The Victorians

The Victorian era lasted between 1837 and 1901.  During this time, Britain was the world's most powerful nation, which was able to maintain world order which rarely threatened Britain's wider strategic interests.  The Victorians believed in peace and that it was a necessary condition of long term prosperity.  During the Victorian era, Gothic Revival architecture became increasingly significant.  Gothic Revival styled buildings have some very identifiable features.  These include pointed arches as a decorative element or window shape, front facing gables with a decorative incised trim, decorative crowns over windows and doors, and castle-like towers with parapets.

Victorian Corset
Available: http://www.delilahscollection.com/aboutcorsets.htm.
Last accessed 19th Jan 2014.

Fashion during the Victorian era was mainly based around corsets for women.  During the 1830s, corsets were thought of as a medical necessity, as they believed that women were fragile and needed assistance to be held up.  However instead of helping women, the corsets actually deformed the internal organs, making it impossible to draw deep breaths, when both in and out of a corset.  This caused women to constantly faint.  It was believed that women should wear heavily reinforced layers of clothing and tight corsets so that undressing was a long and difficult task.  This was supposed to act as protection from lustful men.  Working class women, however, would not wear tight corsets unless it was a special occasion.  They wore looser corsets and simpler clothes with less weight, making it easier for them to work still.

During the Victorian era women wanted to appear fragile because it emphasised their femininity - they wanted to look pale and interesting.  To induce this, they would drink vinegar and avoid fresh air, as people who spent long periods of time outdoors had darker skin.  People with darker skin were generally the working class because they spent the majority of their time outdoors working.  Sometimes women would add slight rouge to their cheeks, but make-up was not seen as very good, especially during the 1870s, when social etiquette was more rigid.  The only females who were allowed to wear make-up and it be acceptable were actresses.  Even then, their cosmetic products would have been homemade from kitchen colouring, such as berries.

A woman's hair was the most valued thing on them.  They rarely cut it, and if they did it would only be because of illness.  Victorian hairstyles for women were very complicated and a woman's hair was very thick and long.  Their hair was often pinned up and only in informal occasions would they wear it loose around their shoulders.  Below are some examples of Victorian hairstyles, and to see more have a look at my pinterest account: http://www.pinterest.com/elliesimons94/victorian-women/

Available: http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/0c
/01/ba/0c01ba14879c95a151a9c21091a63ff6.jpg.
Last accessed 19th Jan 2014.

Available: http://www.gdfalksen.com/post/
51183094054utm_source=feedly.
Last accessed 19th Jan 2014.

References:
- Evans, E. (2011). Overview: Victorian Britain, 1837 - 1901. Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/overview_victorians_01.shtml. Last accessed 23rd March 2014.
- Unknown. (2014). Victorian Era. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_era#Culture. Last accessed 23rd March 2014.
- Unknown. (n.d). Gothic Revival Style 1830 - 1860. Available: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/mid-19th_century_period/2386/gothic_revival_style/293443. Last accessed 23rd March 2014.
- Unknown. (2011). History of the Victorian Corset/Fashion. Available: http://victorianeracnr.blogspot.co.uk. Last accessed 23rd March 2014.