Victorian Fashion – 1840s to 1890s
The Victorian fashion era began with Queen Victoria’s reign in 1837 and ended in 1901, upon her death. It marked a pivotal time in Britain’s history and around the world. In fashion, the Victorian era is an elaborate display of class, wealth, beauty, and purpose for women and men. The layers of dress and suiting required for poor and rich alike were impractical, sometimes even uncomfortable, but always beautifully fashionable. Victorian fashion began with large dresses, poke bonnets, and modest coverings for the ladies, all while men displayed color, pattern, and rigidity in their attire. By the end of the era, a simpler silhouette was making waves, leading the next Edwardian generation to new freedoms in life and fashion.
To summarize Victorian fashion, nearly 70 years of clothing styles, in one article would be a daunting task (not to mention very long read). Instead, the following links will guide you to many articles about specific years, general styles, or accessories that make up Victorian fashion. The purpose is not only to educate about (mostly upper class) Victorian fashions, but to give you practical tips, links, and purchasing options for creating your own Victorian costume.
My first foray into the world of historical costuming began with the Victorian era at a ball where ladies danced in the most elegant hooped dresses I have ever seen. From that moment on, I was hooked. My quest to make my own Victorian gown for the next ball began with a pattern, some fabric, and not nearly enough research since I ended up creating an 18th century (1780s) dress! My research and writing here at Salelolita.com is my attempt to curb those beginner pitfalls while being mindful of budget, time, and ability constraints.
How to make a Vintage Victorian Dresses?
Choose your Victorian Fashion Dresses:

Blue Lace Rococo Baroque Party Ball Gown 18th Century Renaissance Victorian Dress

Gold Short Sleeves Floral Embroidered Vintage Rococo Victorian Ball Gown Dress

Blue Lace 18th Century Southern Belle Victorian Period Gown Dress

Rococo Blue Southern Belle Princess Dress Victorian Gown for Women

Blue Rococo Carnival Victorian Queen Dresses 1860s Reenactment Costume

Pink and Blue Long Sleeve Lace Bow Rococo Vintage Wedding Marie Antoinette Dress Gown

Pink Rococo Lolita Victorian Marie Antoinette Wedding Gown Dress

White Long Flare Sleeve Floral Vintage Rococo Marie Antoinette Wedding Ball Gown Dress

Gray Long Sleeve Lace Rococo Retro Wedding Marie Antoinette Wedding Gown Dress

Green Lace Flower Rococo Vintage Wedding Marie Antoinette Ball Gown Theater Costume

Blue Floral Jacquard Renaissance Colonial Victorian Dresses Reenactment Theater

Renaissance Colonial Floral Patterns Jacquard Vintage Victorian Style Dress

Women Blue Floral Brocade Vintage Victorian Dress

Women Champagne Floral Brocade Vintage Victorian Dress

Renaissance Wine Red Floral Patterns Cotton Victorian Ball Gown for Women

Renaissance Orange Cotton Floral Colonial Victorian Prairie Dress

Renaissance Rococo Wine Red Maire Antoinette Gown Dress

Renaissance Pink Floral Colonial Victorian Dress

Vintage Historical Gothic Victorian Bustle Wedding Gown Dress

Renaissance Purple Floral Victorian Era Dress

Renaissance Black Floral Patterns Cotton Gothic Victorian Dress for Women

Medieval Renaissance Gothic Victorian Dress Women Queen Princess Ball Gown

Wine Red Medieval Renaissance Authentic Victorian Ball Gown Dress

Renaissance Blue Floral Rococo Marie Antoinette Ball Gown Victorian Dress

Renaissance Red Floral Marie Antoinette Dress Rococo Victorian Ball Gown

Vintage Black Floral Gothic Victorian Dress Ball Gown

Vintage Women Floral Victorian Era Dress Gown

Coffee Floral Women Gothic Victorian Dress Gown

Renaissance Green Sequins Marie Antoinette Dress Women

Women Yellow 18th Century Inspired Ball Gown Dress

Renaissance Black Rococo Gothic Marie Antoinette Dress

Deluxe Green Colonial 18th Century Rococo Marie Antoinette Dress Victorian

Champagne Marie Antoinette Renaissance Fairy Princess Dress

Renaissance Blue Floral Patterns Cotton Gothic Victorian Dress for Women

Wine Red Gothic Victorian Dress Steampunk Reenactment Clothing

Renaissance Wine Red Georgian Gothic Victorian Dress Gown

Champagne Rococo Belle Gown Medieval Renassance Theatre Costume

Gold Printed Marie Antoinette Ball Gown Civil War Medieval Renaissance Dress

Women Vintage Purple Floral Victorian Era Dress Gown

Green Lace Rococo Belle Princess Reenactment Theater Dress Victorian Dress

Green Victorian Period Dress Historical Renaissance Costume

Renaissance Colonial Antique Silver Floral Authentic Victorian Prom Ball Gown Dress

