Gothic Victorian Fashion-----Victorian Corset

The corset was an essential undergarment for Victorian women. The corset developed from 18th century stays, a foundation garment that gave women a conical form while lifting and supporting the bosom, in addition to, producing a rigidly flat front.



The corset laced up the center-back to achieve the correct degree of tightness to fit the wearer’s figure, thus the term tight lacing. There were hooks and eyes at the center front for easier removal.  The corset was worn over a cotton chemise and not directly next to the skin.The elegance of Victorian fashions was mainly dependent on the corset.

Without the aid of the corset, no evening dress of the mid-1860s through the end of the century could be worn, unless the Victorian woman was willing to submit to the withering contempt of a merciless fashion conscious society.

Practical hints on corset wearing at the time were provided by the Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine: “… to facilitate that desirable object, a handsome figure. Ladies, when dressing for the afternoon walk or ride, or the evening display, when putting on their stays at first, should not lace them quite tight; in about a quarter of an hour they might again tighten them, and in the course of half-an-hour or so lace them to the requisite tightness. They may fancy in this way there is no sudden compression of the waist, and the figure gets more easily accustomed to tight-lacing.”

Black and Red: Color of the Vampire

Gothic victorian clothing in black and red always remind me of the blood and gothic symbols in vampire stories, especially the lastest vampire TV show Vampire Diaries. The story was set in the colonial period of America so a lot of the costumes are made according to the victorian style and other vampire features. Victorian style dressing could always bring us a sense of noble and big family just like Katherine in Vampire Diaries.

She is demonstrated as a rich girl who has been transformed into a vampire. She is evil and crazy but on the other hand charming. Her clothing were generally made in black and red color under the victorian style. That is almost a typical image belonging to her.

Black and Red Bow Gothic Victorian Dress

The black shows the dark side of the vampire while the red symbolizes the charming but dangerous nature of the female vampire.

Victorian Style in Modern Times

With the development of modern fashion design industry, many fashion styles have been widely adapted into its modern version, including victorian style. Victorian style fashion in its own historical period was very different from the style we saw today and the real fashion during victorian era does not have much to do with what we call as victorian style today.

When we trace back to the old days, clothing and behavior in victorian age were very stiff, for example women’s status was fairly low as feminism was not so well-received at that time.

Red and Black One-Shoulder Victorian Evening Dress

In modern times, we modern people have our own interpretation about that age as well as misunderstandings. However, a large number of designs have been borrowed from that time like women’s bonnets, corsets, and the ball gowns. Here is an adapted victorian evening dress. As we can see, the color is very bright, which is very rare in the old time and the clipping is also very modern style. The whole shape was still very victorian.

Pride and Prejudice: a Victorian Romance

As the most classic masterpiece of Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice reveals the living condition and emotional life of the young ladies in the countryside of England in the 19th century. The story is truly classic and attractive. There are a lot of movie versions of this novel too. That was the part that I was very interested in.

These are the costumes from the latest Pride and Prejudice movie. Compared with the earlier versions, the costumes in this one tends to be much more modern and easy to wear while the earlier version seems to be more close to the historic facts. Instead of the tight corsets or pannier, the newest version costumes are more easy to wear with the fine fabric and simple design. On one side, the whole design is very appropriate in a way that it reveals the free quality of Elizabeth. On the other side, it is kind of off the age a little bit as the costumes are a little too modern. 

Silver Gothic Victorian Dress

Compared with the sparkling gold color, the silver seems to own another sense of being noble in that it is also sparkling and gorgeous but in a much more low-key way. If gold is compared as the sun which constantly gives out light and heat and silver was no doubt the comparison the moon which looks cold but equally attractive.

Silver Sleeveless Bow and Ruffle Gothic Victorian Dress

The following is several gothic victorian dress in silver color. It is not just an ordinary color but a color which was gifted with a sense of modernity in a way that a lot of industrial product has that glow of sparkle. Therefore, combined with the old-time design features and concept, these dresses are quite stands-out among other ordinary design. As an immensely important part of the design, color could be a key to the success of the whole design. Enjoy the following dresses!

Elegant Victorian Gowns

Since Queen Victoria had been reigning the British Empire for a very long period of time, the women’s fashion in victorian period had been changing constantly. During the 1840s to 1850s, women's gowns developed wide puffed sleeves. Dresses were simple and pale. In 1860s, the skirts became flatter at the front and projected out more behind the woman. Up until 1870s, uncorseted tea gowns were introduced for informal entertaining at home and steadily grew in popularity. In the final years of 1890s, Women's wear in the last decade of the Victorian Era was characterized by high collars, held in place by collar stays, and stiff steel boning in long line bodices. By this time, there were neither crinolines nor bustles. Women opted for the tiny wasp waist instead.

Elegant Champagne Sleeveless Victorian Evening Dress

As a whole, women’s gowns during this period of time has its unique characteristics as being refined, elegant and classic.

Alice in Wonderland ----- a Feast of Gothic Victorian Clothing

The 2010 movie Alice in Wonderland directed by Tim Burton and starred Mia Wasikowska as well as Johnny Depp is a real feast for the audience, but a vintage dress maniac like me, I could only see it as nothing but a feast of gothic victorian clothing. As the general setting for the story is the victorian era and in order to achieve a sense of fantasy, as usual Tim Burton add something gothic into the movie which symboled by the clothing designs for the characters, the music as well as the framework of the plots.

First of all, the colors of the costumes in Alice in Wonderland are mostly scarlet and black which have a strong sense of gothic. Secondly, the dresses are all in the frame of the victorian style dressing. Thirdly, as those costumes are for movies, they all have to be a little more unique than the traditional normal dresses.

Elegant Red and Black Bow Gothic Victorian Dress