Ties or Scarves

Ties or Scarves

Ties or Scarves: "1860's Fashion"

1863 Victoria – Women

For women in this era there was a wide choice of fabrics including alpaca, poplins, wools, taffetas, rich silks and opulent velvets and satins. Women selected brilliant and very sharp colour combinations in daring schemes such as purple with cerise, and viridian with royal blue. This was due to the appearance of aniline dyes. The over 40 women generally wore black or dark colours. The conventions of mourning dictated that all relations, even young children, wore total black for as long as a year. Jewellery was also jet black.

The decoration of the fabric was all-over floral patterns with larger designs, richer and very bold. Plain flat darker colours based on stripes and classical motifs were preferred forms of trimmings.

Small corsets, very tightly laced, severely restricting the size of the waist were worn. They were the crinoline construction (calico and extended by whale-bones or flexible steels) replacing the numerous petticoats required to hold out the skirts. The crinoline is a very difficult skirt to control. The wearer does a gliding walk, with perfect balance to prevent the great skirts from swinging or bouncing. Prior to sitting down the back parts of the crinoline are lifted.

Young children were given instruction in deportment by using a back board, book on their head, etc.

Large brooches were worn at the throat. Capes shawls, cloaks and mantles were worn. Scarves, little black silk afternoon aprons, chatelaines of cut steel, small parasols. Closely fitting short gloves.

posted by Robee Dobee @ 5:43 AM