Women's Fashions of the Victorian Era
Despite the prim and proper feminine ideal of the day, fashions of the Victorian period created an often exaggerated, ostentatious look. Tight corsets, gigantic hoop-skirts, and outrageous bustles make today's fashion trends look sedate by comparison. Clothing styles were dictated by propriety, and stylish garments were a sign of respectability. The copious amounts of fabric used in the creation of Victorian skirts usually meant that most women owned few outfits. Detachable collars and cuffs enabled a woman to change the look of a garment for a bit of variety. Of course, wealthier women owned more garments made of finer fabrics using more material and embellishments. The Victorian period, generally the time between 1837 and the 1890s, is named after Britain's Queen Victoria (1819 - 1901), a long lived and highly influential monarch in an era when women had little power or opportunity. In those days, women lived at the largess of men - first their fathers or guardians,