Victorian Fashion

 Victorian Fashion Era Written Report

Political Events

During the Victorian Era (1850-1901), there were many political events that altered the course of fashion. In Canada, some notable events are the Fraser River Gold Rush, the Great Reform Convention, the British North America Act, and the Klondike Gold Rush. The Fraser River Gold Rush was a monumental occasion in British Columbian history, when in 1858 around 30,000 miners arrived at the Fraser River in search of gold. Sadly, this significant event led to violent conflicts and war with the indigenous people who lived there. The gold rush affected fashion by allowing countless new miners, of Californian, American, Chinese, Hawaiian, and AfricanAmerican descent to portray different fashion trends and bring current ideas with them. Concerned about potential unrest and danger emerging from the gold rush, the government of Canada hurried to establish British Columbia, then known as New Caledonia, as a colony. A notable conflict to emerge from the gold rush is the Fraser Canyon War, otherwise known as theFraser River War or the Miner’s War. The Fraser River Gold Rush had a considerable effect on mining technology, largely because of the Californian miners, who brought with them their own ideas and methods of mining. The gold rush, though incredibly significant in British Columbian history, likely only affected social structure on a provincial level during this time period. Similarly, the effect that the Fraser River Gold rush had on art and architecture is likely too small to note. However, the West Coast was altered considerably by the arrival of over 50,000 miners in search of gold. Another crucial political event in the history of Canada is the Constitution Act, 1867, originally known as the British North American Act. The 1867 Constitution Act was put in place to shape the future of Canada, unite the separate colonies, and establish rules and laws. The Constitution Act may not have had a significant effect on fashion, but it did on government. The Constitution Act (1867) established a federal dominion and helped build the systems that support Canada. The act was not the product of nor related to war and did not have any great effect on technology at the time. The 1867 Constitution Act did have a profound effect on the country’s social structure, as the act was essentially the beginning of Canada. The act united the colonies of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the Province of Canada (now Ontario and Québec), effectively changing the social structure of the newfound nation. As the act was solely political, the effect on art and architecture was extremely minimal. The Victorian Era was an important period for North America, as the American Civil War, The Transcontinental Railroad, the Reconstruction Era, and the Spanish-American War all took place. The American Civil War (1861-1865) was fought between the United States and 11 southern states who had left the union, over several reasons, the most significant being the existence and the idea of abolition of slavery in the United States of America. The Civil War had radical effects on many non-war related aspects such as fashion and technology. The war produced a mass call for military uniforms, which led to technological improvements to the sewing machine, which in turn led to changes in fashion. The American Civil War also had a profound effect on government, as the war led the United States to establish a stronger federal government and paved the way for the US to become a global power in later years. The war also came with great impact on the social structure of the nation, leading to the abolition of slavery, an increase in employment during the Reconstruction Era, and voting rights. The Civil War had little effect on art, however, like most armed conflicts, helped to develop architecture post-war. The aftermath of the Civil War on buildings was immense, however this led to the construction of new properties and the redevelopment of urban areas. Outside of North America, there were other political incidences happening, such as the Crimean War, the Taiping Rebellion, New Zealand is the first country in which women obtain the right to vote, and the German Empire. The Crimean War was largely fought between Russia and an alliance between the UK, France, the Ottoman Empire, and later Sardinia, over conflict in the Middle East and various religious tensions. The war led to the popularization of the balaclava worldwide and influenced improvements in wartime technology like railways and telegraphs. In conclusion, the political events that took place during the Victorian era helped shape the world in more ways than one. 

Influential Figures

The Victorian Era was named after Great Britain’s longest reigning monarch at the time, Queen Victoria. The queen greatly influenced the fashion of the time, inspiring brides to wear white on their wedding day and popularized black mourning clothing amongst her people. Eugénie de Montijo, Empress of France from 1853-1870, was very influential in the fashion world, with her popularization of hoop skirts reaching from France to the United States. Alexandra of Denmark, or Alexandra, Princess of Whales, left lasting impressions on the fashion of the time. She was the source of the popular high neckline and choker necklaces during that time period. Lastly, two British men, William Morris and John Ruskin helped develop the fashions of the 1890’s by popularizing Artistic Dress, a much simpler style of clothing.

