🎀 VICTORIAN / EDWARDIAN COSTUME GUIDE

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👗 NURSE

Vibe: Calm competence wrapped in an apron. Equal parts kindness, exhaustion, and “please don’t bleed on my clean linens.” You’ve seen it all. You’d prefer not to see it again.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

Plain dress → “I haven’t sat down since sunrise” uniform
White apron → Protector of garments and dignity
Scarf or bandana → Modest, practical head covering
Boots → Efficient footsteps; no-nonsense movement
Hair tied back → Sterile(ish) and serious

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Accessories & DIY Care Kit

• Cloth bandages (cut-up sheets work!)

• Small notebook for "patient notes"

• Hand towel or rag tucked in apron pocket

• Fake tonic bottle (water + food coloring)

• A reassuring-yet-weary expression

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Behavior

• Smoothly comfort others while visibly overworked

• Check pulses no one asked you to check

• Wipe your forehead with the back of your hand (classic)

• Mutter, “Honestly…” after examining any injury

• Walk briskly like you're late everywhere

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Catch Phrases

• “Let me see the injury… gently now.”

• “You’ll be fine. Probably.”

• “Drink this — it helps.”

• “I need more bandages… again.”

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Closing Tips: Keep movements efficient, tone calm, and sigh like you’ve patched up half the town.

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👗 VICTORIAN WEALTHY LADY

Vibe: Lace, luxury, and levels of passive judgment powerful enough to quiet a ballroom. You don’t walk, you glide. Your life is an opera of silks.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

Maxi skirt/dress → Ballroom-worthy silhouette
Ruffled blouse → “I had servants iron this” elegance
Shawl or wrap → For dramatic entrances
Heeled boots → Click-click authority
Hair pinned elegantly → Crown of superiority

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Accessories & DIY Opulence

• Brooches on everything (collars, gloves, bags)

• Parasol = instant privilege

• Lace gloves

• Fan for fluttering disapproval

• Faux pearls or thrift-store jewelry

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Behavior

• Raise eyebrows slightly at anything common

• Glide gracefully, chin just a touch high

• Laugh softly, like porcelain chimes

• Speak as if every sentence is a secret

• Pretend everything is slightly beneath you

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Catch Phrases

• “How quaint…”

• “I do hope the help is reliable.”

• “My husband takes care of such trivialities.”

• “One expects a certain standard.”

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Closing Tips: Layers, lace, and just a sprinkle of superiority. Perfect posture is your superpower.

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👗 VICTORIAN PEASANT WOMAN

Vibe: Tired, tough, and unimpressed. You’ve carried heavier loads than everyone here — emotionally and literally. A realist surrounded by dreamers.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

Plain blouse → Hard-working honesty top
Simple skirt → “I’ve walked miles in this” attire
Apron → Functional dignity
Headscarf → Kitchen, field, factory versatility
Boots → Built for mud and misfortune

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Accessories & DIY Grit

• Basket of laundry or vegetables

• Burlap sack for props

• Rope belt

• Fabric scraps for “patches”

• Flour smudge for realism

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Behavior

• Sigh loudly and truthfully

• Mutter about chores

• Walk with an “I have places to be” pace

• Give weary half-smiles

• Shake your head at wealthy nonsense

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Catch Phrases

• “Bread’s gone up again…”

• “If I don’t do it, who will?”

• “No rest for the weary.”

• “I’ve been up since dawn.”

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Closing Tips: Simple layers + honest attitude = instant Victorian working-class authenticity.

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👗 SEAMSTRESS

Vibe: Nimble fingers, sharp needles, and sharper judgment. You’ve mended hems, stitched secrets, and seen too many uneven seams to trust anyone’s sewing skills but your own.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

Blouse + skirt → “I fix what’s broken” uniform
Apron → Practical perfection
Cardigan → Warmth during late-night sewing
Hair pinned back → No time for it falling forward
Boots → Step-lively stitcher shoes

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Accessories & DIY Tailoring Magic

• Measuring tape draped like a scarf

• Pincushion wristband (or elastic + pillow)

• Thread spools

• Scissors tucked safely in apron pocket

• Fabric scraps

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Behavior

• Eyeball everyone’s clothing with silent critique

• Measure imaginary hems

• Squint thoughtfully at seams

• Mutter “Crooked. So crooked.”

• Thread needles with alarming speed

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Catch Phrases

• “Hold still. I’m measuring.”

• “This stitch will never hold…”

• “Who did this hem?”

• “I can fix it — eventually.”

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Closing Tips: If you look like you could repair someone’s coat mid-conversation, you’re doing it right.

