The Influence of Victorian Fashion on Modern Day Clothing Women during the Victorian Era were known for wearing heavy, modest dresses that covered them completely. These stiff, voluminous frocks were incredibly restrictive, and certainly weren’t designed with the comfort of the wearer in mind. Although it’s difficult to imagine wearing such clothing in today’s fast-paced world, there are still distinct and prevalent ways in which Victorian fashion has influenced modern clothing. From elegant fabrics to daring design details, you can still find influences from the Victorian era in today’s fashions.
Opulent Fabrics
Clothing created for high-society women during the Victorian era was manufactured from some of the world’s most opulent and luxurious fabrics, such as silk, satin, velvet, and lace. Today, the runways of many high-end fashion designers are still dotted with these decadent, expensive fabrics. The famous fashion houses of Alexander Wang, Oscar de la Renta, and Viktor & Rolf even used velvets and duch*esse satins as a staple in some of their most recent collections. These fabrics are also prevalent in mainstream streetwear. A velvet blazer or a flouncy lace blouse are pieces that would made any modern woman look decidedly on-trend. However they also maintain a Victorian elegance. Even after all of these years, women still feel beautiful when wearing opulent fabrics.
Corsets and Boned Bodices
During the Victorian Era, women wore corsets under their clothing to create the appearance of an exaggerated hourglass silhouette. Made of stiff “stays,” these undergarments were tightly laced to cinch a woman’s waist to make it look as small as possible. While modern women are no longer required to wear these oppressive and restrictive pieces, the concept of the corset is still a mainstay in many modern garments. Now, designers often use “boning” to create structured bodices. Although they are currently made of plastics and other synthetic materials that were not around in the mid-19th century, you’ll still find highly structured bodices on ballgowns, wedding dresses, and other high-end eveningwear. Lace-up panels are also frequently used in ready-to-wear collections and are reminiscent of the lace-up detail that first appeared in Victorian corsets.
Wedding Dress Designs
Perhaps the most obvious place that Victorian Fashion has an influence on modern fashion choices is when it comes to bridal gowns. Before the wedding of Queen Victoria in February of 1840, women rarely wore white or ivory on their wedding day. After the young Queen walked down the aisle and married her prince, however, everything changed. Suddenly, Victorian women wanted their wedding day looks to resemble that of this fashionable member of the royal family. The tradition of brides wearing white began and remains an important component of modern bridal fashion. Queen Victoria’s wedding dress was a billowing satin ballgown with lace appliques and dazzling details. The open neckline, full skirt, and long train are still prevalent in many bridal designs that brides shop for and wear in the modern era. Even her accessories - a long veil and a glittering tiara - are still popular elements. Although her wedding took place nearly 200 years ago, Queen Victoria’s wedding dress still remains relevant and influential.
FAQs
Corsets and Boned Bodices
Made of stiff “stays,” these undergarments were tightly laced to cinch a woman's waist to make it look as small as possible. While modern women are no longer required to wear these oppressive and restrictive pieces, the concept of the corset is still a mainstay in many modern garments.
Why is Victorian era fashion important? ›
The fashion of the time sought inspiration from literature, architecture, art, and societal issues such as changing the perception of gender roles in Victorian England. During the Victorian era, clothes became cheaper and faster to make, they also became a way for a person to define and declare their social status.
How to make modern clothes look Victorian? ›
Elements such as lace, corsets, high necklines, and voluminous skirts are essential in achieving the modern Victorian look. Experiment with different elements and find a balance that suits your personal style.
Why do you think fashion designers continue to come back and revive aspects of Victorian dress? ›
The Victorian era offers up plenty of inspiration for designers because of its general preference for luxurious fabrics and drama, again it's an antidote to the casual way we dress today and it's a particularly good blueprint for special occasions.
How did the Victorian era influence today? ›
The Victorian era saw revolutionary breakthroughs in the arts and sciences, which shaped the world as we know it today. These transformations led to many social changes with the birth and spread of political movements, most notably socialism, liberalism and organised feminism.
What influenced modern fashion? ›
Traditional clothing has played a significant role in the evolution of modern fashion. From traditional patterns and materials to the techniques used to create them, traditional clothing has influenced contemporary fashion in a number of ways.
What makes the Victorian style unique? ›
Victorian homes often have steep, imposing rooflines with many gables facing in different directions. The Second Empire Victorian style has a flat-topped Mansard roof with windows in the side to allow for maximum space inside the house. One-story porch.
What was the main focus of most Victorian era fashions? ›
The Evolution of Victorian Women's Fashion. During the 1830s, wealthy women sought to achieve the coveted hourglass figure with a long, slim torso and voluptuous hips. This was achieved through tightly fitted corsets, layers of petticoats made of coarse hair and modest bonnets.
What were the key elements of Victorian fashion? ›
During the early Victorian decades, voluminous skirts held up with crinolines, and then hoop skirts, were the focal point of the silhouette. To enhance the style without distracting from it, hats were modest in size and design, straw and fabric bonnets being the popular choice.
What is modern Victorian style? ›
Modern Victorian style is all about the collusion of two styles. Two tone furniture is a fantastic way to introduce this into your home. Two-toned furniture is when two different types of fabric are used. Velvet could be mixed with stripes creating a modern feeling piece with Victorian lines.
“Recognizable characteristics are steep, tiled roofs, painted brick, bay windows, and asymmetrical design,” Dadswell says. “Wooden floorboards, plaster cornicing, sweeping staircases, wooden sash windows, and tiled entrance hallways would have been incorporated into most Victorian homes.”
Why did Victorians wear dark clothes? ›
Though it remained part of a person's wardrobe for many years prior, the Victorian era likely holds the most fame because Queen Victoria wore mourning dress for forty years after the loss of her husband, Prince Albert. To the Victorians, black dress could symbolize mourning.
How did the Victorian Era influence fashion? ›
Day dresses were commonly made from linen or cotton, with patterns often in gingham, checks and plaids, reflecting the conservative style of Queen Victoria and her nation. Victoria was known for favouring modesty and minimalism, and this is clearly visible in fashion when she was at the height of her influence.
Is Victorian fashion making a comeback? ›
From its origins in the 19th century, the colour revolution in fashion continues today with a kaleidoscope of clothing parading down the catwalk and the high street. Even famous Victorian colours are making a comeback.
When did people stop wearing Victorian clothing? ›
During the Victorian period, which lasted from 1837 to 1901, women's fashion mostly consisted of corsets and heavy fabrics. They were modeled after the outfits worn by Queen Victoria, who was England's monarch at the time.
How are Victorian ideals different from modernism? ›
the realism, traditionalism and inhibition of the Victorian age, during which, the novelists sought to portray life as it was, in an objective, realistic manner, while the modernists rejected realism, adopting a subjective, inward viewpoint instead, one which was contaminated by personal experience.
What influenced the Victorian style? ›
The Victorian styles evolved largely from the imposing, elaborate Gothic style, which appealed to the romantic Victorian idea that fashion, architecture and furnishings should be beautiful rather than practical.
