The Victorian Era
Fashion History

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The Victorian Era

Fashion history, and costume history spanning 1837 to 1901.  Scroll down and see the dresses, the hats and the hairstyles of this Victorian period.

Victorian Society

Social history. The transition from Romantic to Victorian society. Queen Victoria's accession. The emergence of  conditions and  social classes. The importance of the railway network on ordinary lives and improved communications.

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Early Victorian Fashion 1837-1860

Early Victorian fashion history overview. The changing silhouette and dating costumes in a long era. Fashion innovations, the cage crinoline and coal tar aniline dyes. Charles Worth and Haute Couture's birth.

Mid-Late Victorian Fashion 1860-1901

Victorian fashion history. The fashion silhouettes of 1860-1880, 1867-1875, 1878-1901 from crinoline to various bustle forms. The 1890s and early power dressing.

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• LATEST  Costume History Section

The fashion history of :-

• Cloaks, Mantelets, Pelisses, Redingotes, Paletots etc., April 2004

Victorian Pictures of Victorian Mantelets and More Victorian Mantelets 1852 have been improved in the  section with line drawings and added text, but the original pages will remain here for a short time.

The Aesthetic Dress Movement

Alternative artistic fashion for women. The Pre-Raphaelite influence on aesthetic dress. Naturally dyed and free art embroidered flowing clothes. Prime movers were Arthur Liberty, William Morris and Oscar Wilde. Pictures of Victorian fashion.

Rational Dress Reform

Fashion history of alternative practical Victorian fashion for women. An outline of dress reformers promoting bifurcated, divided garments - or trousers to you and me.

The influence of Amelia Bloomer, Lady Harberton and Dr. Jaeger. The tailor made costumes of the 1890s. Pictures of Victorian clothes.

A Woman's Place in the 19th Century

The daily life, qualities and expectations of a Victorian woman. The Married Woman's Property Act 1887. Social differences between women and ladies. Pictures of clothes from the Victorian era.

The Victorian and Edwardian Seaside

The entertainment of the Victorian seaside. Resorts and Winter Gardens of the Edwardian era. Bathing machines. 

 Promenading and seaside fashions in Victorian clothes.

Early Swimwear - Victorian and Edwardian

Pictures from the Victorian era, showing fashion history of typical female swimwear at the seaside.

Victorian bathing suits and Edwardian swimming costumes for ladies.

 Book Review - WOMEN OF VICTORIAN SUSSEX by Helena Wojtczak - Their Status, Occupations and Dealings with the Law, 1830 ~ 1870.  Book Extract on female needle occupations.

The Song of the Shirt Poem Also

The Song of the Sewing Machine

 Christening Dress

Etiquette and fashion history of Victorian Christening Gowns.  Pictures of Victorian clothes.

 Mourning Dress

A brief look at the etiquette and fashion history of mourning dress from the Victorian era.

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Pictures of Victorian Sleeves

Pictures of fashionable Victorian sleeve styles on Victorian for women.

Book Review -
Fashion History of Men's Costume 1860-1914

•  Ebook Undergarments in Costume History $9.95

Hair & Hat Sketches 1840-70

Hair/Hat Sketches
1870-99

Victorian Home Life Changes

Victorian interiors, furniture and social status through homelife. Conspicuous display of ornaments that created collectable Victoriana for today.

Victorian Recreations

From dancing and singing to theatres, fairs and music halls. Derby Day races to sports and fitness. Vauxhall and Cremorne leisure gardens. Typical Victorian era recreations.

The Great Exhibition of 1851

The Crystal Palace Glass Exhibition Hall. Exhibition statistics and entrance costs. Foreign exhibits bring a  experience for all visitors from Queens to Dukes to everyday folk. Inspiration for building the Victoria and Albert Museum.

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