the same duties was called a housekeeper.
How do you address a lady’s maid?
The Lady’s Maid is given the title of “Miss ~“, and will be addressed as such, regardless of her marital status.
What did medieval maids wear?
Higher-ranking servants were given clothes made of blue cloth with lamb fur, (shearling) while other, lower-ranking clerks wore robes of russet. Described as the “coarsest and cheapest” fabric, russet was a woolen cloth worn mainly by servants and labourers.
How was a stomacher worn?
The stomacher would have been pinned in place at the sides, under the gown. A ribbon tied through the lacing holes at the centre front would have attached the stomacher to the bodies (or stays) worn underneath and held it taut.