A true Southern Belle doesn’t necessarily come from money, but from good breeding and perfect manners and charm. To be a southern belle, grace, charm, good manners, and traditions are important, along with good breeding. A true southern lady dedicates herself to keeping the house, raising the children, and performing good works (charity). They are full of grace, charm, and always polite; this is how they are raised. They are also raised to love the land and fight for their traditions and country. Formal education is important, and while studies such as reading/writing, math and the sciences are of some importance, most true southern girls are taught to be charming, sophisticated, and of course how to dance. Young men are often studied more in academics, but they too attend charm school, learning to dance, and be a good husband that can provide for his family. In the South, there are two things they love, parties and sugar-shocked ice tea.
Girls and boys under the age of seventeen are not permitted to attend parties in the evening, they are much too young, but it would be tasteless of parents to leave the younger children at home for such things as tea parties, or Sunday supper if the family is invited by another.
Rules of a Southern Belle:
1. Never wear white shoes after Labor day and before Easter(Brides are the exception)
2. Always precede or end an insult with “Bless your heart”, it won’t be received as an insult (at least not as bad of an insult).
3. Ladies, when it benefits you, act confused and helpless, not allowing the gentleman or ladies know just how clever, capable and cunning you are.
4. Never show your bosom before evening.
5. For gentleman and women, Never smoke on the street (if you must at all, the smell is considered tack-the worst insult in the south is to be considered tacky-)
6. Never show anger in the street, maintain your charm and grace (men and women)
7. Thank-you notes are a must, it’s never too early to send them out.
8. Charm, Charm, Charm.
9. Maintain a polished look, no matter what.
10. Be graceful and elegant.
11. Never cross your Mama.

Clothing

Ok, so, in 1875, it's the Victorian Era for clothin.. It's a bit difficult to explain though, so I'm going to give you some pictures, and if you need any more help, I sugget google... lol.((Except for the men's fashion.. If you would like to see it, I have a great web site that sells the victorian clothing, you just can't use their images...lol))

http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/victorian-clothing-guide.php




The more simple dresses such as the ones above were called walking dresses. They were worn around the house, and out on the town, not often worn with a corset. They're fashionable, but made of simple and inexpensive fabrics. Often, women wear bonnets with these dresses, or carry simple paracells(umbrellas) to protect them from the sun. At any other time these are inapproriate.


These dresses are made with better fabrics, but not quite as expensive as ball gowns. These are worn to day parties, when you have company over, are visiting someone, or to church. They are very popular for tea parties and some higher society women use them as walking dresses with petticoats-skirts ment to be seen when the dress was lifted so it wasn't exposed to the dirt.







These are all examples of ball gowns.. I don't think I really need to explain these, except that they were worn with corests, gloves, sometimes a hat or other headpiece, and also hoops were used to make the dress poofier.

Ok... The undergarnments are a bit complicated.. the info is here:

http://theyankeeseamstress.com/images/ballgowns/bluewithflounceballgownsmer.gif

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