Nostalgic Trip: Feel The Romance Of The Victorian Era
A 2020 review showed that nostalgia can have positive effects on our health. If you're in the mood to dream about past centuries, what could be more elegant and timeless than the romantic Victorian Era?
Join Lolitain as we journey through this unforgettable age, including its fashion, literature, dances, and pastimes.
Victorian Costume Elements
Victorian fashion underwent dramatic changes from the 1840s to the 1900s. People put a lot of effort into their attire—a fact that was cited by the late aristocrat Lady Cynthia Asquith. In her memoir entitled Remember and Be Glad, she wrote, "A large fraction of our time was spent in changing our clothes .... You always changed again before tea into a tea gown... however small your allowance."
According to Cornell University's The Delineator, they wore tight corsets and tiered dresses with layers upon layers of petticoats that featured sloping, off-the-shoulder bodices, and tiny waists. These were often adorned with accessories and highly decorative buttons made with floral patterned fabrics. Bodices had organ pleats and extra fabric to create generous folds. At some point, women even donned bustles, padded undergarments, or wireframes that added fullness at the back of women's gowns.
Gloves were used to add modesty and show off one's social status. Bowlers and bonnets, often trimmed with frills or lace, provided protection against the sun. Fans were also popular as they allowed women to send coded messages and engage in flirtatious behavior!
Embracing The Victorian Era
While we can't turn back time, we can celebrate the Victorian Era's glorious fashion by revisiting its silhouettes, fabrics, and accessories.
Silhouettes
Want to experiment with the cinched waist, puffy sleeves, and stacked hemline that defined Victorian style? Steampunk fashion combines traditional Victorian aesthetics with elements inspired by the Industrial Revolution.
● The Steampunk Retro Strapped V Neck Basic White Cotton Lantern Sleeve Leg Sleeves Pullover Straight Top Shirt is a comfortable and durable shirt made with Jacquard cotton. The straps at the wrists can be tightened.
● Check out the Steampunk Victorian Style Retro Elegant Brown Leather Metal Horn Buckle Side Straps Soft PU Belt Girdle. This belt girdle gives you the illusion of a smaller waist while remaining faithful to the corsets that were worn during the Victorian Era.
● For a whimsical look, consider the Steampunk Victorian Style Romanticism Brown Splice Gorgeous Coffee Striped Ribbon Modified Basil Skirt Retro Long Skirt. This ruffled skirt offers a layered look without restricting the wearer's ability to move.
Combine these three items from Lolitain and you've got yourself the ultimate Victorian fashion.
Fabric
Full skirts with underskirts made of crinoline were in vogue. Textile production during the 1800s offered women lightweight and luxurious fabrics like velvet, satin, and tulle.
If you want to achieve the same smooth drape, the Double Layer Retro Skirt Button Decoration Back Adjustable Gothic Lolita Top Skirt Set won't disappoint. It's made with polyester, is available in three colors, and has an adjustable back.
Accessories
Accessories provided interest and depth to outfits. So, if you want to be a true Victorian, flaunt the Gorgeous Retro Gothic Style Dark Handmade Flower Metal Chain Lace Decorated Lolita Hat and Flower Daisy Wedding Black White Elegant Pearl Decorative Versatile Ribbon Bowknot Daily Classic Lolita Gloves.
These fashion essentials are versatile and can be paired with different outfits.
Victorian Fashion Was Colorful
Even though pictures from the era are in black and white, color was always an important part of Victorian women's wardrobes. Many wore dyed dresses with bright and attractive dyes. Colors were rich and varied. Etiquette books recommended light, gay hues for festive atmospheres. Women's clothes often exhibited shades of purple, gold, orange, blue, and brown.
Exploring The Romantic Victorian Atmosphere
Now that you've got your Victorian outfit, it's time to take a look at Victorian culture for a full-blown blast from the past.
Literature And Art
Though romantic, Victorian literature and art were directed towards mass audiences. This was fueled by the invention of the steam printing press which made art and literature more accessible to the common man.
The 1800s was a great era for art and literature, giving birth to several literary masterpieces that remain famous to this day.
● Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
● Daniel Deronda by George Eliot
● Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
● David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
● Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
Meanwhile, Victorian art focused on the social issues of its day. Take a look at God Speed by Edmund Leighton, Ophelia by John Millais, The Scapegoat by William Holman Hunt, and The Roses of Heliogabalus by Lawrence Alma-Tadema.
Classical Music And Dance
Music in the Victorian Era did not take off as well as literature, but it did have some notable composers like Frédéric Chopin and Felix Mendelssohn. During dances, people moved in tune with the polka and the quadrille. Upper-class society reveled in opera and classical concerts.
Afternoon Tea
Victorians enjoyed social gatherings as they allowed them to meet, be entertained, and catch up on the latest gossip. If you want to share your love for all things Victorian with others, throw a Victorian tea party. Whip out your China and fine cutlery, set the mood with Victorian music and art, and don't forget to prepare a spread of savory sandwiches, cakes, and candies.
Victorian Spring Picnic
With the growing interest in science, technology, and natural history, Victorians developed a newfound appreciation for nature. They hosted and attended lots of picnics. You can honor this beloved Victorian tradition by planning a spring picnic at the park. Typical picnic fare consisted of sandwiches, meats (boiled beef or lamb), lemonade, pound cake, and scones with jam.
Relive The Victorian Magic With Lolitain
The Victorian Era was characterized by breakthroughs in the fields of art and science but it also witnessed fashionable styles that continue to influence many of today's trends. Sophisticated and romantic, the period celebrated feminism as women dressed in shimmering lace, rich silk, and girly ruffles. Relive its grace and beauty with dresses from Lolitain.