Fashion/Style Information

During the Victorian Era, most fabric was generally very expensive to manufacture. Common fabrics worn by wealthier women include silk, satin, crepe, cotton, and velvet. Poorer people usually sported cotton, linen, and wool. Some fabrics were commonly worn during the mourning period, like crepe, and bombazine. The selection for men was much scarcer, with fabrics such as wool, broadcloth, linen, and flannel. There were two main ways to produce dyes during the Victorian era, naturally and synthetically. Some examples of synthetic dyes are Methyl Violet, Methyl Green, Sulpher Brown, Methyl Blue, Synthetic Indigo, and Malachite Green. Natural dyes were still prevalent, however during the time period, the use of synthetic dyes wasspreading rapidly. Queen Victoria’s reign was incredibly long, and therefore the colours of the Victorian era cannot be summed up all in one. The colour scheme of the 1850’s was fairly dull.Blue, brown, black, purple, and grey were all worn inside, while most outerwear was significantly warmer, with colours like dark red, warm brown, and beige. More vibrant colours returned during the 1860’s, with colours such as bright red, pink, light blue, and dusty orange. Small, simple patterns were also starting to appear during this decade. In the 1870’s, contrasting, bright colours were popular. This was done with colours like soft pink, light brown, lilac, mauve, forest green, and sky blue. During the 1880’s, pastel colours were reintroduced for warmer seasons, and rich, vibrant, hues for the colder months. Colours like off-white, grey, rose, coral, purple, and brown were popular during the time. Lastly, in the 1890’s, dresses were often made up of two parts, the jacket and the skirt, which led to a possibility of mixing and matching different colours together. Some common choices were red, light blue, light purple, cyan, and dark blue. There were many more pattern options during the 1890’s, such as plaid, gingham, and various florals. During the 1850’s, wearing ringlets (curls) was considered quite fashionable. Young women also enjoyed the chignon (bun) and twisted knots. In the 1860’s, braids had their comeback, and loose or tight curls were also preferred. Hairstyles in the 1870’s tended to be lavish, with combs, braids, twists, and braided crowns. The 1880’s saw heavy buns that were usually placed high up on the head. Finally, during the 1890’s, there was a repeat of the previousdecades' high hairstyles, and the buns and curls of this decade were increasingly elaborate.During the Victorian Era, women were often looked down upon for wearing makeup, and natural beauty was prized. Most middle and upper-class women used face cream before applying makeup and before bed, and the most accepted makeup product was face powder. Women could use a variety of colours in these powders, such as white to act as foundation or concealer, pink powder as blush, or black powder to act as mascara. Because makeup was so controversial at the time, most women would make it at home, using recipes passed down through families or from magazines and articles.

Decorum, Etiquette, and Mannerisms

Decorum and etiquette were incredibly valued within both the lower and upper classes. During the Victorian Era, there were many rules of etiquette that we still follow today, and countless more which we do not. Men were not to be seated at the table before the women, widows officially mourned for up to two years, and gloves, hats and other accessories were considered a necessity. Dinner parties were abundant within the upper class, and proper dining protocol was expected to be followed. There was a firm dress code to adhere to, various dances that one had to know, and even rules on how to send a proper invitation.

Costume Silhouettes and More

Due to Queen Victoria’s reign beginning in 1837 and ending in 1901, popular silhouettes changed sometimes. During the beginning of the Victorian Era, wealthier women could wear low-cut, strapless gowns in the evenings, however it was considered unfathomable for lowerclass women to do the same. Crinoline was often used in earlier years, albeit the heavy weight added by at least six petticoats. Later, a Crinoline Cage Frame was patented by W.S. Thompson to eliminate the need for so many petticoats. Engageantes were fake detachable undersleeves used to stabilize the effect of the crinoline cage. These little sleeves were usually made of lace or linen. Toward the middle of the Victorian Era, synthetic dyes were gaining popularity, and the sewing machine had been invented, leading to a shift in silhouette. The skirts had a flattened front, and a larger back. As the years went on, silhouettes became slimmer and lighter, after the designing of the “Princess Gown”. By around 1875, silhouettes had become soft, and dresses were incredibly elaborate, with frills, ruffles, and pleats added. By the late end of the Victorian Era, the average dress silhouette had become very slender. Charles Worth helped set many sleeve style trends, like the previously mentioned engageantes. Other popular sleeve styles include the Victorian Bell Sleeves and the oversized Victorian Sleeves. Accessories were also important during the Victorian Era, and women would often wear brooches, pins, parasols, fans, hats, and bonnets. Men would also frequently use a walking stick or cane. During the Victorian Era, women’s footwear was often made to match the dress. Working-class women would wear boots during the day, all kinds of women would wear high, lace-up boots, and wealthier women would wear evening slippers with low heels. Because of the Industrial Revolution, jewellery could be mass-produced, and became easier to obtain. Pearls, gold, amber, emerald, and malachite were all popular materials and gemstones used in the creation of various jewellery. Millinery was everywhere during Queen Victoria’s reign, and women would commonly wear hats decorated with insects, feathers, birds, and more. Nearly everyone during the Victorian Era could be seen wearing hats, and influence from the caps, bonnets, and hats can be found today. In conclusion, Queen Victoria’s lengthy reign led to countless changes and shifts in fashion, etiquette, and history. 

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