Fashions of the Late Victorian EraBy V. M. and M. S. | ||
| Introduction |
The fashions of the Victorian Era were both very elaborate and restrictive on the bodies of those who wore them. The Victorian Era was the time period from 1830 to about the turn of the twentieth century (Tortora et al. 207). It was the era when Queen Victoria ruled England. During the early years of Victoria's reign, English society began to put high standards of morality on their conduct, which was shown through their costume. Furthermore, changes in the economy affected fashions. The rise in the the economy allowed the common man to afford better clothing and the rich to afford more elaborate clothing. The industrial boom, which occurred in the period, made the cloth-making process easier and cheaper (Wilcox Costume 292). For the first time in history, sewing machines and factories were used to produce mass quantities of clothing, rather than individual garments being made by hand. Many times the increase in the quantity of fashions replaced quality. The uniqueness of this time period's fashions set the stage for styles to come.
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