CNE Fashion

Fashion in clothing has been a mainstay for many, many years. Having high fashion is often a sign of dignity and wealth. In the 1830s many things were in fashion. If you wore the fashion clothing available you were generally considered well off and of a higher stature in life. With photography coming more into focus during this time we have a chance to look back and see what the people of the 1830s wore. Throughout the 1800s there was a tone of Romanticism that added character to the clothing of this time period.

Women during this time period typically had dresses with very large sleeves called gigot sleeves. The skirts of the dress were always large and came to the ankles. The waist was to look as narrow as possible. Often the woman wore a corset to make the waist look smaller. The main reason that the skirt of the dress was made to be large was also to make the waist look smaller. Pelerines were often draped over the shoulders to make a beautiful addition to the dress. Underwear for women, consisted of one full body lined chemise that came down to the knees. The corset is then placed on with full petticoats put on after that helping to add to the fashion of women during this time period. Female children often wore exact replicas of the dresses that the women wore. It was naturally on a smaller scale.

Mens fashion in the 1830s typically was geared to make the mans shoulders look broader and the waist to look small. Shirts and cravats were a mainstay in fashion during this time. Frock coats and waistcoats were often worn as well. Waistcoats were often worn two at a time in contrasting colors. Many men wore a corset or a garment much like a corset to make the waist appear to be smaller. Breeches and trousers were very popular to wear and were a mainstay of fashion as well. Male children often wore the same thing as the males in their family. Some boys did wear tunics over their trousers made of many different materials.