Why did Georgian dresses cost as much as a townhouse?!

Video Description

Could you call a dress radical? The rise of the 18th-century mantua certainly marked a societal shift that went well beyond a fashion trend. Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/subhistoryextrayoutube As the popularity of this style grew, so too did the role of women in an industry previously dominated by men. Forget tailors – if you wanted to keep up with the Georgians, the mantua maker is where you’d go. To find out more about this generation of trend-setting women, HistoryExtra’s Ellie Cawthorne met Professor Serena Dyer and her team of experts who are attempting to get up close and personal with the fine stitches of Georgian society by recreating a traditional mantua sacque dress – from scratch. Bridgerton fans, this one is for you. #HistoryExtra #fashionhistory #18thcentury 00:00 Intro 01:34 18th-century dressmaking 02:36 Who were mantua makers? 03:18 The recreation project 05:56 How it's made 06:38 Folds and pleats 07:40 The mantua maker's stitch 09:45 18th-century fashion facts 13:40 A lost legacy? 15:05 The cost 18:42 What's changed? 21:43 The finished dress ▷ Follow the podcast on iTunes: https://apple.co/3Y6n8Bt ▷ Like our page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryExtra ▷ Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/HistoryExtra ▷ Follow us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyextra ▷ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCy4hMtkf5aFZrlTcHPWRc_g Subscribe to our Substack for Life Lessons from History with Dr David Musgrove: https://historyextra.substack.com/ 🏰 BBC History Magazine Step into the past for only £12! Get 6 months of the UK's best-selling history magazine—packed with gripping stories, cutting-edge research, and insights from the world’s top historians. https://www.buysubscriptions.com/print/bbc-history-magazine-subscription?promo=HIYT25&utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube.com&utm_campaign=6-for-9.99-2025_hiyt25&utm_content=ribbon BBC History Extra Love History? Download the HistoryExtra app for ad-free episodes, exclusive long-read features like the History’s Greatest series, and interactive courses led by experts in the HistoryExtra Academy. Download now! https://historyextra.onelink.me/MJpt/2u7xxzlc