7.3 Victorian Era Costume: Industrial Revolution and Moral Values

The Industrial Revolution transformed fashion, making textiles more accessible and introducing new production methods. Mechanization, mass production, and synthetic dyes revolutionized the industry, while inventions like the sewing machine sped up garment creation. These changes democratized fashion and expanded style possibilities.

Victorian morality heavily influenced clothing, emphasizing modesty and strict dress codes. Fashion trends reflected gender roles and social status, with crinolines, bustles, and corsets shaping women's silhouettes. Men's attire became more uniform-like, while accessories like hats and gloves completed the era's distinctive looks.

Industrial Revolution and Fashion

Impact of Industrial Revolution on fashion

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• Mechanization of textile production accelerated manufacturing with power looms automated weaving, spinning jennies increased thread production, cotton gins efficiently separated cotton fibers
• Mass production of fabrics and clothing boosted availability of textiles and reduced costs of materials making fashion more accessible to wider population
• Synthetic dyes expanded color palette with wider range of hues and brighter, more vibrant colors (mauve, aniline dyes)
• Sewing machine invention enabled faster garment construction and more intricate designs with precise stitching
• Ready-to-wear clothing introduced standardized sizes and fueled growth of department stores (Harrods, Macy's)
• New textile materials emerged including artificial silk (rayon) and improved cotton processing techniques

Victorian Morality and Fashion Trends

Victorian values in clothing styles

• Modesty in dress emphasized high necklines, long sleeves, and floor-length skirts to maintain propriety
• Strict dress codes dictated occasion-specific attire and reinforced class distinctions in clothing choices
• Gender roles reflected in fashion with emphasis on female silhouette and men's somber, uniform-like attire
• Mourning customs required elaborate dress etiquette using specific fabrics and colors for different mourning stages (jet black, lavender)
• Social status signaling through quality of fabrics and complexity of designs displayed wealth and position
• Etiquette of dress included glove-wearing customs and hat-tipping or removal practices in social interactions

Key Victorian fashion trends

• Crinolines created bell-shaped skirts using cage-like understructures made of steel or whalebone
• Bustles emphasized back of skirts with rear padding or framework, shifting silhouette focus
• Corsets cinched waists creating hourglass figure, often laced tightly for extreme waist reduction
• Leg-o-mutton sleeves puffed at shoulder and tightened at forearm, adding volume to upper body
• High collars included standing collars for men and ruffled collars for women, framing the face
• Tailored men's suits featured frock coats for formal wear and morning coats for daytime attire
• Accessories completed looks with top hats for men and bonnets or elaborate hats for women (plumed, flower-adorned)

Evolution of Victorian silhouettes

• 1840s: Women wore natural waistlines with full skirts; men donned fitted coats and high collars
• 1850s: Cage crinolines introduced expanding skirt circumference dramatically
• 1860s: Crinoline size peaked; Garibaldi blouse emerged as casual option for women
• 1870s: Bustles transitioned silhouette to narrower skirts with back fullness
• 1880s: Larger bustles returned; Princess line dresses created smooth, fitted look
• 1890s: Bustles declined; S-bend corset rose in popularity creating forward-thrust posture
• Overall trends showed gradual simplification of men's fashion while women's styles increased in ornamentation
• Silhouettes shifted from dome-shaped to rear-emphasized for women throughout era