Victorian, Edwardian Dress
March 3, 2008
One of the interesting things about Late Victorian/Edwardian wear is a demarcation or line between bodice and skirt. Maybe one can feel the increasing industrialisation and commercialisation of garment-making and the nature of production in general. An interesting concept of fit is important. Maybe ornament and decoration were important in the eighteenth and early nineteenth century but with industrialisation rules and fit were important. Body dimensions and an exact analysis of the human body were perhaps important too.The nature of drawers is interesting and you can imagine the need for elasticity around the waist for better fit. Certainly, this wasn’t the impetus for the development of elasticity in clothing and stretch too but there was a need for comfort in the wearing of garments/clothes. Comfort is an important concept and perhaps one can see how important this concept was in late Victorian (nineteenth century) and Edwardian (early twentieth century). This was the era too when questions were being asked about the physical effects of corset-wearing. This was the time too of the development of new items of wear e.g. the brassiere but more interestingly, it is the time too when one developed clothes for one’s own comfort e.g. the development of underwear in general for men as well as women. Certainly drawers may not have been overtly ‘comfortable’ and combos were developed too at this time ( a combination of chemise and drawers). There were early forms of lingerie too at this time. Still the term ‘comfortable’ has been mentioned again. What is ‘comfort’ in clothing? The concept of comfort in clothes is important and this is a concept which may be important in the development of clothing at this time. What is comfort? Does comfort mean better fit re: clothing. Yes fit is important for comfort but there are probably other things too.
http://pineapplesoup.deviantart.com/art/NoteonEdwardianDress-78986085