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👗 LAUNDRESS

Vibe: Strong arms, rolled sleeves, and industrial amounts of patience. You’ve fought stains no one should speak of.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

Rolled-sleeve blouse → “I mean business” top
Long skirt → Washday warrior wear
Apron → The battlefield shield
Headscarf → Keeps hair out of suds
Boots → Sturdy, splash-proof

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Accessories & DIY Washday Kit

• Washboard (toy versions are cheap)

• Cloth bundle

• Soap bar

• Bucket

• Damp cloth over shoulder

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Behavior

• Wipe hands on apron constantly

• Huff about stains

• Shake your head like you’ve seen horrors

• Bend and lift with skill

• Mutter laundry-based proverbs

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Catch Phrases

• “Mind the fresh linens!”

• “Always stains… always…”

• “This was white before you touched it.”

• “It’ll take hours, but I’ll manage.”

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Closing Tips: Commit to the practical, no-nonsense mindset. A good laundress can silence a room with a look.

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👗 SUFFRAGETTE (Late Victorian / Edwardian)

Vibe: Determined, articulate, and intensely tired of being underestimated. Your hat is wide, your sash is bright, and your voice could shatter glass when necessary.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

White blouse → Symbol of purity (and protest wardrobe tradition)
Long dark skirt → March-ready attire
Jacket or blazer → Authority, but make it fashionable
Boots → For standing your ground
Hair in neat updo → Strategic elegance

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Accessories & DIY Resolve

• Ribbon sash (purple, white, or green)

• Signboard (“Votes for Women”) — cardboard + markers

• Rosettes or ribbons

• Gloves for proper demonstration etiquette

• Small notebook for speeches

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Behavior

• Stand tall and proud

• Gesture passionately but gracefully

• Speak with conviction (but still PG-13)

• Nod firmly when others speak sense

• Deliver side-eye to anyone calling you “dear girl”

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Catch Phrases

• “Forward, ladies!”

• “Stand firm — stand together.”

• “My voice matters.”

• “We march with purpose.”

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Closing Tips: It’s all about dignity, poise, and being absolutely unshakable — even when your hat threatens to take flight.

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👗 TEA HOUSE PROPRIETRESS

Vibe: Warm hospitality with razor-sharp intuition.
You can pour tea, soothe conflict, and destroy someone socially — all before the kettle finishes boiling.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

Modest dress → Respectable shop-owner elegance
Apron → “I run this place” practicality
Shawl → Cozy refinement
Heeled boots → Click-clack authority
Neatly pinned hair → Hygienic and efficient

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Accessories & DIY Hospitality

• Teapot (thrift stores ALWAYS have one)

• Lace doily as a collar or shawl

• Serving tray

• Napkin folded with precision

• Sugar bowl or spoon

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Behavior

• Smile warmly while listening intently

• Lean close to whisper tasteful gossip

• Pour imaginary tea with perfect grace

• Clap hands lightly when pleased

• Maintain immaculate posture — even while carrying 3 cups

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Catch Phrases

• “Another cup? It’s fresh.”

• “Oh, darling, you didn’t hear this from me…”

• “A warm heart begins with warm tea.”

• “Careful — hot!”

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Closing Tips: Kind eyes, sharp mind, perfect manners. Serve tea and truth equally.

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👗 PICKPOCKET (Lady)

Vibe: Light fingers, fast feet, and zero guilt. You can blend into any crowd, slip a silk hanky from any pocket, and smile innocently through it all.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

Dark skirt → Sneaky silhouette
Shawl hooded up → Master of shadows look
Fingerless gloves → Quick hands at the ready
Worn boots → Soft, silent steps
Loose blouse → Hide pockets (and pocketed items)

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Accessories & DIY Schemes

• Fake coins or bills

• Silk handkerchiefs

• Small pouch tied to belt

• Cap or floppy hat

• Scarf wrapped low for mystery

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Behavior

• Glide through imaginary crowds

• Look innocent… too innocent

• Pat your pockets like checking your “loot”

• Whisper “easy pickings” when eyeing someone

• Duck, slip, dart — even while standing still

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Catch Phrases

• “Who, me?”

• “Must’ve dropped it…”

• “Crowds are dangerous — keep close!”

• “Just passing through.”

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Closing Tips: All about mischief, charm, and fast fingers (purely theatrical). Play the scamp and enjoy it.

