subject: Tips On Choosing The Right Garments For Your Victorian Costume? [print this page] Victorian costume is one of the popular costume choices for parties and costume events. One good reason is that it is elegant and beautiful. For the same reason, Victorian-inspired bridal gowns are amongst the most sought after wedding dresses today. Victorian costumes are still seen in new movies. Victorian clothes also inspire today's fashion trends.
The Victorian era was the time of lavishness and elegance. It was an age of sophistication and beauty. It was when fashion was frilly and fancy. During this era, what people wore dictated their status.
The Victorian women wore clothes consisted of laces, ruffles, and layers. They also wore various fashion essentials such as gloves, shawls, corsets and petticoats.
During this period men wore jackets or frock coats, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and vests. Accessories like top hats, cravats or neckbands, braces or suspenders, a pocket watch, cuff links, a walking cane and gloves were the trend. Men wore their hair parted in the middle and styled back. Thick mustache was also fashionable during the era.
Dressing up like a modern day Victorian is easy if you know what to look for. Here are some tips.
Female
Find a lace, velvet, silk, or pretty polyester blouse that has a dramatic collar, pearl-style buttons or delicate embroidery. It must be in berry and jewel tones like rose pink, pale yellow, maroon, black, ivory, light blue, and navy. These are the popular colors during the Victorian era.
You may also wear cardigans, sweaters, shawls and ponchos in chocolate, deep purple, and forest green colors. It is better if you can find embroidered sweaters or solid-colored cashmere sweaters. You can also wear jacket or blazer that is made of velvet or wool. Choose a jacket or blazer in dark color. This will make you look slimmer.
Tier skirt is perfect for the Victorian look you are aiming for. Look for silk, velvet or polyester tier skirt. Length is also an important factor. Make sure that it is not higher than knee-length. If you are going to wear a shorter skirt, wear hosiery in black and subtle colors, like beige, with discreet holes.
Victorian costume is best worn with shoes in dark colors like black, brown, and navy. Victorian-style lace-up boots and Mary Janes are great choices. You can also wear simple high heels, velvet shoes or silk shoes.
Corset is also a nice piece for your Victorian costume as it will give you an hourglass shape. Appropriate jewelry and undergarments will make your Victorian costume look more stylish.
Male
You will look very Victorian with a frock-style coat. For a modern look, you can dress it up with a suit coat and vest. You may also wear a band collar shirt or a bib shirt with pleated front.
High-waisted pants are an excellent garment for your Victorian costume. Just make sure that they are tighter and an inch above current standards. Your Victorian costume will also look good with ankle-high boots, laced or buttoned. If you don't have ankle-high boots, accessorize your regular shoes with spats.
You should also wear your Victorian costume with the appropriate hairstyle. For women, it should be a simple bun. For men, it should be short and nicely trimmed. As for embellishments, simple jewelry, such as a brooch or pearl stud earrings for women and a pocket watch for men.
