Thin Ice Theater's fall 2010 production was "An Ideal Husband" by Oscar Wilde.
This necessitated upper crust British formal wear c. 1895. My research showed that this was the era of the largest mutton chop sleeves ever seen on Earth. Plus froo-froos and lace and ribbons and feathers. Definitely a "more is more" look.
We wanted the look to be over the top. It's Oscar Wilde after all, and the theme has a lot to do with how over the top these people are, while at the same time maintaing that stiff upper lip in the face of actual Life happening to them. But we were certainly not going to make new dresses for everyone!