The 1870s were a decade of revolution in the history of fashion. Clothing styles of this age were marked with fancy designs, straight lines and a sense of personality that had begun to develop. It was the time when fashion started to mirror social changes, technological changes and cultural changes which were to shape the future of clothing.
Victorian Values and the Fashion of the 1870s.
The 1860s fashion, characterized by crinolines and bell-shaped skirts, laid the foundation for the 1870s trends, with both decades emphasizing structured, formal clothing that reinforced social status and feminine ideals. The 1870s fashion was highly influenced by the Victorian concepts of modesty, propriety and social class. The women were supposed to appear civilized and their attire was symbolic of the expectations imposed on them by society. High necklines, tight corsets and full skirts were the rule and the Victorian code of modesty.
Meanwhile, the period when society started changing so did the manner of dressing. Feminine fashion development in the 1870s was a transition to more active and varied forms which depended upon industrialization and an increasing desire to become socially mobile. Although the principle did not change the basic structure, the design innovation provided more freedom in the clothing choices of women.
Women’s Dresses: Corsets and Bustles.
The 1870s womens fashion was about the silhouette. Corsets remained crucial to the hourglass form, although a bit of the bustle, which gave the decade its reputation, was introduced. The rear of the skirt was full of bustles and this made the back profile very clear and would become a trademark of the time.
Dresses of the day were fairly plain in their construction, high-waisted and long-sleeved, whereas evening dresses were far more expensive. These gowns were highly detailed, richly made and usually had a train indicating the graciousness of the era. Formality was a significant preoccupation with the fashion of the 1870s, particularly in women.
Male Fashion in : Fitting and Fancy.
The change in the style of men in the 1870s was based on the move towards more sophisticated and structured tailoring. The standard clothing was frock coats, waistcoats, and trousers and men were becoming more and more formal. The frock coat with its tight waist and flared skirt became a common mens fashion throughout the decade.
Vests and trousers, which were tailored besides a frock coat, gave men a smooth and respectable appearance. The sober, dull tones of the fashion of men in the 1870s also served as indicators of the formality of that period. It was a dramatic change to the bright, brash clothing in earlier times, and a forerunner of the suit of today.
The Bustle: The Game Changer in Women’s Fashion.
The bustle, which was introduced in the 1870s, brought in a revolution in the fashion of women. Skirts were grosser in front of the bustle and hung down below the waist. Nevertheless, the bustle gave shape and form to the back of the dress and hoisted the dress up in the front to offer a new shape that was more dramatic and flattering.
This invention provided designers with a chance to experiment with forms and to make dresses that had voluminous skirts in the back and a slim front of the skirt. The bustle was an iconic part of female fashion for a few decades and continued into the early 1900s, slowly disappearing.
Textiles and Materials of the 1870s.
The Industrial Revolution had a tremendous effect on the selection of fabrics in the 1870s. The methods of textile production became more diverse, which opened the possibility of having a greater number of fabrics. The dresses of women were designed using fine materials like silk, velvet and taffeta which made dresses very shiny and beautifully flowing.
Clothing of men was utilitarian in its nature since most clothes worn were made of wool, tweed and other durable fabrics. Formality and elegance were not unimportant, but functionality was equally important, at least in working clothes. The element of luxury and functionality in the selection of fabrics made the clothing trendy and flexible in those times.
Evening Wear: Luxury and Extravagance.
The evening wear of the nineteenth century, 1870s, was lavish and magnificent. This was translated to the gowns made of some fancy fabrics, e.g., satin and silk, laced, beaded, embroidered, etc. for the women. The length of the trains and detailing of the backs were characteristic, because the pomp of formal affairs was represented.
The evening dress of men was also formal which consisted of tailored frock coats, waistcoats, and dress trousers. Other accessories like pocket watches, cravats and cufflinks brought a sense of class. Evening dress was a definite sign of your social standing and only those who could afford to don extravagant evening dresses and suits belonged to high social classes. In the 1880s fashion, the emphasis on elaborate tailoring and luxurious fabrics such as velvet and silk further elevated the status of those in the upper echelons of society.
Fashion Accessories: The Secret to the Complete Look.
