Victorian

Clothes

The early years of the nineteenth century saw women wearing less clothes than they had ever done before: a sort of nightdress with a high waist.

When the waist resumed its normal position, about1825, it became smaller and smaller, pulled in by tightly laced corsets. Skirts widened until, by the middle of the century, giant cages held out the huge crinoline skirts.

This impractical garment changed into a 'bustle' - straight skirt front and bunching at the back. Despite attempts to introduce more sensible clothes by some liberal thinking ladies, deforming corsets and hampering skirts persisted until the end of Victoria's reign. These clothes reflected the attitude that a wife's idleness was a mark of a man's social status.

Men began the century in tight fitting cut away coats and breeches or pantaloons. By 1850 the looser knee length frock coat, worn with a top hat, was well established.

By the time Victoria died the lounge suit worn with collar and tie had arrived - and it is still here!

The clothes in the picture were all fashionable through Victorian times. Can you date them correctly?

Click the picture for an answer

Victoria was Queen for 64 years. All the clothes in the picture were worn at some time during this time.