What Is Victorian Fashion? Understanding The Aesthetic And Exploring The Choice Of Outfits
Victorian fashion refers to fashion in the Victorian era. These fashion trends born in the UK became popular in British colonies across continents.
The clothes in that era were heavily influenced by contemporary art, societal structure, and idealized gender roles.
If you closely observe women’s fashion in the Victorian era, you will find common elements like a beehive skirt, tight sleeves, cinched waistline, corsets, and bertha or low-shoulder necklines.
This season, all these old trends get a new twist with a more contemporary attitude toward design. So, you will see the use of lace, ornate detailing, and silhouettes inspired by the bygone era.
However, with a full focus on the aspect of “practical wearbility,” Victorian-style outfits today flaunt a sleeker style.
Why Is Victorian Fashion Unique?
Victorian fashion is unique because of its elegant way of dressing. Fashion was grand or opulent in that era.
Further, you will see the use of a lot of detailing in the design of your outfits. In the iteration of Victorian fashion in the modern age, you will also find the same elements.
Also, with ruffles and lace, Victorian fashion is about romance. This year, fashion has been about celebrating the style and way of dressing in the bygone era.
In addition, the Kardashian-style sensibility is very prominent in the fashion ecosystem. Moreover, Instagram reels and TikTok hashtags are increasing the craze for Victorian fashion.
Do you want to adapt Victorian fashion to your daily dose of styling? I will share some befitting outfits for you.
What Are The Best Victorian Fashion Outfits For Women This Season?
The rule of Victorian fashion in today’s fashion scenario is not a standalone incident. Fashion in different decades, like the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, have taken reference from the Victorian way of dressing.
So, the version of Victorian-style dresses you see today has gone through a lot of evolutions.
Again, with the rise of the cottagecore aesthetic in 2010, there is an inclination toward wearing clothes made of home-spun fabric. So, the Victorian style of dressing has only got bigger and better with time.
1. Pleated Maxi Dress With A Lace Yoke
If simplicity is your style mantra and you don’t want to miss out on the Victorian charm of dressing, you can wear a white pleated maxi dress.
The pleats will add dimension to the design of the outfit. The lace yoke will be the chef’s kiss to the overall look of the dress.
Wear it with Mary Jane shoes to be the epitome of grace and simple styling.
2. Smocked-Neck Blouse
A smocked neck is very common and popular in Victorian clothes. This neckline offers a distinct touch and speaks of the conservative style of dressing in the Victorian era.
Choose a simple smocked-neck blouse and wear it with flared denim trousers to create a fusion of contemporary and old-world fashion.
3. Knitted Maxi Dress With Long Sleeves
You will see the presence of home-spun fabric and handicrafts in Victorian clothes. To incorporate the charm into your fashion, you can wear a knitted maxi dress with long sleeves for any special occasion.
You need to keep the tones earthy or muted to bring the Victorian charm alive in this outfit. It will look excellent with stilettos or kitten heels.
4. Midi Dress With Pintuck Detailing
You can keep your daily dose of fashion modest by wearing a midi dress with pintuck detailing. The midi length will not interfere with your movements or mobility. At the same time, it will remain true to Victorian fashion in a contemporary way.
The pintuck detailing further can make your silhouette appear slender. Wear this dress for any morning wedding party or a coffee date with mules or flat ballerinas.
5. Paisley Printed Ruffle Blouse
I love paisley prints. They are timeless, indeed! If you want to ace Victorian style this season, you can consider getting a blouse with paisley prints. The ruffle detailing will further elevate the aesthetic appeal of the outfit.
Choose a simple midi skirt or a well-structured maxi skirt to complement this elegant outfit designed after the Victorian style.
6. Taffeta Top With Gathered Detailing
Gathered detailing is an excellent way to add texture to an outfit in the most effortless way. Further, taffeta silk is known for its distinct sheen and finish. Why not fuse these two elements in one outfit?
Wear this taffeta top with well-tailored trousers and mules to get complimented for your fashion choices.
7. Cotton And Lace Shirt With An Asymmetrical Hem
In a cotton lace shirt with an asymmetrical hem, there are many elements to make a note of. Cotton makes the shirt comfortable and breathable.
So, you can wear it across all seasons. Further, the use of lace in the shirt adds the right dose of vintage appeal to the design.
Again, with the asymmetrical hemline, the shirt gets a contemporary attitude. Wear this shirt with well-tailored and fitted pants to make an elegant style statement.
8. Top With Floral Embroideries
Home-spun fabrics, embroideries, laces, and frills were popular and widely used in women’s clothing. To infuse some essential Victorian charm into your daily dose of fashion, you can choose a top with floral embroideries for you.
In this context, a white top flaunting blue or brown embroidery work will be the best choice. If you love colors, you can always choose a top with multicolor floral embroidery work.
Wear the top with denim jeans, culottes, skirts, or any bottom with a simple cut and design.
9. Leopard Printed Silk Dress
Silk, as a plush fabric, was very much a part of Victorian fashion. Women with a higher social stature especially loved experimenting with colorful silk fabrics.
So, if you are looking for partywear designed after Victorian fashion, you can choose a leopard print silk dress for you.
However, make sure that the prints are not very flashy. Otherwise, you will be compromising with the core essence of the Victorian way of dressing.
