Unboxing a Victorian Lady's Riding Habit 🤩 || Antique Clothing Haul...but make it Equestrian

Head to https://www.squarespace.com/abbycox to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code abbycox! It has been *a minute* since I've done an unboxing video on this channel (this is what happens when you start aggressively acquiring pieces and you don't have enough time to unbox them all on camera...), but I felt that this piece deserved a proper unboxing. Not only is this a complete riding habit, but it has amazing provenance both for the wearer (Josephine Pomeroy-Herrick) as well as the maker (Burgess Ladies Tailor and Habit Maker). I don't have anything else close to this in my collection. The tailoring is outstanding. The condition is incredible - some of the thread is dry rotted, but the fabric is sound. Riding habits are a fascinating example of fuzzy gender barriers in historic dress. Sporting clothes have always had a masculine appearance to them, giving an "acceptable" way for women to break out of socially expected feminine styles and dress during their time. The masculinity of the habit carries over to the maker, with riding habits being made by tailors - which was (and is) a male-dominated trade. This more masculine English aesthetic in sporting clothes began in the last quarter of the 18th century, where there was an Anglo-mania in France for English sporting clothing. Known for wools and tailoring, the English have always been the leader in the well-made, well-tailored sporting dress. It is clear that this trend has continued for almo