Clothing defined a persons place in society. The clothing of the Victorian era wasn’t filled with elegant clothing the elite wore elegant clothing while everyone else wore simple styles and fabrics. This changed after the sewing machine became a house hold item. Keep in mind costumes are for fun, choose a costume that feels like a costume.
Choose the “hour glass” dress with bustles and pleats that shape the costume to fall gracefully to the floor. Add a feathered hat and evening gloves to your assemble portraying the socialite of the Victorian age.
A married woman or older woman wore the heavier fabrics with the crispy silks and satins or velvets. They always wore a hat so you must remember to get a hat. The bigger the dress in width the bigger the hat needs to be.
In the mid 19th century, there was a change in attitudes about the popular holiday resorts. The seaside was not enjoyed as a place of social status but when the resorts were deemed healthy for enjoyment and pleasure the socialites rode off to the new resorts. They had to have new clothing, which resulted in seaside-clothing trends.
Take a look at the Ships Captain costume that comes with a double breasted jacket, gold trim, an official pair of pants with gold strips. You should be able to find sizes from a small to extra large size.
A Captain should have a lovely woman on his arm wearing a graceful full length skirt and a jacket with blue or gold buttons from the top of the jacket down the skirt or a jacket buttoning on one side. A hat with a wide rim for shade and ‘down feathers” to polish the look to perfection.
Low cut shoulder lines exposed the “bertha” style, trimmed with inches of lace flounce with bands of pleats. You could be accompanied by a man with a tailored cut suite representing the elite of his class. The cut of the coat is what changed for the middle class men. They represented masculinity and class status during the Victorian era.
Men’s costumes do have several choices. Try a double-breasted jacket that comes with a vest and matching pants. You may want to go in the “Morning” coat adding pinstriped pants. Slip on the velveteen vest and take your Lady by the arm as a proper gentleman.
You may like the slimmer fitting costumes since your have a hugh era of styles to pick from The late Victorian era revealed more of the bodies shape and more skin. Fitting closer not flaring out as much.
Fashion for men represtended the era in the mannerisms, hairstyles, and class status. Imfluenced by a aesthetic movemet of dress. Bringing robes, belted jacket and robes into the Victorian era. With a large varitey of Victorian costumes allows you to really enjoy the act of wearing a costume.
Bob Anderson is a costume enthusiast and for years has helped others discover their own unique and awesome Halloween costume experiences. If you’re looking for more Halloween Costume ideas, tips and tricks then checkout some of Bob’s costume ideas on Edwardian Costumes or Wizard Of Oz Costumes.
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