1840

FASHION DURING THE 1840s

The influence of the recently crowned Queen Victoria and her demured fashion sense affected the women perspective on clothing, which resulted in persuing a more adult-like look, where women are presented as mature and sophisticated. The bodice evolved from the 1830s’ high waist to finally sit over the natural waist of women, portraying a long silhouette, and ending in a pointy V-shaped. This enhanced the petite waist. The bodice also featured sloped shoulders combined with sleeves, that became very narrow and fitting at the beginning of the decade, but as the years went by they became more loose, which allowed more movement. 

The skirts were bell-shaped and as the years went by, they grew longer and longer, to the point where the hem brushed the floor. This phenomenon demanded a good quantity of petticoats to stilt the structure of the skirt. 

It was a time when trimmings were scarce: patterns disappeared, extravagant colours were replaced by earthy colours, and the focus was now fixed on the textiles; all kinds of silk for the most refined occasions, and other fabrics such as cotton and wool for more informal affairs.

Women throughout the decade parted their hair in the middle and brought the hair over their ears to the back of their head, where it was resolved into a low bun. An equivalent choice other than a simple bun was to curl the front part of their hair and let them loose, while the hair in the back was still put into a bun. The usual choices for headwear were linen caps for indoor activities and bonnets for outdoor activities.