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👗 APOTHECARY ASSISTANT

Vibe: Curious, calm, and maybe a little too excited about herbs. You blend science, superstition, and the occasional questionable powder.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

Blouse + skirt → “I mix things carefully” attire
Apron → Protection from mysterious spills
Cardigan → Scholarly warmth
Boots → Work-ready
Hair tied back → Safety first (mostly)

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Accessories & DIY Remedies

• Spice jars labeled “Tonic,” “Remedy,” or “Don’t Ask”

• Dried herbs; thyme, rosemary, etc.

• Notebook for recording experimental mixtures

• Wooden spoon or dropper

• Twine-wrapped bottles

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Behavior

• Sniff herbs thoughtfully

• Mix invisible ingredients with precision

• Whisper “just a pinch…”

• Hold jars to the light suspiciously

• Offer cures no one asked for

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Catch Phrases

• “This should help… hopefully.”

• “It’s perfectly safe. Mostly.”

• “Smell this — what do you think?”

• “An old remedy from my grandmother’s grandmother.”

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Closing Tips: Blend curiosity with confidence. Make every bottle sound like ancient magic. 

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🎩 MUDLARK

Vibe: Riverbank scavenger with raccoon-like confidence. Proud collector of other people's trash… and occasional treasure. If it glints, you’re taking it home.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

Rolled-up trousers → Ready for questionable water
Old shirt → “I found this in the river too” chic
Vest (worn-looking) → Professional scavenger attire
Boots → Mud-proof (ideally)
Flat cap → Crown of the river rat

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Accessories & DIY Treasure Trove

• A burlap sack or bucket

• Fake “findings”: keys, spoons, broken jewelry

• Rope belt

• Smudges of eyeliner/eyeshadow = dirt

• A stick for poking mysterious objects

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Behavior

• Squint at shiny objects

• Hold random items aloft with reverence

• Shake mud off boots constantly

• Whisper, “Oh-ho, what have we here?”

• Walk with a scavenger’s bounce

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Catch Phrases

• “Worth a fortune someday… maybe.”

• “Found it myself!”

• “River’s generous today.”

• “Treasure’s treasure, no matter the smell.”

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Closing Tips: Filthy & Fabulous

Make yourself look like you just crawled out of a river with a pocketful of hope and questionable loot.

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🎩 RAT CATCHER

Vibe: Scrappy, fearless, and suspiciously cheerful. You crawl into places no one else wants to, and carry traps like trophies. You are oddly proud of your work — and honestly, you should be.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

Rolled-sleeve shirt → “I fear nothing” workwear
Vest → Rugged professionalism
Trousers you don’t mind dirty → Business as usual
Flat cap → Rat-trapper crown
Boots → Built for chasing tiny criminals

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Accessories & DIY Grit

• Toy rat (place it dramatically in your pocket)

• Gloves (for handling the “goods”)

• Small cage or traps (fake / toy)

• Rope belt or satchel for rat-related equipment

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Behavior

• Squint at dark corners like you’re hunting something

• Walk with swift, purposeful movements

• Sniff suspiciously — as if you can smell rodent mischief

• Tap traps like they’re valuable tools

• Whisper plans to imaginary rats

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Catch Phrases

• “Ah—caught another one!”

• “Crafty little fellows…”

• “No need to panic. Unless you see more tails.”

• “Just doing my part to keep society civilized.”

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Closing Tips: Dirtier is better — smudge some soot or eyeshadow on your cheeks, tuck a toy rat into your vest pocket, and stride around like you own the alleyways.

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🎩 DOCTOR

Vibe: Confident, controlled, and occasionally concerning. You’ve read all the medical pamphlets and are armed with a stethoscope and blind optimism.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

White or light shirt → “Trust me, I’m trained” look
Vest → Victorian medical professional style
Dark trousers → Clean enough for appointments
Long coat → Makes everything more official
Boots → Prepared for emergencies

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Accessories & DIY Medical Kit

• Toy stethoscope

• Notebook labeled “Patient Notes”

• Bottle labeled “Tonic”

• Fabric bandages

• Small flashlight (anachronistic but acceptable)

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Behavior

• Check pulses no one asked you to

• Look deeply concerned, then casually say, “You’ll be fine”

• Scribble unreadable notes in a tiny book

• Tap bottles like you're analyzing them

• Nod solemnly for dramatic gravitas

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Catch Phrases

• “It won’t hurt… much.”

• “You’ll make a full recovery.”

• “Drink this — trust me.”

• “Fascinating symptoms…”

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Closing Tips: Confidence is key. Even if you don’t know what you’re doing — and you absolutely don’t — act like you do.

