Clothing & Fashion
Queen Victoria ruled England from 1837-1901.Before this time, men were the focus of fashion, but with a queen in
power, women surged to the forefront. The role of a wife became to show
of her husbands status and wealth to the public, with the husband
himself receding into the background.Many different clothing styles came and went during her reign.
Pre-Hoop Era
In the 1840's, Full skirts were supported by a vast array of petticoats. These petticoats were made of horsehair, or stiffened with cane and padding. The natural waist could be slightly longer than natural, with points in front and behind. Most trimmings were applied in a manner that was wide at the shoulder, narrowing at the waist and then widening again at the hem of the skirt. This would accentuate the tightly laced waistline.The bodice shoulder line ended well below the natural shoulder, often pinning the arm of the wearer down. The sleeves were narrow for day dresses. Evening bodices were low off the shoulder, often covered with folds of fabric or a bertha. The overall look of the dresses did not change much during this period. The sleeves started to become wider in the 1850's. The skirts expanded in size as more and more petticoats were worn. Added flounces on the skirt would help create a wider look. Daytime necklines could be more open than those of later years. Often a plunging "V" neckline would be filled in over the bust by a small chimisette. The style for flounces on the dresses begins to be very popular, with more and more flounces add all the time. Dress fabrics were milled especially for the flounces, with colors and patterns designed to be cut into strips.
Hoop Era
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In 1856, the cage crinoline was reinvented. The skirts which had previously reached maximum width were free to expand even farther. The hoop was round in shape, somewhat bustled behind. The skirts were made of straight widths of fabric pleated into a waistband.
The jacket bodice also becomes very popular, extending long over the hips. The jacket did not always match the skirt fabric. Evening necklines are off-the-shoulder, and have a point at both front and back. Daytime sleeves are full in Pagoda style, gathered at the top to a narrow shoulder cap, full and/or slit at the wrist, with a linen under-sleeve inside. By the 1860's The bodice for casual attire now ends at the natural waist, straight all around, but the formal bodice often has two long points in front and 1 or 3 long points in the back. A new style of casual wear consists of a Spanish jacket, long or cropped, worn over a blouse, aka Garibaldi blouse. In 1860, the front panel of the skirt is very slightly gored. Very quickly, the side panels of the skirt become gored also. Skirts will get narrower at the top every season, and the panels ever more gored. Word Cite Early Bustle 1869-1876." History Early Bustle. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. |
Hair Style
Hairstyles during the Victorian and Edwardian periods were as unique and wonderful as their clothing!
Fashion Periods
Early Victorian ~ 1837 through 1839
1840's ~ 1840-1849 1850's ~ 1850-1859 Civil War ~ 1860-1865
Early Bustle ~ 1866-1875 Natural Form Bustle ~ 1876-1883 Late Bustle ~ 1884-1889
Gay 90's ~ 1890-1900
Edwardian~ 1901-1919
Hairstyles during the Victorian and Edwardian periods were as unique and wonderful as their clothing!
Fashion Periods
Early Victorian ~ 1837 through 1839
1840's ~ 1840-1849 1850's ~ 1850-1859 Civil War ~ 1860-1865
Early Bustle ~ 1866-1875 Natural Form Bustle ~ 1876-1883 Late Bustle ~ 1884-1889
Gay 90's ~ 1890-1900
Edwardian~ 1901-1919
Pre-Civil War hairstyles included
sausage curls framing the face...
popular during the early Victorian years.
Prior to the Civil War it was fashionable
to part the hair in the middle and pull it back
or twist the sides to cover the ears.
Hairstyles in the Civil War period typically
had a part in the middle and the hair pulled
back into a bun, braids or curls.
Often ladies included the use of a snood.
Toward the end of the Civil War period
the hairstyles became larger and the
use of additional hair fillers (aka rats)
and multiple hair pieces became popular.
the hairstyles became larger and the
use of additional hair fillers (aka rats)
and multiple hair pieces became popular.
Large and elaborate hairstyles
continued on into the early bustle period
until the late 1870's..
continued on into the early bustle period
until the late 1870's..
In the late 1870's the bustles became
tighter and so did the hairstyles.
Word Cite
"The Barrington House Educational Center, L.L.C." The Barrington House Educational Center, L.L.C. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
"The Barrington House Educational Center, L.L.C." The Barrington House Educational Center, L.L.C. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.