Victorian clothing

The second half of the 19th century, the fashion world was excited by the appearance on the English throne of the charming Queen Victoria. Thanks to her gorgeous outfits, she became the trendsetter of world fashion, which spilled over into an entire era. Even now, elements of the Victorian style are a sign of nobility and truly sophisticated taste.

In 1837 England found a new queen in the person of the young eighteen-year-old Victoria. She immediately dazzled everyone with her outfits and expensive jewelry. Although outwardly the girl was not distinguished by special beauty, this did not prevent her from becoming an idol for many ladies.

Women began to imitate the young ruler. Very soon, the desire to bring their outfits closer to the image of Victoria resulted in a whole direction, which was called "Victorian style". The queen stayed on the throne for almost 64 years, which became a whole era for world history.

Thanks to the queen, figure-hugging dresses with hourglass silhouette have become fashionable. Then the idea of ​​parameters was not at all the same as it is now. Women were proud of their curvaceous forms, and the new style of dresses perfectly emphasized their figures.

Not all women could afford such dresses. It was sewn from expensive fabrics such as velvet, silk or satin. The outfits were characterized by layering and a combination of various textures.

Many petticoats were worn under the dress to make it as lush as possible. Sewing the outfit took a lot of time and required the work of skilled craftswomen. Accordingly, all this involved significant financial costs.

The hallmark of dresses from the Victorian era was the corset. It was tightened so tightly that it was difficult for the young ladies to breathe. Sometimes this item of clothing was even harmful to health. However, women of fashion did not pay attention to all the negative consequences of corsets, but only tightened his straps even tighter.

To give the dress the necessary splendor, it was necessary to wear several petticoats. This gave the figure an hourglass shape and slimmer posture. Later, hoops were sewn to the petticoats, which greatly simplified the movement of fashionistas.

The outfits were distinguished by layering of various fabrics and textures. Dresses looked especially elegant, in which various elements of the same shades were combined.

Victorian women loved to wear satin, silk, or velvet shirts and blouses. They were decorated with embroidery or lace. As women began to ride, high-collar blouses became popular. They were complemented by wide frills or frills.

Evening dresses, unlike everyday ones, bared the shoulders or had a deep neckline. Therefore, a shawl or cape became an indispensable accessory to an evening dress.

Any outfit had to be complemented by rich ornaments. Women wore expensive necklaces and rings to any event.

The fabrics had rich, deep shades. The main colors are blue, burgundy, magenta, yellow, white and black.

Modern designers love to use Victorian elements in their masterpieces. Of course, the characteristic heavy dresses with many skirts and suffocating corsets are a thing of the past. But some elements, for example, in wedding or prom dresses, give the outfit a truly royal luxury.

Dresses of blue, purple, turquoise, as well as shades of gold and silver carry an echo of the Queen Victoria style. Today's couturiers are no strangers to decorating their works with hand-made embroidery, pearls and other semi-antique elements.

The creations of Ralph Lauren and Alexander McQueen also have a Victorian vibe with high-collar blouses.

Victorian clothing is used by representatives of subcultures such as Gothic, steampunk or Japanese in loli style. These are corsets, and fluffy skirts, lace, ruffles, bouzes with frills.

For a modern outfit to remind you of the era of Queen Victoria's reign, you don't have to turn to great designers and sew luxurious outfits. There are some tips to help you create the look you want.

• Wear clothing that completely covers your body. A fluffy maxi skirt is perfect for the bottom, and a blouse with wide sleeves and a stand-up collar on top.
• A characteristic feature of the Victorian style is layering. Therefore, it is worth choosing clothes that have a lot of ruffles, frills, embroidery and other additional details.
• Wear a corset. For owners of curvaceous forms, this is an irreplaceable detail. He perfectly emphasizes the merits and hides the flaws.
• As jewelry, you can use both jewelry and bijouterie. Accessories can include heart, snake or angel elements.
• Keep your hair and makeup as simple as possible. All you need to do is tie your hair into a bun at the back of your head.

These recommendations should be adhered to when intending to recreate a Victorian look for a festive event. If there is a desire to add a touch from the past to a daily outfit, then a couple of small touches will be enough.

For a romantic dinner or a secular evening, a closed satin or velvet floor-length dress with a simple cut, but rich embroidery is perfect. A cute hat with flowers, gold or silver jewelry will help complement the look in the Victorian style. Instead of a corset, you can wear a beautiful wide belt, which will accentuate your slender waist just as well.