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🎩 POET

Vibe: Tormented, dramatic, and deeply moved by things like rain puddles and wind direction.
Your soul aches. And you want everyone to know.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

Loose shirt → “I live in emotional turmoil” drapery
Vest or scarf → Adds artistic importance
Dark trousers → For brooding
Boots → Wanderer of rainy streets
Hair: slightly messy → As if sorrow styled it

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Accessories & DIY Melancholy

• Notebook filled with scribbles

• Feather pen or pencil

• Crumpled paper (your failures)

• Ribbon bookmark

• A stare that could launch a thousand sonnets

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Behavior

• Sigh loudly and often

• Speak softly, as if narrating a dramatic romance

• Gaze into the distance

• Smell flowers with unnecessary intensity

• Read tiny lines of poetry to no one in particular

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Catch Phrases

• “The moon understands me.”

• “Every sorrow has its shadow…”

• “Listen… to the silence.”

• “I wrote this at 3 a.m.”

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Closing Tips: Channel brooding elegance. Everyone else is living — you are feeling.

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🎩 POLICE CONSTABLE

Vibe: Upright, serious, permanently on patrol. Your whistle is your sword, your notebook your shield.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

Dark coat → Instant authority
Vest or waistcoat → Official presence
Dark trousers → Regulation-ready
Boots → Sturdy patrol footwear
Flat cap or bowler → Victorian police silhouette

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Accessories & DIY Enforcement

• Toy whistle (a must!)

• Notebook + stubby pencil

• Stick, baton, or umbrella

• Pocket watch

• Serious mustache (real or drawn)

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Behavior

• Stand tall, shoulders back

• Survey the room like it’s a crime scene

• Write in notebook even if it’s blank

• Blow whistle unnecessarily

• Interrogate suspicious snacks

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Catch Phrases

• “Move along.”

• “Nothing to see here.”

• “I’ll need your statement.”

• “The law is the law.”

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Closing Tips: Be stern but polite. Look like you’re always one clue away from cracking the case. 

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🎩 DETECTIVE

Vibe: Clever, quiet, and devastatingly observant. You see everything. EVERYTHING.  (The crumbs. The footprints. The suspiciously smudged lipstick.)

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Closet Staples to Elevate

Vest or waistcoat → Professional sleuth attire
Trousers → Clean yet functional
Boots → Silent tracking shoes
Scarf → Stylish deduction accessory

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Accessories & DIY Sleuth Kit

• Magnifying glass (thrift store or toy aisle)

• Notebook labeled “Case Notes”

• Old key or pocket watch

• Fake pipe (optional but powerful)

• Dramatic hat (newsboy, bowler, or deerstalker)

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Behavior

• Squint thoughtfully at everyone

• Pick up imaginary clues from the floor

• Say “Interesting…” at random

• Take frantic notes

• Lean in dramatically before making a deduction

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Catch Phrases

• “Curious… very curious.”

• “I’m following a lead.”

• “One piece is missing…”

• “I know who did it.”

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Closing Tips: Move quietly, speak thoughtfully, and act like even the air is suspicious.

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🎩 SHERLOCK HOLMES

Vibe: Brilliant, blunt, and blissfully unaware of social norms. You stride into rooms making deductions that no one asked for but everyone fears.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

Long coat → Cloak of instant genius
Dark trousers → Sleek mobility for crime-chasing
Vest/waistcoat → Impeccable detective layering
White shirt → “I’ll outsmart you politely” base layer
Scarf → Dramatic deduction enhancer

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Accessories & DIY Sleuth Swag

• Fake pipe (bubble pipes work great!)

• Magnifying glass (toy aisle gold)

• Notebook labeled “Observations”

• Deerstalker hat (use a cap if needed)

• Old key or small vial for mysterious flair

Behavior

• Peer intensely at objects

• Deliver rapid-fire analysis with zero warning

• Interrupt people to correct them

• Pace like your brain is five steps ahead

• Smile only when you’ve solved something

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Catch Phrases

• “Elementary.”

• “The game is afoot!”

• “You see… but you do not observe.”

• “I’ve deduced everything.”

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Closing Tips: Smart + eccentric + slightly rude = perfection. Solve imaginary crimes. Preferably loudly.

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🎩 DR. WATSON

Vibe: Warm, loyal, reliable, and chronically stressed by Sherlock’s existence. You document brilliance and chaos in equal measure.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

Shirt → Sensible and tidy base layer
Vest → Gentlemanly refinement
Dark trousers → Levelheaded professionalism
Overcoat → Ready for sudden adventures
Boots → Practical, reliable, steady

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Accessories & DIY Practicality

• Notebook labeled “Case Journal”

• Pen or pencil

• Pocket watch (or chain)

• Small bag, “medical kit” optional

• Clean, polite mustache (real or drawn)

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Behavior

• Follow Sherlock with weary affection

• Explain things more politely

• Offer reasonable objections

• Pat pockets searching for notebook constantly

• Look relieved when things make sense

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Catch Phrases

• “What Sherlock means is…”

• “Good heavens…”

• “Let me take notes on this.”

