London, England KT3 4ZP

Introduction of Industrial Revolution changed and impacted politically, economically, and socially in not only Great Britain but also other nations in Europe, Asia, and the America. One of the changes that were made was fashion in Victorian Age. Women, who have interest within fashion and new styles, changed throught the years, transforming their styles that would fit their era. Though women changed their clothings simpler but were more formal than clothings that we might wear.


New materials, such as rubber, and new, cheaper dyes were intoduced by chemists to update the style and to make the industrialization of clothes cheaper so that people can afford clothes. Though a lot of people, usually from middle class, chose to buy clothings made from factories, but high class and nobles still wore clothings made with luxurious and fancy materials and by well-known designers.

Within Victorian fashion, style had changed through out the years between 1840s to 1890s.



In 1840s and 1850s, the clothing can be described as a narrow, natural shoulder line, lower waist line, exaggerated puffed sleeves and bell-shaped skirt. Women had to wear corsets and bodice, which were more likely in 1850s.
Though 40s and 50s styles are similar, in 1850, women reduced their petticoasts and expanded their skirts by wearing crinoline.



In 1860, women heavly relied on crinolines and hoops to make their dress extremely full skirted. The skirt became flatter at the front and projected out at the back. Dress started to look different between day and night. Day time dress had wide pagoda sleeve and high neckline; evening dress had short sleeve and low neckline. Women also had accessories, such as short gloves, fingerless lace, and croched mitts, to match their evening dresses that had shorter sleeves than their day dresses. Women had different necklines according to time. At day time, women had to look pure and covered, but at evening, when party or events were held, women showed off to men for competition within marriages.

From 1870s, clothings became simpler and diverse in styles. In the 1870s, uncorseted tea gowns were introduced to be worn informally. Bustles replaced the crinoline to hod the skirts up, which made things easier for the women.

Also in 1880s, more additions were made in their style. During 1880s, women wore matching jackets, skirts without bustles, and top hats with veils for riding; draped ankle-length skirts and boots or gainters for hunting; and long coats, such as dusters, for traveling.

Then in 1890s, women's fashion became less extravagant and decorous. Women did not wear either bustles and crinoline, which made the dress not as tight as before. Though people still wore cosrset, but it baecame longer to give women slight S-curved body silhouette. Women in 1890s also wore trumpet shape skirts that fit closely over the hip with a wasp-asit cut. High necks and puffes sleeves became amongst people. Also in 1980s, sportswear for women was staring to form, such as bicycling dresses, tennis dresses, and swimwears.

Women in Victorian Age moved from owning luxurious, fancy, and extravagant dress to simple, tidy, and comfortable dress so that women can move around freely like men to bike, travel, hike, and to do other activities.