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ClothesontheVictorianErawereveryelaboratedandrestrictivedonthe
bodies of those who wore them. The Victorian Era was a time period
between 1830 to the end of the XIXth century. Queen Victoria ruled
England. The rise of the economy allowed to make more elaborated
clothes.Clothmakingwasmadeeasierandcheaperduringtheindustrial
boomofthistime
Thewomensdresswasveryelaborated.Theirdressesaffectedtheway
theywalked,satormovedherarms.Womenworeavarietyofcoloursfor
theirstockingsanddresses.Dressesandstockingsundergarmentswerecut
inastyletoshowoffthefigureinamodestway.Theundergarmentshad
whalebonesorflexiblesteel.Herewecanseewhatawomanofthattime
hadtowear:
Firstlythedrawers:
Secondlytheslip
Thirdlytheyhadtoputonthecorset
Fourtlythepetticoat
Followedtotheunderskirt
Finallytheskirtandthejacketortshirt:
Inthatpictureweseethewomendressedtogoout:
Thedresswaswornintwopiecesandconnectedwithhooksandties.The
styleofsleeveschangedmanytimesthroughouttheVictorianEra.The
necklinewasworninahighVneck.Eitheroneortwoskirtswereworn;
withtwoskirtstheunderskirtwaslonger,formingashorttrainwiththetop
skirtforminganapron.Theunderskirtflaredfromthekneesdownto
createfullness.Around1880,theskirtwascutnarrowallaroundthebody,
formingaslimoutline.Thedresswasmadeindifferentcolors,from
pastelstodarkercolors.Differentshadesofgreenwereverypopular.We
canseetheevolutionofthefashiondressesinthispicture:
HATS
Other important accessory were hats. Hats were primarily used as a
protection from the sun, to avoid an injury... However, in the later years,
hats became a symbol of style statement and authority. The kind of hats
worn by women and men were different. Hats formed an essential part of a
womansappearanceand as a result, they always wear a hat when they
went out. The hats were layered on a wire base covered with straw braids
or twisted fabric and was made from velvet, satin or cotton. Birds were
used as decorating piece on the hats and this was a fashion in the last half
of the XIXth century. The most romantic looking hat of the 1850s was a
leghorn straw with a wide brim dipped down at the back and slightly at the
front. In the early 1900s, hats had wider-brim and were worn high on the
head.
For men, the top hat or the tall silk hat was generally worn for formal days
and evening wear. A light grey top hat was worn in the 1860s for racing
parties. Since the 1870s, there was a rise in the number of hats that were
considered appropriate for informal wear. Caps of firmly woven wool
which were close-fitting were also worn by the Victorian men.
Shawls, cloaks, mantles, scarves and little aprons were also accessories.
Gloves and parasols were popular. Large brooches were worn at the throat
and large and small earrings were also worn. The use of fans was also very
Brooch
MAKEUP
Aboutthemakeupofthistime,womenwantedtolooklikeasfragile
ladies.Theycomparedthemselvestodelicateflowersandemphasized
theirdelicacyandfemininity.Theyalwayswantedtolookpaleand
interesting.Palenesscouldbeinducedbydrinkingvinegarandavoiding
freshair.Sometimesladiesdiscreetlyusedalittlerougeonthecheeks,
butmakeupwasnotseenverygood,especiallyduringthe1870swhen
socialetiquettebecamemorerigid.
Actresses,howeverwereallowedtousemakeup.Mostcosmetic
productsavailablewerestilleitherchemicallyorhomemadewith
kitchencolouringslikeberriesandbeetroot.
Apaleskinwasamarkofgentility.Itmeantthataupperclassladydid
notworkinthecountrysoshewasnotdarkskinned.Parasolswere
verypopularandusedtoprotecttheskinfromthesun.Roomswere
shutteredwithdarkheavyvelvetcurtainstokeepoutthesun'srays.
Finebluelineswerepaintedontheskintoincreasetheappearanceof
delicatetranslucentskinandtolooklikeveins.
Duringthistimeitwasthoughtthatwomen'shairwasthemostvalued
thingonthem.Itwasrarelycut,usuallyonlyinsevereillness.Itwasalso
supplementedbyfalsehairdependingonthecurrentfashion.
HAIRSTYLES
Hairstyles were very complicated. Hair was thick, long, and luxuriant in
many different styles. Hats were an important part of the outfit. Hair was
parted down the middle, curled or braided, then tied or pinned back. Only
in informal occasions we can see the Victorian lady leaving her hair fall
loose around her shoulders.
Later in the XIXth century,Victorian hairstyles became more elaborated.
Bangs made their debut around 1880. Women began to use hot irons to
wave their hair or add ringlets to it.
When Queen Victoria died in 1901 her styles died with her. The XXth century
brought simpler fashions. Womens fashions changed considerable with Feminism,
the effects of the two World Wars in society and economy, and the changes in the
shape of the Capitalist workplace and workforce.