• “Extraordinary—truly.”

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Closing Tips: Be the calm to Sherlock’s storm. You are the supportive narration that keeps the chaos coherent.

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🎩 VICTORIAN WEALTHY GENTLEMAN

Vibe: Refined, brooding, and mysteriously prosperous.
You own land, investments, and possibly a portrait that ages in your attic.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

White shirt → Elegant foundation
Vest → “I employ an accountant” style
Suit jacket → Noble silhouette
Dark trousers → Time-honored taste
Dress shoes → Made to click impressively

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Accessories & DIY Nobility

• Pocket watch (or chain)

• Walking cane (stick works fine)

• Silk handkerchief

• Overcoat or wool cloak

• Leather gloves

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Behavior

• Raise an eyebrow at anything informal

• Speak slowly, thoughtfully

• Hold tea or wine glass by the stem (dramatic)

• Smile only in polite increments

• Brood near windows

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Catch Phrases

• “Rather.”

• “I say…”

• “My estate manages that sort of thing.”

• “Most unfortunate.”

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Closing Tips: It’s all posture, poise, and a face that suggests you’re thinking about inheritance taxes.

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🎩 VICTORIAN PEASANT LABORER

Vibe: Hardworking, gruff, and tougher than half the aristocracy combined.
Your hands tell stories. Mostly about shovels.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

Rolled-sleeve shirt → “I work for a living” uniform
Suspenders → Working-class practicality
Worn trousers → Built to last
Boots → Mud-ready
Newsboy cap → Classic laborer silhouette

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Accessories & DIY Tools of the Trade

• Rope coil

• Burlap sack

• Work gloves

• Shovel or broom substitute

• Soot smudge (eyeshadow works!)

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Behavior

• Lean on imaginary shovel

• Wipe forehead dramatically

• Give single-word answers

• Stretch back like you’ve worked since dawn

• Sigh like everything is heavy

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Catch Phrases

• “Long day’s work ahead.”

• “Aye, well…”

• “It doesn’t fix itself.”

• “Better get to it.”

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Closing Tips: Rough, real, reliable. You’re the backbone of Victorian society—even if underpaid.

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🎩 CHIMNEY SWEEP

Vibe: Soot-covered optimism. You’re cheerful, scrappy, and barely recognizable under layers of “chimney seasoning.”

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Closet Staples to Elevate

Dark shirt → Soot disguise
Trousers → Already smudged preferred
Scarf → Anti-soot neck protector
Vest → Ragamuffin chic
Boots → Climbing-ready

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Accessories & DIY Ashy Authenticity

• Broomstick or long pole

• Smudged face (eyeshadow!)

• Cap

• Blackened gloves

• Bits of faux soot on clothes

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Behavior

• Whistle cheerful tunes

• Dust yourself off frequently

• Stand tall after “climbing”

• Offer sooty handshakes

• Shrug off dirt proudly

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Catch Phrases

• “Up the flue I go!”

• “Bit messy, but that’s the job!”

• “Soot happens.”

• “Best job in town—if you don’t mind heights.”

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Closing Tips: Messy is perfect. You should look like the fireplace sneezed you out.

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🎩 BUTCHER

Vibe: Loud, hearty, and always one joke away from making someone nervous.
You lift heavy things for fun and wear aprons with pride.

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Closet Staples to Elevate

White shirt → Dramatic splatter-ready base
Apron (white) → “This is my uniform and personality”
Rolled sleeves → Meat-prepping muscle display
Trousers → Sturdy, practical
Boots → Floor-proof

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Accessories & DIY Chops

• Plastic cleaver (NOT real!)

• Dish towel over shoulder

• Meat-wrapping paper

• Twine

• Toy sausages (party stores!)

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Behavior

• Laugh loudly

• Wipe hands on apron even when clean

• Describe cuts of meat excitedly

• Gesture broadly

• Stand with legs apart like you own the counter

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Catch Phrases

• “Fresh today!”

• “Best cuts in town!”

• “Mind your fingers!”

• “Now this is quality.”

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Closing Tips: Confidence, cheer, and a strong apron game. The butcher is everyone’s favorite… unless they’re vegetarian.

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