Mangan, James Anthony; James Walvin (1991). Manliness and Morality: Middle-class Masculinity in Britain and America, 1800–1940. Manchester University Press. ISBN 0-7190-2367-X. A look at the costume design for the film The Conspirator highlighting the process of researching, designing, and producing accurate costumes for the 1860s. During the Victorian era, men’s hairstyles underwent various trends and changes. Victorian hairstyles for men were often elaborate and styled with care and attention to detail. The look was meant to convey a sense of respectability and class and to distinguish men of different social classes from one another. Waistcoats buttoning high, with or without a collar but without lapels, were worn in the 1860s. A deep opening appeared again in the 1870s, mainly in double-breasted styles. In the single-breasted styles, the fastening was higher and the collar and lapels were small, or there might be no collar. A higher fastening was general on all waistcoats in the 1890s except evening waistcoats, on which the opening widened and deepened in the 1880s and 1890s.

Sleeves: Sleeves were tightly fit during the early Victorian era. It matched with the tight fit women's small waist in the design, and the shoulder sleeve seamline was drooped more to show a tighter fit on the arm. This eventually limited women's movements with the sleeves. With the beginning of the second half of the 19th century the picture of the ideal of manliness started to shift. Due to publications such as Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species (1859), and Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical claims concerning the " death of God" (1882), the main focus in the concept of masculinity shifted from a spiritual focus on religion towards a commitment to muscle: ' muscular Christianity' was created. At the same time male domesticity decreased. This section possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. ( May 2008) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Victorian Era Gender Roles has been a much-discussed subject even in literature. According to Susan Kent, men possessed the capacity for reason, action, aggression, independence, and self-interest [thus belonging to the public sphere].

Extra layers of flounces and petticoats, also further emphasised the fullness of these wide skirts. In compliance with the narrow waist though, skirts were therefore attached to bodices using very tight organ pleats secured at each fold. [5] This served as a decorative element for a relatively plain skirt. The 1840s style was perceived as conservative and "Gothic" compared to the flamboyance of the 1830s. [7] 1850s dress style 1850s dress The Princesse de Broglie, 1851-53 1856 cage crinoline Attending a Flapper party or want to plan a Boardwalk Empire bash? Provided is a 1920s dress chart advising the debonair gentleman on how to dress for a variety of social situations.

Victorian Men’s Shoes

Boning: Corsets were used in women's gowns for emphasizing the small waist of the female body. They function as an undergarment which can be adjusted to bind tightly around the waist, hold and train a person's waistline, so to slim and conform it to a fashionable silhouette. It also helped stop the bodice from horizontal creasing. With the corset, a very small tight fitting waist would be shown. Victorian fashion consists of the various fashions and trends in British culture that emerged and developed in the United Kingdom and the British Empire throughout the Victorian era, roughly from the 1830s through the 1890s. The period saw many changes in fashion, including changes in styles, fashion technology and the methods of distribution. Various movement in architecture, literature, and the decorative and visual arts as well as a changing perception of gender roles also influenced fashion. The mourning dress on the right was worn by Queen Victoria, "it shows the traditional touches of mourning attire, which she wore from the death of her husband, Prince Albert (1819–1861), until her own death." [17] Norms for mourning