YEAR 1817'S — ENGLISH MALFJFEMALE COSTUMES

FIG. YEAR 1817'S — ENGLISH MALFJFEMALE COSTUMES

Jewellery was extensively worn. Colours in general were bright and discordant, the favour of all being yellow.The visit of Tsar, the monarch of Russia started a favour and flare for furs. Women wore fur coat while men wore fur inside the coat with fur hats.IMPORTANT NOTEThe 1890's were as a whole a period of changing values. The old rigid society mould was visibility breaking up, with South African millionaires and aristocrat rich storming in. For the young there was a new breath of freedom in the air, symbolized both by their sports costumes and by the tailored dresses. It was perfectly plain that the Victorian age was drawing to its close.

FROM 1900 To 1939 A.D.

The period from the beginning of the century to the out break of World War 1 is usually spoken of in England as the Edwardian era, although the king actually died in 1910.

FIG. YEAR 1894 - CYCLING DRESS

In France with a slight extension backwards into the middle of the 1890's it was referred to as la belle epoque. It was an age of great ostentation and extravagance, (Show off). In England, society and the court now began to coincide the king himself set the example.

There was an access of balls and dinners and country house parties. More money was spent on clothes

Fashion as always reflected the age, like the king himself it forward the mature women, cool and commanding, with a heavy bust, the effect of which was further emphasized by so called "health" corset which in an effort to prevent a downward pressure on the abdomen made the body rigidly straight in front by throwing forward the bust and throwing back the hips. This produced the peculiar S-shaped stance so characteristic of the period.

The skin, smooth over the hips, flared out towards the ground in the shape of a bell. Cascades of lace descended from the corsage; indeed there was a passion for lace in every part of the gown. The hair was built high on the head, and the flat pancake hat projected forward as if to balance the train.

This period has been defined as the last good time of upper classes, and even the colours of clothes reflected the sunny optimism of those who had money to spend. Let us see them below:

I. Another feature of this period is the importance of tailor mades. A considerable number of young women of the middle classes were now beginning to earn their living as governesses, typists and shop assistants and it would have been impossible for them to persue their occupations in the elaborate party dresses. Even rich women wore tailor-mades in the country or when traveling