Fashionable Victorian Costumes for Men and Women

Fashionable Victorian Costumes for Men and Women

Victorian costumes are an elegant choice for costume parties, theatrical performances, Halloween, and are often worn by carolers at Holiday gatherings. They truly are an elegant reminder of days gone by.


Queen Victoria’s reign over England from 1840 to 1900 marks the dates of the Victorian era. During this period fashion evolved quite a bit from beginning to end, meaning individuals looking specifically for Victorian costumes might be surprised at the variety of choices available.


In the early Victorian era, women wore long dresses with tight bodices and full skirts with a laced and boned corset under the tight bodice. Originally the full skirts were supported by several petticoats, but by mid-century women were wearing a framework of hoops called a crinoline to support their wide skirts. For their daytime dresses, they had long sleeves with high necklines, but this changed quite a bit for the evening wear when bare shoulders and short sleeves were evident. Victorian costumes with the popular crinoline, became the look most tried to achieve.


During the later period of the Victorian era skirts gradually became slimmer in addition to being more ornate. These new decorations included ruffles, swags, and the other decorative elements that made the skirts stand out. This created a new look that spread quickly and became very fashionable by the end of Victorian times.


Victorian costumes should include historically accurate accessories such as bonnets instead of hats for most of the Victorian era. The shawl was also a popular wrap and was used to cover bare shoulders in the evening. Other popular Victorian accessories include gloves, small purses and parasols.


You don’t hear as much about men’s clothing in large part because men’s clothing styles didn’t go through the same changes as women’s during the Victorian era. One thing that did change with male Victorian fashion was that dark suits became much more formal than before and they were worn universally by men of many positions from mere office workers up to the wealthy. Popular male Victorian accessories included Bowler hats, umbrellas, and various walking sticks, while cutaway coats and top hats were proper evening wear.


Victorian clothing for both genders also experienced a counter-cultural aesthetic movement during the middle of the 19th Century when artists and designers led a movement for a simpler and more natural fashion. Oscar Wilde led the charge for men, and this meant simple velvet suits, embroidered jackets, soft shirts and flowing cravats. Meanwhile for women, that meant simple gowns made from wool, silk, and velvet which were closer to medieval fashion as opposed to modern Victorian era fashion. There was a mass abandonment of the corsets, petticoats, and crinolines that were a major part of earlier Victorian era fashion.