19th-Century English Styles of Dress
Women wore many types of dresses in 19th-century England. These dresses varied in style and color. When woman went to a particular event, they wore a certain dress. The 19th-century woman could wear a variety of dresses, from the walking dress to the carriage dress. These dresses were intricate in design and they came in a variety of colors. Every dress was different and gave individual style to each woman.
Other People Are Reading
-
Housedress
-
The 19th-century housedress was worn around the house, and its function was to make English women comfortable while in the home. The housedress was the plainest dress, and it had no shape. Housedresses were usually white with long sleeves, a high neckline, and no decoration. The toilette de reception was an elaborate housedress worn for welcoming visiting guests.
Walking Dress
-
The walking dress, also called the "promenade dress," was used as an outdoor garment. Women usually wore a bonnet or hat with the walking dress. Women also added a coat over the dress during the cooler months and a parasol over their head during the summer months.
-
Carriage Dress
-
Women wore the carriage dress when they traveled, usually by carriage or coach. They also wore this garment when automobiles and trains came on the scene. Many carriage dresses had capes attached to them. This garment had to be easily manageable so the women could get in and out of coaches very easily. The carriage dress also had to be easy to clean because the unpaved roads of the time were dusty and muddy.
Dinner Dress
-
The dinner dress was a very high-end, elaborate garment that women wore to dinner, usually to a dinner outside of the house. If attending a dinner party, a woman would wear this short-sleeved dress that often featured a low neckline. A dinner dress would normally be in a navy blue, green, burgundy or black, but other, lighter colors could also be worn.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
