Victorian Era Fashion: Dresses, Accessories, and Hairstyles

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The Victorian era lasted from 1837 to 1901. This era is often called the “Victorian Age” and “the long nineteenth century.” It was a time of industrialization, so fashion changed dramatically during this period. Clothes were made with very fine fabrics and they had bright colors such as reds, blues, greens, yellows, and oranges. Women wore many layers of clothing because it was believed that the more clothes they wore would keep them warmer in cold weather. Women usually wore a corset beneath their dress, so they would look slimmer.

As society became more industrialized instead of rural-focused women began wearing shorter skirts that went down to the floor. Women began to wear trousers under their skirts for warmth, or a skirt that had an attached pantaloon which allowed them the freedom of movement and was easier to walk in than tight-fitting long dresses with trains.

Industrialization was not kind on women’s feet: they wore shoes made from heavy materials like leather soles outfitted with iron nails; this caused many problems as well as damage to tender skin areas such as between toes.

As foot binding became less popular during the Victorian era it was still around but much more rare so there is no telling how many girls suffered from damaged feet due to shoe design and starchy shoelaces tied too tightly. Other ailments included rickets, polio, rubella, and measles because of malnutrition and poor hygiene.

The Victorian era marked the beginning of a rapid shift in nutrition, with the average person’s diet improving from 1800 to 1900 by adding more meat, eggs, butter, and cheese as well as vegetables (Brooks). The changes were significant enough that they are credited for completely changing how people lived their lives.

It also allowed women an easier way to “stand up” against social norms.

Prior to the 1800s, women were expected to wear dresses with long trains and heavy undergarments that restricted their movements. Women had no say in what they wore as corsets forced them into the desired shape.

In 1838, Queen Victoria declared she wanted “to promote English designs” which lead to the introduction of dress reform over time-including making lighter materials and more comfortable clothing choices available for working-class people and even eventually allowing skirts above ankle length.

The 1850s saw an explosion of new fashions such as tea gowns made from semi-sheer muslin or silk. In addition, shorter hairstyles became fashionable around this time too so the hair wouldn’t get caught up in hems. The fashion was a break from what came before and had more to do with comfort than beauty as women were no longer confined by corsets and restrictive skirts that would often tear their skin. This trend continued into the 1860s where dresses developed rounded bodices and fuller skirt shapes for increased mobility which is why these styles are sometimes called “New Women’s Fashions.”

Fashion designers also began to focus on materials rather than just function including velvets, lace, taffeta, and various silks.

The corset was a key component of the dress from this era as it helped shape the high waistline that became fashionable during this time. Women also wore long gloves to cover their hands in order not to show signs of manual labor or other “unfeminine” qualities while crinolines were used for shaping skirts around the bottom area which could be moved so they weren’t always sitting on them.

Hats would often mimic styles worn by men with stiff crowns and wide brims but occasionally women will wear hats that are more soft and feminine like bonnets or straw hats decorated with flowers if they’re going out into nature without covering up too much skin because modesty is still important at all times even though it was a different era.

Parisian women are known for their elegant dresses with asymmetrical hemlines, tight waistlines, and long sleeves while American women tended to wear more modest clothing similar to the Quaker style of dress which is loose-fitting without any adornments or fancy fabric but were also often draped in one piece instead of multiple skirts. The styles became popular when Queen Victoria would only allow courtiers who had served her for five years or longer to be given permission to wear them at Court.

Men typically wore three pieces: a tailcoat worn over a vest and trousers while working men might have an upper-body garment like a shirtwaist as well that can sometimes stand alone on its own too especially if they’re

Men typically wore three pieces: a tailcoat worn over a vest and trousers while working men might have an upper-body garment like a shirtwaist as well that can sometimes stand alone on its own too.