Women while going for a walk wore long jackets and a skirt, with bustle and a small hat or bonnet.īy 1887, the sleeves of the dresses had become slimmer and close-fitting. The skirts worn for hunting purposes were up to the ankle-length accompanied with proper boots. The shirt was high collared and the top-hat had a veil. Jacket and skirts which matched the hunting outfit were worn in the 1880s. Note the flat front of the pointed bodice, the split overskirt with exposed underskirt. The use of machine brought about a lot of change in the clothing fashion. The invention of the sewing machine in the late 18th century enabled women to wear sewn clothes. By 1867 Crinoline was replaced by Bustles to hold the skirts up. Somewhere in 1870, tea-gowns were introduced for casual get-togethers at home. However, for the evening wear, the gowns had a low neckline and short sleeves along with appropriate gloves. These necklines either had lace or tatted collar on them. The day dresses had pagoda sleeves and a high neckline. By 1860, the skirts were flat at the front. Shawls also formed a part of the Victorian costume. This was the case of upper and middle-class women. This apparel was completed by a shawl and opera-length gloves. For the evening occasions, the Victorian women had some liberty as they could bear the shoulders and upper part of the chest. The dresses worn by women during the day had a solid bodice. The reason for this change was that the size of the skirts had expanded and so pantalettes was more suited to this new change. Later on, pantalettes and crinoline were used instead of petticoats and chemise. Women wore corsets, which reached up to the knees and layers of petticoats under their gowns. They also had low but pointed waists and bell-shaped skirts. Sometimes it was tightly laced to ensure a tiny waist, and it also pushed the breasts up and together to create a cleavage.ĭuring the initial years of the Victorian rule, namely the 18 period, the gowns worn by women were narrow and had sloping shoulders. It would fit from the waist to under the chest (under the breasts). It was silk or fine cotton one-piece, sleeveless shift with round neck and trimmed with lace. During winters, instead of silk, it would be thicker woollen stockings to keep warm. Then it would be the Silk stockings that were held up by garters which tied around the leg just above or below the knee. The construction material of underclothes for the upper class was linen or silk and for the lower class, it was cotton or linen. Once a tight corset on, pulling down her drawers was almost impossible for the lady. Center seam was left open for using the chamber pot. Construction was with two separate legs joined at the waist and held in place with a drawstring or buttons. Here is a complete guide to women’s fashion of the Victorian era with facts about head to toe dressing up, its history and pictures Underwears – Stockings, Petticoats, Chemiseĭrawers or bloomers were the first things ladies would put up. Women’s fashion from morning till night.Underwears – Stockings, Petticoats, Chemise.Here is a complete guide to women’s fashion of the Victorian era with facts about head to toe dressing up, its history and pictures.

Victorian fashion art