Essay On Victorian Fashion

Dressing the Victorian Men, Women, and Children One cannot understand Victorian fashion without having knowledge of the historical period and in particular the values that shaped it. In general, the Victorian Age describes the decades of history in Britain during the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837-1901. This period was characterized by the spread of the British Empire and in turn a commitment to “civilizing” the native peoples by imparting the unique British model of society (“The Victorian). Technological innovation also influenced the period by giving rise to a growing middle class of consumers. These middle class consumers especially enjoyed the ornate though reserved fashions made possible by the invention of the sewing machine in 1851. The wealthy business owners, bankers, educators, and skilled laborers, who traditionally purchased their clothing custom-made, strived to imitate the standards for conduct and dress established by the elite class (“History). These standards reflected a set of uniquely …show more content…
Elaborate collars, decorative edgings, lace, and ornately trimmed hats were ever-present in Victorian clothing. The opulence and variety of men’s nineteenth-century fashion is summarized in the elegant tailoring of the men’s suits. Women’s clothing displayed a remarkable range of colors and embroidery details from the intricate design on women's corsets to the pleating of their dresses. Though children were dressed according to the styles of adults for a period of time, children soon adopted their own style to achieve convenient and enjoyable garments. At last the finished look, regardless of gender and age, was of elegance and grace with a hint of ease and comfort. Though societal roles had a great impact on clothing, styles favored in the Victorian era emphasized the notion of being at the height of all possible civilization and