Women’s Blouses in the Victorian Period

When it comes to the clothing fashion in the victorian period, most people may thing of the ball gowns and the bustle skirt. It is true women in the victorian period love to wear the dress. However, there are also the other types of clothes for women at that time. Here I will talk about the women’s blouses in the victorian period.
Blouses are historically a cask style, mostly mail-like garment, that were rarely part of the fashionable woman's wardrobe until the 1890s. Before that time, they were occasionally popular for informal wear by the peasants.

A simple blouse with a plain skirt was the standard dress for the newly expanded female workforce of the 1890s, especially for those employed in office work. In the 1900s and 1910s, elaborate blouses which were heavily decorated with lace and embroidery in a style became immensely popular for daywear and even some informal evening wear. Since then, blouses have remained a wardrobe staple.
Blouses are often made of cotton or silk cloth and may or may not include a collar and sleeves. They are generally more tailored than simple knit tops, and may contain feminine details such as ruffles, a tie or a soft bow at the neck, or embroidered decorations.
All above pictures I post are the most classic blouses for women in the victoria era. They look gorgeous on them with their almost white color and sleeves.

Victorian Corset Dress

Dressing up in uncommon clothes may draw others’ attention than the normal wear. One of the themes that people especially a women usually select is the victorian style. Have you ever attend a party wearing in victorian style? If not, you can get some inspiration from here.

Aristocratic Purple Cap Sleeves Gothic Victorian Dress

In selecting the dress that you are going to wear, you need to put your preference and taste up above everything. If you are a dynamic lady who are attractive in your youth, a short victorian corset dress is the best for you. It is such a modern Victorian dress by the way. Usually, in bottom part under the dress, there are layered laces. To emphasize the gothic style you bring up, black and red will be the best combination ever. Strapless dress is cool for the party. You can also wear black long gloves to be more stylish.
The corsets were firstly brought to be common clothes in the victorian period. So the match of dress with the corset could both show the women slim figure, the femininity and the elegance. All I want to express here is that the corset dress in the victorian style is perfect for women to attend some informal occasions. And at the same time it will make you the most attractive one among all.

The Significance of the Victorian Style Clothing

Victorian period is one of the most well know and successful period in the history. So does the victorian style clothing. The technological invention did not only do good to the development in the technology but also in the clothing field. The result of this era of technological innovation is more plentiful textiles, the growth of cities, and with modern conveniences the time for yet more technological innovation.

Black and Blue Lace Gothic Victorian Dress

Purple and Black Puff Sleeves Gothic Victorian Dress

There are recreations of clothing in the long span of history other than the victorian period, but we see far more echoes of the styles of the victorian era in current fashion and fascinations than in the times that went before.
So many styles absorb the elements and inspirations from the victorian style clothing. Take the lolita style for example. The new trend of the lolita clothing is started from Japan. And we can clearly see the elements of Victorian details in ball gowns. The steampunk creations, both real and fictional, take from the style and technologies of the victorian period.
The clothing in the victorian style is gorgeous and special. It sparkles so many ideas in today’s clothing world. So we should not neglect its significance.

Guide to Silhouettes During Victorian Period

The Victorian Era was the time from 1837 to 1901 which under reign of the Queen Victoria. During her 64 year reign women's dress styles changed to some degree. And the most representative feature lies in the difference is the silhouette. So here I would like to talk about the silhouettes of women’s dress during the victorian period.

Champagne Embroidered Steampunk Victorian Dress

There were mainly three kinds of silhouettes in the victorian period: the ball gown, the bustle skirt and the draped skirt. The ball gown is the most outstanding silhouette in the victorian period. The design of fitted upper bodice and the ball gown shows a very classic image of victorian women. Women love this silhouette because it reveals both the slim waist and the wealthy fullness of the wearer. The bustle skirt placed a much more emphasis on the back part of the dress. It was prevailing in the middle of the victorian age. And in this period of time, women worshiped the fullness in the bottom part to show a extremely curvy figure. The draped skirt was appeared in the late victorian age. Women begun to focus on the natural beauty and figure of themselves.
The tracing of silhouettes can be seen the changes in people’s idea on clothing. And all above pictures illustrate the differences in Victorian dress change, most notably the shape of the skirt.