10. Top With Flounces
If you want to adopt Victorian fashion and you are looking for something to wear in summer, you can definitely choose a white or pastel top with flounces. The flounces will keep the design textured, and they will elevate the aesthetic appeal of the top.
You can wear the top with skinny-fit denim jeans or chinos to create a mix and match of Victorian and modern-day fashion.
Keep your accessories and choice of bottom wear minimalistic to bring all the attention to your top.
11. Coupe Dress
A coupe dress will be an excellent choice if you want to incorporate Victorian style into your daily dose of fashion. The high neck and full sleeves of the coupe dress define Victorian elegance and modest dressing.
However, while choosing a coupe dress, make sure that you are picking one in white or any subtle shade.
Wear the dress with matching pumps or heels to get a swoon-worthy appearance.
12. Button Down Silk Top With Self Embroidery
It’s time to keep your fashion chic with a touch of practical wearability. You will look elegant in a button-down silk top. The use of silk fabric will lend the outfit a plush finish.
At the same time, the button placket at the front will make it easy to wear and double as a design element.
Further, the self-embroidery work will add nuanced aesthetics to the top. Wear the top with a black pencil skirt to flaunt a classy look.
13. Puff Sleeves Sheer Dress
Why not be a little creative and bold with your fashion choices? You can keep the core vibe of Victorian fashion alive and infuse some elements of risque fashion into it by choosing a sheer maxi dress with puff sleeves.
You can wear this outfit for special occasions and accessorize it with a statement neckpiece.
14. White Lace Blouse With A Pleated Yoke
If you talk about Victorian clothing, lace is an important element. Mostly used for detailing, lace adds that elegant and aesthetic vibe to any outfit.
This season, a white lace blouse can be your ultimate outfit to flaunt your love for Victorian fashion. A pleated yoke will further add texture to the overall design of the blouse.
Wear the blouse with flared denim pants or a floral skirt to get appreciated for your fashion choices.
15. Puff Sleeve Floral Dress
Puff sleeves stand for the importance of forms and elaborate design in Victorian fashion. So, this season, a puff sleeve floral dress can be your go-to outfit for any casual occasion.
A puff sleeve dress also has an unmatched boho vibe. So, with this outfit in your closet, you will have a fusion of fashion elements across different eras.
16. Corset Tops
Corset is everywhere in the current fashion scenario. Also, with time, corsets are being used as outerwear and lingerie.
If you want to give your casual fashion some Victorian twist this season, you must get yourself a corset top that accentuates your bust area.
Wear the corset top with a midi skirt. You can also pair it with denim jeans and shorts.
17. Striped Victorian Dress
If you love experimenting with patterns and you look for fusions in your outfits, you can surely get a Victorian dress with a stripe pattern.
However, make sure that the stripes are in one particular shade. Too much of colors in the stripes can ruin the classy vibe of a Victorian outfit.
Also, if you want to flaunt a slender silhouette, vertical stripes will work best for you.
18. Victorian Outfit With Frills
Proper detailing has been an important aspect of Victorian outfits. So, along with lace, you will also see the use of frills in outfits inspired by Victorian fashion.
Frills add movement and texture to an outfit’s design. Further, by using frills in sleeves and yokes, you can create a sense of intrigue that helps draw attention.
Wear a frilled top with a midi skirt. For a dress, you will only need a pair of high heels to walk in style. While choosing a frilled outfit, you don’t need to accessorize it much.
Also, the accessories should be simple enough to maintain all your attention on the frilled top or dress.
19. White Prairie Dress With A Plunged Neckline
The prairie dresses exude a vibe of nostalgia, and they offer us the sense of comfort and familiarity that we seek in our everyday lives.
To ace Victorian fashion, you can choose a white prairie dress with form-fitting sleeves and a neckline that accentuates your cleavage.
You can wear it for casual outings and morning parties. It will look great with ballerina flats and wedges.
20. Maxi Dress With A Corset Bodice
Corset, the quintessential element of Victorian fashion for women, is back this season with New York Fashion Week celebrating this style in full swing.
Further, the “Vivienne Westwood Corsets: 1987 to Present Day” exhibition showed how corsets have been present in women’s fashion and how they have evolved.
To be a part of the corset frenzy, you can choose a maxi dress with a corset bodice for you. The corset style will give your waistline a slimmer appearance. Also, it will give your bust the much-needed plunge.
Wear a corset maxi dress with classy heels or pumps to put your best foot forward.
21. Flared Prairie Dress With Smocked Neck And Full Sleeves
Do you want to celebrate the Victorian fashion vibe in your style with little effort? A flared prairie dress will be an excellent choice in this regard,
The flared hemline will celebrate the elaborate style of designing in the Victorian era. The smocked neck and full sleeves will add to the overall appeal of the design.
Wear the dress with boots or pumps to look like a summer breeze.
Final Words
Victorian fashion is all about elegance, detailing, fine fabric, distinct tailoring, and an extension of lifestyle. With the core aesthetic being intact, the Victorian way of dressing has undergone a lot of changes across different eras.
It also adopted distinct elements from the fashion of the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s. So, the cuts and designs you see in the modern Victorian designs are eclectic, exuding a modern approach to fashion. Victorian outfits of today are also a lot about wearability.
Do you want to infuse Victorian trends into your daily dose of fashion? You can check out the styles I have discussed here. Or do you have any other fashion ideas in your mind? Don’t forget to share!
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