Renaissance Brocade Colonial Antique Blue Floral Authentic Victorian Gown Dress

Renaissance Georgian Antique Floral Authentic Gothic Victorian Dress Gown

Renaissance Green Brocade Colonial Antique Floral Tea Garden Victorian Dress

Renaissance Blue Gothic Victorian Dress Gown

Red Renaissance Colonial Antique Floral Princess Prom Ball Gown Dress

Navy Blue Embroidered Rococo Medieval Victorian Period Dresses Theater Costume

Medieval Renaissance Rococo Blue Floral Victorian Dress Gown

Purple Rococo Southern Belle Queen Medieval Dress Theatre Reenactment Costume

Renaissance Colonial Antique Floral Brocade Authentic Gothic Victorian Dress

Renaissance Green Floral Patterns Victorian Ball Gown Fancy Princess Dress

Girls Renaissance Blue Floral Brocade 1860s Victorian Princess Party Dress Kids

Renaissance Lady Victorian Dress Vintage Christmas Holiday Party Dress

Renaissance Marie Antoinette Floral Brocade Princess Gothic Victorian Dress

Renaissance Gold Floral Baroque Rococo Marie Antoinette Gown Dress

Black Rococo Embroidery Vintage Renaissance Reenactment Victorian Dress

Blue Embroidery Queen Marie Antoinette Ball Gown Reenactment Theatre Dress

Unique Rococo Embroidered Lace Victorian Period Ball Theater Dress

Women Renaissance Baroque Rococo Marie Antoinette Dress Gown

Wine Red Marie Antoinette Renaissance Vintage Victorain Wedding Princess Dress

Renaissance Blue Floral Brocade Long Sleeve Authentic Victorian Ball Gown

Purple Lace Simple Gothic Victorian Dress for Women

Wine Red Simple Gothic Victorian Dress Renaissance Queen Adult Women

Blue Lace Simple Gothic Victorian Dress for Women

Rococo Baroque Red Wedding Ball Dress Historical Period Dress Women

Blue Floral Rococo Medieval Period Dresses Reenactment Theater Costume

Medieval Renaissance Gold Floral Baroque Rococo Marie Antoinette Dress

Renaissance Blue Floral Victorian Lolita Dress for Women

Renaissance Rococo Blue Maire Antoinette Victorian Dress

Wine Red Corset Civil War Dress Gown 3pcs Set

Wine Red Renaissance Rococo Marie Antoinette Dress

Wine Red Southern Belle Rococo Marie Antoinette Dress

Black Lace Long Sleeve Gothic Victorian Dress

Green Rococo Marie Antoinette Dress Victorian Ball Gown

Vintage Women 50s 60s Blue Floral Hepbrn Evening Prom Gown Dress

Vintage Renaissance Colonial Cinderella Princess Gown Victorian Dress

Vintage Green Bow Victorian Saloon Girl Princess Dress

Blue Lace Ruffles Historical Victorian Dress Women

Blue Floral Pattern Colonial Pioneer Victorian Prairie Dress

Light Blue Rococo Belle Marie Antoinette Dress

White Renaissance Rococo Victorian Period Dress Wedding Ball Gown

Renaissance Floral Colonial Civil War Dress 2PCS Victorian Ball Gown

Renaissance Colonial Floral Tea Garden Dress Prom Ball Gown Reenactment

Blue Floral Civil War Dress Victorian Belle Ball Gown 2PCS Set

Unique Beige Brocade Floral Gothic Victorian Renaissance Dress

Renaissance Ball Gown Floral Victorian Dress Theater Costume

Renaissance Marie Antoinette Brocade Princess Gothic Fantasy Dress Theater

Renaissance Colonial Antique Floral Tea Garden Dress Prom Ball Gown Theater

High-end Black Sequins Gothic Victorian Bustle Dress 2pcs Set

Renaissance Wine Red Rococo Floral Corset Victorian Bustle Dress 2PCS Set

Black Floral Revolutionary 18th Century Early Victorian Ball Gown Dresses

18th Century Red Floral Gothic Victorian Ball Gown Dress for Women

18th Century Purple Authentic Gothic Victorian Ball Gown Dress for Women

18th Century Gold Floral Gothic Victorian Ball Gown Dress for Women

Blue Floral Womens Marie Antoinette Masked Ball Victorian Costume Dress

Victorian Floral Printed Southern Belle Tea Party Ball Gown Civil War Dress for Women

Victorian Southern Belle Old West Fancy Dress Ball Gown Reenactment Costume

Purple Medieval Renaissance Authentic Victorian Ball Gown Dress

Purple Victorian Southern Belle Princess Fancy Dress Ball Gown Costume

Blue Floral Print Victorian Southern Belle Fancy Prairie Dress Civil War Gown

Women Red Floral Brocade Vintage Victorian Dress

Children’s Renaissance Colonial Girl Rose Red Floral Brocade Victorian Dress Kid

Girls Colonial Dress,Red Cotton Prairie Pioneer Dress,Civil War Victorian Costume

Green Brocade Floral Renaissance Victorian Dress Historical Period Gown

Light Purple Vintage Renaissance Victorian Ball Gown for Christmas

Rose Red Women Simple Princess Authentic Victorian Ball Gown