Victorian Fashion

by Jayne Shrimpton

Overview

The sweeping crinolines, corsets, bustles, bonnets, and parasols of Victorian Britain are indispensable to our period dramas, and their influences can still be seen within burlesque and steampunk fashions. This is no surprise, as nineteenth-century clothing was so wide-ranging and decorative. We might unfairly think gentlemen's costume to be rather plain and uniform, but this is more by contrast to the overwhelming ostentation, luxury fabrics, fine accessories, and constantly evolving silhouettes of ladies' fashion. This colorful introduction to what the Victorians wore describes the vibrant, fancy materials and lace edging at one end of the spectrum, and the tightlaced sobriety of mourning apparel at the other. It examines both high fashion imports from Paris and more modest everyday wear, evening costume, bridal styles, children's clothes and sportswear, and explores the social and cultural backdrop to clothing in Britain's great age of industry and empire.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780747815082
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	03/22/2016
Series:	Shire Library , #822
Pages:	96
Sales rank:	737,747
Product dimensions:	4.69(w) x 7.48(h) x 0.37(d)

About the Author

Jayne Shrimpton is a professional dress historian and portrait specialist with an MA in the history of dress from the Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London. She has spent many years analyzing historical images and is well known for her dress history and photograph books, magazine articles, lectures, and photo dating events.

Table of Contents

Introduction / Female Fashions / Menswear / Children's Clothes / Assembling a Wardrobe / Evening Dress / Sportswear / Bridal Style / Mourning Costume / Further Reading / Places to Visit / Index