Classic Patterns in Gothic Victorian Dresses

Gothic elements are always seen in the clothing style such like gothic punk clothing style, gothic medieval clothing style, the gothic victorian clothing style and so on. It is so welcomed by people and designers for that its uniqueness and being outstanding. In gothic victorian style dresses, the gothic aspect has played an important role in its patterns. And in the following part I will focus on the classic patterns of gothic victorian dresses.

Honorable Red Lace and Bow Gothic Victorian Dress

Black and White Cap Sleeves Gothic Victorian Dress

First of all for the sleeves part, there are mainly four types: long trumpet sleeves, short sleeves, cape sleeves and sleeveless design. Additional black lace accents adorned on the dress add gothic tones. Secondly, in most cases the square neckline is mostly applied into gothic victorian style dresses. And besides the tunrdown collar and round collar are used less than the square one. Thirdly, the women in the victorian age placed great emphasis on the waist. And this design is also applied into the dresses in nowadays. But it changes to be not too tight and only show a fitted waist figure. The most prominent feature is the ball gown design which reveals the classic victorian style.
What I mentioned before are some patterns the gothic victorian dresses would apply. Of course there are some other patterns, but theses are most classic. If you are new to this style, you can choose dresses with these patterns.

Victorian Brooches Are Gorgeous Accessories

The clothes in the victorian style are still popular in nowadays clothing world. They are welcomed by many women for that they look beautiful and elegant. And the only clothes or dresses are not enough to show the victorian look. The accessories, though not the key aspect, plays an essential role in the whole look in this style. So in the following part, I will talk about the more detailed accessories: the brooches and the pins in the victorian style.

The brooches and the pins in the victorian style are often in the delicate design and intricate craftsmanship. As accessory the brooches or pins will be a welcome accent to any fashion statement. It is an eclectic mix of hand crafted artistry with attention to detail and find delicate work you will love to wear anytime of year. From floral to cameo to the intricate beadwork and whimsical natural elements you will find gardens that entertain and meadows welcome you to tea. The victorian style is about more than enough time for every detail to be perfectly completed. No detail is left unfinished because after all there is time for everything and everything is done to perfection.
As a whole, you can have the art of perfection through having and wearing an accessory in the victorian style. It will absolutely add extra glamour to your whole victorian look.

Mourning Dress in the Victorian Age

In the long history of the mourning dresses, the Industrial Revolution affected the practice of wearing mourning dress. It created the new rules of fashion especially in the middle class which was brought by the technological advances. By the mid 19th century, the wearing of appropriate mourning dress was a sign of respectability.

Navy Blue Victorian Mourning Dress

Queen Victoria had an influence on this fashions of mourning dress from the mid to the late 1800's. After the death of her husband, Queen Victoria wore clothes in black color until her own death in 1901. During Victorian times, the type of mourning dress and the length of time one wore it was circumscribed by etiquette instead of sumtuary laws. A widow wore mourning dress for more than two years.
Full mourning lasted a full year and consisted of clothing made of dull black fabrics without embellishment or jewelry. A women in full mourning wore a veil to cover her face when she left the house. She avoided balls and frivolous events during that time.
After a year had passed, the widow added small trimmings and simple jewelry. Later, that second year, the widow would add some color. Gray, mauve, and duller shades of purple and violet were suitable at that time. But in most cases, the mourning dresses are in the black which would show the solemnness and the respect.

How to Dress as a Modern Victorian

The clothing style in the victorian period could be classified into the vintage clothing style. There exists a way for the people in the modern world to dress in the vintage style and also be modern: to modernize the vintage clothes to suit your fashion needs and personal style. During the victorian period, the women’s dresses were fitted on the waist and bust, and flowed throughout the length of the skirt. Victorian dresses were heavy and uncomfortable due to many layers and the material of choice. Victorian dresses are characterized by their feminine appearance with ruffles, lace and ribbons.

