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Victorian fashion

Page history last edited by wikiuser10 14 years, 11 months ago

Victorian fashion

  Victorian fashion was very elegant but also was not very pratical. It was very uncomfortable for both girls, boys, men, and women.

 

Womens fashion 

 

 

 

 

During this age if fashion, although the clothing was difficult to moutfit several times a day.

The skirt was worn in many different styles throughout the time period. Either one or two skirts were worn. Hems were sometimes gathered up the side seams and decorated. When two skirts were worn, the underskirt was longer, forming a short train, with the top skirt forming an apron. The underskirt was also worn flared from the knees down to create fullness. The back of the skirt was worn large, to fit over the bustle. Around 1880, the skirt was cut narrow all around the body, forming a slim outline. A variety of different decorations were worn on the dress. Such decorations were darker than the color of the dress or a richer texture, and were stripes, braiding, piping, bows, ribbons, pleating, velvet trimmings, or large buttons. The dress was also worn in many different colors, from pastels to darker colors; varying shades of green were very popular.

 

 

Boots and shoes were almost always worn with heels and pointed or squared toes. Decorations included ornamental holes to show off stockings, buckles, bows, buttons, or laces (Wilcox, Footwear 149). Accessories added to the elaborateness of the outfit. Capes, shawls, cloaks, mantles, scarves and little aprons were worn. Also, gloves and parasols were popular. Parasols had china or crystal handles and muffs were sometimes made of birds feathers. Purses were sometimes attached to the waist belt. Large brooches were worn at the throat and large or small earrings were also worn. Tortoiseshell combs were fashionably worn in the hair. Boas were also worn and made of fur or feathers.

 

 

The hair was periodically worn in a style to reflect the dress, which also made the hairstyle very complicated. It was worn thick, long and luxuriant and in many different arrangements. One popular style was center parted, waved and occasionally loosely drawn back to cover the ears or worn to show off the ears and arranged in a large chignon, bun, ringlets or massive looped up braids (Baines 50). The front hair was worn frizzed or curled to form a fringe now and then. At times false hair was worn with real hair (Hill et al. 178). When the hair was worn large it was to give the effect of enlarging the size of the back of the head. Hats were also an important part of the outfit. They were decorated with feathers, flowers, ribbons, lace, embroidery and buckles. Hats were tied under the chin with ribbons or worn with hat pins to keep them in place. They were worn on the top or back of the head or tipped forward. Brims were generally small and sometimes curling or up turned in front. The hat itself was usually small, although around 1886 large, tall hats were fashionable. 

 

A neater everyday girdle commonly called a roll-on was a directional stretch garment much the shape and size of a pair of waist high panty briefs, but sometimes with legs that covered the thighs. It was worn up until the 1960s in pla ce of a suspender belt.  It gave tummy control and held up stockings.  It's interesting to see that lots of ladies panties now have in built Lycra that performs in a similar way when wearing slim skirts or trousers.

Perhaps if tights had not been invented the roll on would never have gone away.  But tights themselves have helped reintroduce a modern version of support with control panels built into this disposal item.  Silkies in UK sell pantyhose which lifts and slims the thighs and rear and performs many of the functions women expected from older style roll ons.

 

 

In the 1950s, glamour was what women wanted most.  They had been deprived in the war and they had seen the Hollywood stars that had curves, nipped waists and breast uplift that almost reached their necks.

A variety of girdles existed to help achieve those contours and they are shown here in advert form.  Most women and girls still wore girdles or opted for one of the newer lighter garments called a roll-on or some chose the opposite, a sturdy all in one corset.  Twilfit were one of the household names for roll-ons and bras in the 1950s.

 

 

A wealthy woman’s day was governed by rules that encumbered her with up to six wardrobe changes a day and the needs varied over three seasons a year. A lady changed through a wide range of clothing as occasion dictated.

There was morning and mourning dress, walking dress, town dress, visiting dress, receiving visitors dress, traveling dress, shooting dress, golf dress, seaside dress, races dress, concert dress, opera dress, dinner and ball dress.

Like women, they were bound by the growth of rigid conventions stipulating the ‘correct’ dress for each and every occasion; in fashionable society a man might be required to change his  worn with the words "Regard" or "Dearest", spelled out in colored stones such as emerald, amethyst, rube and topaz. After 1870, with the opening of the diamond mines in South Africa, diamond rings became widely available and often were used as engagement ring.

