VICTORIAN FASHION

Victorian fashion includes the different fashion and treands in British culture that emerged and developed in the United Kingdom and the British Empire all through the Victorian period, around 1830s to 1900s. The period saw numerous adjustments in design, incorporating changes in apparel, architecture, writing, and the decorative and visual arts.

Women

In the 1840s and 1850s, women's outfits had wide puffed sleeves. Dresses were basic and pale, and incorporated flower trimmings. Underskirts, bodices, and chemises were worn under outfits. By the 1850s the number of petticoats was reduced to be superseded by the crinoline, and the size of skirts extended. Day dresses had a strong bodice and night outfits had a low neckline and were worn off the shoulder with shawls.

In the 1860s, the skirts flatter at the front and projected out from behind. Day dresses had wide pagoda sleeves and high necklines with trim or tatted collars. Night dresses had low necklines and short sleeves, and were worn with short gloves, fingerless lace or sewed gloves.

In the 1870s, un-corseted tea outfits emerged for informal entertaining at home. Bustles were used to replace the crinoline to hold the skirts up behind the woman, even for "seaside dresses". 

In the 1880s, riding habits had a matching jacket and skirt (without a bustle), a high-collared shirt or chemisette, and a top hat with a veil. Hunting costumes had draped ankle-length skirts worn with boots or gaiters. Clothing worn when out walking had a long jacket and skirt, worn with the bustle, and a small hat or bonnet. Travelers wore long coats like dusters.

In the 1890s, Women's wear in the last decade of the Victorian time was described by high collars, held in place by neckline stays, and stiff steel boning in long line bodices. At this point, there were neither crinolines nor bustles.

Men

During the 1840s, men wore tight-fitting, calf length frock coats and a waistcoat or vest. The vests were single- or double-breasted, with shawl or notched collars, and might be finished in double points at the lowered waist. For more formal occasions, a cutaway morning coat was worn with light trousers during the daytime, and a dark tail coat and trousers was worn in the evening.

During the 1850s, men started wearing shirts with high upstanding or turnover collars and four-in-hand neckties tied in a bow, or tied in a knot with the pointed ends sticking out like "wings".

In the 1860s, men started wearing wider neckties that were tied in a bow or looped into a loose knot and fastened with a stickpin. Frock coats were shortened to knee-length and were worn for business, while the mid-thigh length sack coat slowly displaced the frock coat for less-formal occasions.

During the 1870s, three-piece suits grew in popularity along with patterned fabrics for shirts. Neckties were the four-in-hand and, later, the Ascot ties.

uring the 1880s, formal evening dress remained a dark tail coat and trousers with a dark waistcoat, a white bow tie, and a shirt with a winged collar. In mid-decade, the dinner jacket or tuxedo, was used in more relaxed formal occasions. 

Starting from the 1890s, the blazer was introduced, and was worn for sports, sailing, and other casual activities.