The Victorian Era

Fashion

Proca Antonia-Mariana, Ivanov Maria, Todirica Alexia

The Victorian Era, named after Queen Introduction
Victoria who ruled the United
Kingdom from 1837 to 1901, was a
period of economic, and cultural
changes in Britain. This time was
marked by significant societal
changes, industrial leaps, and, of
course, distinctive fashion. From the
early 1830s to the early 1900s, the
Victorian era was a rollercoaster ride
of traditions, innovations, and
evolving styles.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

 The Early Victorian
look
In 1836 Gigot sleeves collapsed abruptly and so costume
began to develop the sentimental 'early Victorian look'
we associate with Queen Victoria's early rule. Prim
sentimentality was emphasized by the popular ringlet
hairstyle.
By 1840 the collapsed sleeve was much narrower, but still
retained a restrictive seam line on the dropped
shoulder. The early sentimental Victorian fashion look

The early Victorian tight-fitting pointed bodice was

much longer and had a very small tight fitting waist.
All the boned bodice seam lines and trims were
directional to emphasize the small waists. The boning
also helped stop the bodice from horizontal creasing.
 By 1845 the boned bodice was even more elongated into a
V shape and the shoulder sleeve seam line drooped
even more. This meant that an early Victorian
woman's arm movements were restricted.
The limited range of arm movements increased the
appearance of demure vulnerability and helplessness
we so often associate with Victorian femme fatales.
Softer more demure plain colours and small delicate
dimity patterns helped to add a neat ladylike quality
to gowns.
Slimmer fitting sleeves, A Victorian woman could also emphasize modesty by
a much simpler early
Victorian fashion dress of 1838
wearing freshly laundered detachable white collars
and false undersleeves called engageantes. Both were
often made of delicate whitework and gave an air of
refinement and daintiness.
The 1850s saw the skirts of the 1840s continue to As the decade progressed, flounces and
expand, becoming fuller and fuller by way of ruffles slowly started disappearing,
ruffles, that were usually in tiers of three. This being replaced with skirts that lay more
increase in the width of women’s skirts led to the smoothly over the petticoat and
introduction of the steel cage crinoline in 1856, crinoline. The natural sleeves of the
which allowed for the use of fewer petticoats. 1840s evolved into wider bell-shaped or
pagoda sleeves and they were often
detailed with lace. A fashionable way to
accessorize one’s seemingly plain day
dress was by using separate small,
dainty lace collars. Day dresses were
commonly made from linen or cotton,
with patterns often in gingham, checks
and plaids, reflecting the conservative
Replica of an 1850’s day dress 1850’s English Lady
style of Queen Victoria and her nation.
 Skipping to the 1880's – a
close end
The natural form era was short-lived and as the 1880s were born
the bustle returned, however this time the silhouette was
slightly changed. A fuller, curvier shape with widening
shoulders was increasingly more prominent, and fashionable
waists were now low being supported by a low bust corset.
This new bustle era featured a bustle that was more like a
shelf on one’s bottom, and it was rigid and stiff unlike the
softer, draped bustle of the 1870s. Visiting dress, 1880, Victoria Museum

The fullness in the back of gowns had to be balanced, and this

was achieved via a new corset silhouette, one which closely
resembles that of the Edwardian S-bend or health corset, a
fashion which raised eyebrows from some. Unlike skirts of the
previous decade, 1880s gowns generally did not feature a long
train, instead, they were tight, with some being known as hobble-
skirts, as they restricted the wearer from walking easily. As we
have established by now, evening gowns were still low-necked
and 1880s evening gowns were sleeveless.
1885 fashion plate
 End
The 1890s saw a boom in technology with the introduction of
electricity into the making of clothes, creating an explosion
of the ready-to-wear market. With clothing starting to be
produced en masse, fashions became easier to follow for all
sectors of society, and it was no longer just the upper class
who were the most fashionable. The early years of the decade
saw silhouettes remain a continuation of the late 1880s, and
the puff-sleeved began to develop.
House of Rouff dress, 1897
New, tailored clothes adapted from men’s clothing were now worn by
women for outdoor activities and travelling. The shirtwaist was now seen
as acceptable clothing for women and were matched with ankle-length
walking skirts, a style that would carry on well into the Edwardian era.
Evening gowns tended to be open at the neck and featured a wasp-waist
cut and skirts with long trains, a style commonly seen in Worth gowns.
With the introduction of the straight-front corset in around 1897, the
silhouette began to shift into what we now recognize as Edwardian. 1892 fashion plate
 Webography
Text & images:
https://www.eternalgoddess.co.uk/posts/victorian-fashion-and-its-royal-influences
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https://fashion-era.com/fashion-history/victorian-era-fashion
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Images only:
https://www.google.com/
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
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https://victoriamuseum.com.ua/en/fund/silk-taffeta-lace-circa-1880/
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powerpoint made by proca antonia