 

 


 

Mens fashion 

Mens clothing was the most simple of all the vicotiran era's clothing. But there was still an enormous about of time and effort that went into designing thier outfits.Also there were many choices of outfits for men to try. They would wear waist wraps and frock coats along with sober sack suits and neck ties. Many of their shirts were made out of linen and were mostly neutral colors. Men had different costume for every season and every occasion; but if what he selects is simple rather than striking, he may appear in the same clothes as often as he likes, as long as they are fresh and appropriate to the season and the object.

There are four kinds of coats which he must have: a business coat, a frock coat, a dress-coat and an overcoat. A well dressed man may do well with four of the first, and one each of the others per annum. An economical man may get by with less."

"The dress of a gentleman should be such as not to excite any special observation, unless it be for neatness and propriety. The utmost care should be exercised to avoid even the appearance of desiring to attract attention by the peculiar formation of any article of attire, or by the display of an immoderate quantity of jewelry, both being a positive evidence of vulgarity. His dress should be studiously neat, leaving no other impression than that of a well dressed gentleman."

 

 

 

 

 

                                                            

 


 

 

What were Clothes Made of?

 

Although rubber had been around some time it needed to be transformed into a textile fabric for use in clothing.  By the thirties bra history was to change forever when Dunlop chemists were able to transform latex into reliable elastic thread in all sorts of dimensions.  The yarn was knitted or woven and eventually made into washable Lastex fabric. 

Lastex was revolutionary. Heavy boning and lacing were soon replaced in corsetry by Lastex. Figure control was soon under elastic fabric panels. A longline girdle called the ' Gossard Complete ' was a boneless firm foundation garment worn with backless evening dresses of the 1930s.  It was advertised as not requiring the help of maids as it fastened with side hooks and bars.
 
 

Another corselette of the time also featured in 1953 The Queen magazine was the Marquise which also took into account the need for low cleavage unhampered by visible centre fronts of a bra. 

It has a beautifully structured upper bra with the perfect cleavage gap for low cut décolletage.  It would be wonderful to find such an interesting, well constructed corselette or bra top today.  The company advertises swimwear here too and it is interesting to note that swimming corsets of the era looked much like this corselette.

 

 


 

 

Jewelry 

 

When Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837 jewelry was romantic and nationalistic.  It gave attention to the pressure of European folk art, which later influenced the Arts and Crafts Movement.  Until mid century most western jewelry came from Europe, but soon jewelry began to be made in America and Australia.

 

 

Ornaments, such as bracelets, necklaces, or rings, made of precious metals set with gems or imitation gems were worn during the Victorian era as a personal adornment to show wealth or as a accompaniment of fashionable clothing. The most common forms of jewelry worn were the necklace, bracelet,  ring, pin or earring. Sets of jewelry were introduced during the 19th century, as well as watch and chain sets. The cameo returned in popularity for Victorian women. Romantic engagement rings wereake and manuver, women was the most complex. This time period brought the revival of polonaise, draw back, bunched and puffed into an eleaborate style over the rear. These would be over a supporting bustle or tournure. Corsets would be worn so women would appear slimmer. At the end of sleeves there would be ruffles or cuffs which would widen at the end. the underskirt would be trimmed with pleated or gathered flounces, gauged sections, tucking or ribbon bands, were trained to be worn by women.

 

 

 Although jewelry had been made by many different methods of production for thousands of years, mid Victorian mass production in Birmingham, England, Germany and Providence, Rhode Island meant that standards decreased. 
Victorian women rebelled when they saw some of the machine manufactured jewelry on offer, although alot of what has survived is of good quality.  Many wore no jewelry at all, or bought from the artist craftsman jewelers who emerged at much the same time. 
Some jewelers like Tiffany began to make fine jewellery of such high standard that they soon opened shops in main cities of Europe.

 

 

Compare & Contrast

Today's Fashion to Victorian Fashion 

 

Victorian Fashion has many differences from our fashion today.

Today's Fashion Victorian Fashion
Clothing is much more revealing. Clothes covered up pretty much every inch of skin.
People today don't dress in so many layers. Clothing was always layered.
Jewlery is light and anyone can wear it Jewlery was heavier and only the rich could wear it
Dress up for occasions Dressed up every day
Men/ guys were lighter and baggier clothes Men wore layers of tight clothing

 

 
 

  

  

compare contrast

1 .http://www.indiaprwire.com/downloads/200804238999-1.jpg

 

mens clothing:

1.http://menspajamabottoms.com/images/VintageMen'sSmokingJacket-mp jb.jpg

2.http://www.fashion-era.com/images/1800 1900 laver1840 laver men.jpg

3.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria fashion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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