According to the 1870s fashion, accessories were important in making both men and women appear well-dressed and elegant. Women would use gloves, hats, shawls and scarves. The hat, so frequently elaborated in an extremely beautiful pattern, with feathers, ribbons, and flowers, was the ornament indispensable to the day-time and evening attire of the women.
In the case of men, cravats, pocket watches and gloves were pertinent in the appearance of a well-dressed man. Cravat in particular was used to signify sophistication and refinement. These accessories served purposes of practical value as well as to add the general aesthetic appeal to the outfit.
The Role of the Industrial Revolution in Fashion Accessibility
The Industrial Revolution played a significant role in the middle grounding in fashion being more accessible to the middle classes which were increasing in number in the 1870s. With innovations like the sewing machine and mass production methods, ready-made clothes could be produced that were far cheaper than tailored clothes.
It changed the way clothes were made such that the middle class was now able to afford fashionable clothes that could not be purchased before. Fashion was also made accessible to more individuals than ever before with the development of department stores and mail-order catalogs as a direct result of the growing need for ready-to-wear clothing.
Fashion and Dress in the 1870s.
The 70s Fashion was a vivid representation of a social status. The richer received fancy and costly clothes of fine materials, frequently highly embroidered and adorned with beads. These were clothes that were intended to demonstrate affluence and prestige.
To the middle classes and working ones, fashion was more practical. Clothing was less expensive and ornate and was crafted out of cheaper materials; this was still trendy. Nevertheless, the middle class could imitate the upper class in certain ways by being able to buy fashionable clothes via department stores and catalogs.
The History of 1870s Clothing in Modern Clothing.
Fashion designs continue to influence the fashions of today and onward due to the influence of the fashion styles of the 1870s. Structured tailoring, development of evening wear and focus on formal wear were the precursors of the more streamlined and crisp looks of the 20th century.
The fashion of the 1870s is still evident in contemporary clothing even today. Items such as customized suits, formal evening gowns and expensive materials remain among the high-end fashion items. The 1870s provided the foundation of numerous fashion trends that would continue their reign in the 20th century and beyond.
Fashion Innovations and Fashion Democratization.
Fashion innovations came up in the 1870s, especially through the introduction of ready-made clothes. With mass production methods, fashionable clothing was now accessible to people of various lifestyles, thereby democratizing fashion. This movement set the stage for fashion making it a mass production industry and not a luxury of the rich.
With the increased access to fashion, fashion also became more eclectic. The members of the other social strata were now able to experiment with their own style and find their individuality in their dress. This was a great change in the status of fashion, which could no longer be seen as a conformity but as a way of expressing oneself.
FAQ’s
What were the major trends in womens 1870s fashion?
The 1870s dress fashion had tight corsets and the usage of the bustle; this kind of corset was tight and made the back of the garment appear larger. Ornate dresses were often created and exaggerated evening dresses were donned, and lowly day dresses.
What were the changes in the fashion of men in the 1870s?
In the 1870s, men started having more custom-made and organised fashion. Frock coats, waistcoats and trousers became the new fashion and the colors were darker and not so bright indicating how formal the times were.
How did the Industrial Revolution affect fashion?
The Industrial Revolution led to the accessibility of fashion as it was possible to produce clothing in large quantities. This enabled the middle class to buy stylish clothes, something that was the preserve of the elite.
What did the social class in the 1870s reflect in fashion?
The 1870s simply demonstrated the social stratification based on fashion. The rich were dressed in ornate, elaborate attire whereas the middle and the working classes wore simple and cheaper clothes.
How did the fashion of the 1870s have a long-term effect on contemporary fashion?
The formal dressing and tailoring of the 1870s set the stage for most fashions in the modern world. Such components as custom-made suits, evening dresses, and silicon fabrics remain popular in modern fashion.
Conclusion
The 1870s fashion was characterized by grace, design, and sophistication. Since the emergence of the bustle to the advent of mass-produced garments, the decade was full of innovations that would continue to affect the way fashion would be over the next several years. The interest in customization, rich materials, and formal wear became the basis of modern fashion and its heritage still shapes fashion in the modern world.