"Striking silhouettes, sumptuous fabrics, bright colours, frills galore, and all manner of ornate accessories define the clothing of the Victorian period, that is, during the reign of Queen Victoria, which spanned seven decades of the 19th century. This was a time of dynamic change as the Industrial Revolution resulted in an expansion of the middle classes. Victorians were persuaded to part with their growing disposable income by mass advertising that ranged from gorgeous colour supplements in popular magazines to striking posters in railway stations."
"Although Victorian society included great contrasts between the haves and have-nots, another development of the period was the aspirational desire to dress slightly above one's station so that a clerk tried to be as well-dressed as his manger, a tradesman could copy the fashion of a man of independent means, and a shop assistant might endeavour, perhaps at the weekend, to dress like one of her lady customers."
Victorian clothing emphasized dramatic silhouettes, sumptuous fabrics, vivid colours, abundant frills, and ornate accessories, with garments often richly trimmed and coordinated with accessories. The Industrial Revolution enlarged the middle classes and enabled mass advertising through colour magazine supplements and railway posters, which stimulated consumer demand and spread trends quickly via improved transport and communication. Dressing became an important public marker of respectability and aspiration, prompting imitation across social ranks and attempts to dress above one’s station. Deliberate deviations from dress norms served as expressions of individuality and non-conformity against rigid social and gender expectations. Women’s dress evolved toward less restrictive shapes while showcasing fine materials and decorative details.
Read at World History Encyclopedia
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]