By Pauline Weston Thomas for Fashion-Era.com
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.
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.
LATEST Costume History Section
Cloaks, Mantelets, Pelisses, Redingotes, Paletots etc., April 2004
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.
The Song of the Shirt Poem
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.
Pictures of Victorian Sleeves
Pictures of fashionable Victorian sleeve styles on Victorian for women.
Hair & Hat Sketches 1800
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 an experience for all visitors from Queens to Dukes to everyday folk.
Inspiration for building the Victoria and Albert Museum.