Pink Victorian Ball Gown Prom Dress

Red and Black One-Shoulder Victorian Evening Dress

The first step is to choose a ball gown. This silhouette is most classic in the victorian style. Brighter colors are perfect to match the victorian style. You can also choose a petticoat in a contrasting color under your Victorian dress. White will look dramatic, but brighter colors such as red and pink can be used by those who are brave enough.
The second step is to accessorize your outfit with jewelry. Gold jewelry will work best for a Victorian look. Wear a large locket around your neck or pearl beads. Loose and long curls or a small bun at the nape of the neck will complete your look. Any shoes will work, since a Victorian dress is long. However, the shoes should be elegant.
Some people may love the vintage clothes but will not wear it. Here I just focus on how to dress both in the vintage and modern style.

History of the Corsets

The corsets were originally designed for medical use. It was believed that a woman was very fragile, and needed assistance from some form of stay to hold her up. Even the young girls were laced up into bodice but in a good motivation.
Gradually these garments were lengthened and tightened. By the time they were in their 15 years old, the girls were unable to sit or stand for any length of time without the aid of a heavy canvas corset reinforced with the hard material such like steel. The corset deformed the internal organs making it impossible to draw deep breath, in or out of a corset. Because of this, Victorian women were always fainting and getting the vapors.

Fashion Waist Training Victorian Overbust Corset

White Waist Training Bridal Overbust Corset

In the old times, women were thought weaker than men, even included their minds and bodies. So the corset was deemed morally and medically necessary. Tight lacing was considered virtuous - a loose corset was probably a sign of a loose woman.
When concerning the corsets, I can not neglect the period from 1820 to about 1910. But the corset is much older than that. In Europe, it has been in general use as an undergarment since the middle ages, but it probably dates several thousands of years back. The corset has at all times been used for shaping the body, most often for compressing the waist, but sometimes for raising the bust.
And now in our era, women still wear corsets but not always. It becomes more loose and serves as accessory to women just for looking differently.

Men’s Clothing Fashion in the Victorian Style

Though the women’s clothing is most outstanding in the victorian style, we should not neglect the mens’ coting in the victorian style or in the victorian period. So today I will introduce and illustrate something related to the victorian men’s fashion in the clothing field.

In the early time of the victorian period, men started wearing shirts with wider neckties that were tied in a bow or looped into a loose knot and fastened with a stickpin. This is a classic look of a gentleman. And the knee length frock coats were mostly wore by men who went for business and the mid-thigh length sack coats for informal occasions. Three-piece suits grew in popularity as it came to the mid decade. And ten years later, this kind of suits changed into the form of the tail coat or sometimes called the tuxedo. They were worn by men who participate some formal events.
Top hats as a necessity for men were seen especially on the upper class people. These suited perfectly with the coats men wore. And all above I mentioned are the most applied way clothes that men had in the victorian age.

Wedding Dresses in the Victorian Style

There are a large amount of wedding dresses in nowadays. Different styles, different silhouettes and various decorations make the wedding dresses vary in a large scale. In the most part, the bridal gowns are in the modern style. However there are some brides that favor the wedding dresses which are unique and different from the one people can always see. And here I am glad to show you the wedding dresses in the victorian style.

White Off Shoulder Victorian Wedding Dress

The bridal gowns in the victorian style here is not similar to the classic victorian style bridal gowns. It shares most features with the victorian style dresses. It is in the ball gown silhouette which is most classic in the victorian dresses. Some of them have the trumpet sleeves and the exquisite floral printed accents. The additional decoration makes the dress much more gorgeous. And when it comes to the color that applied into the wedding dress in the victorian style, it is not limited to the pure white color. The bridal gowns could be in any color if the bride want to have.
To conclude, the the wedding dress in the victorian style is setted. And the brides could choose the neckline, the sleeves, the color and the decoration other than the silhouette. It will be a good try to have a wedding dress in the victorian style.