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How has fashion evolved in the 1800s through the 1830s in England and who influenced it? Fashion during these 4 decades has evolved a lot, each decade seems to have a theme for the clothes worn during that time. Fashion has been influenced by others and important leaders during the early 1800s.
In 1804 Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned Emperor. His goal was to make France the leader of Fashion and an innovator of design and craft skills (Thomas 2009). The French textile industry suffered from the use of textile machinery because it was nonexistent (Thomas 2009). Bonaparte stopped the import of English textiles and recharged the Valenciennes Lace Industry. Fine fabrics, including tulle and batiste, were to be made there. Napoleon Bonaparte had more influence on fashion and the economy. He influenced women to buy more material, but the women during the early 1800s were forbidden to wear same dress to court. He also, blocked fireplaces at the Tuileries so the women would wear more clothing (Thomas 2009). Women during the early 1800s wore a dress with extra fabric in the back. It looked like a tail running from the waist line, down to the bottom of the dress. Men in the military, were enforced by Bonaparte to wear white satin breeches during formal occasions. Bonaparte was promoting the French Economy through fashion (Thomas 2009).
1804 – 1807 was a time when Egyptian decoration, woven or embroidered borders on fabric lengths and on stoles, was known for collaborating with the eastern style then. On Napoleon’s visit to Egypt he brought eastern patterns that influenced others to copy Empress Josephine’s style, Napoleon’s empress. Soon, Empress Josephine, was an icon of fashion and a fashion leader of her time. She was known for her beauty and what she wore. Napoleon made her an icon of fashion then; he had a big impact on her style.
Napoleon’s influence on military style was well known to other armies. The Napoleonic Wars were meant to show that a soldier’s uniform had clarity. Male and Female clothing had easily visible military style details. Frogging, braids, cords, velvet, and other trims were worn on their uniforms (Thomas 2009). These decorations on uniforms were considered as “high visibility.” The uniforms were considered to be dashing, famously known for their choice of uniform and were well known considering how great they were in army combat. Fashion for the military still progressed, but few touches were made. Many Pelisses and Spencers still continued to be covered in decorative braids, tassels, frogging and cords. As of result, their wearers looked like members of the Hussars, European armies with striking or flamboyant uniforms (Thomas 2009).
During the wartime in 1808 – 1814, female waistlines, on clothing, had lengthened in England. When the Napoleonic Wars were over in 1815, Britain began to follow the waistline trend that was started by the French (Thomas 2009). The waistline on woman’s clothing was constantly raised. Until, only later in 1816 – 1817, the waistline line fell directly under a women’s breasts. But that’s not all, in 1818 fashion plates were beginning to show the waistline dropping and tightening. Finally, a women’s waistline on clothing was dropped annually by an inch, until 1825 when it was placed back in its normal position.
Another innovator of fashion in the early 1800s was Leroy, a French designer. Women preferred the English style, Anglomania. After 1820, a neat, slim waist emerged and corsets were then worn again by all women (Thomas 2009). Then, narrower buckles were belted on the waist, or a sash was wrapped around the women’s waist. This was balanced by widening skirts that were often horsehair padded and frilled to make them stand away from the legs (Thomas 2009). Women then, still weren’t happy with what was given to them. So, by 1824 – 1825, the wider skirts were balanced by an even wider shoulder line with a leg of lamb sleeve, known as a gigot sleeve (Thomas 2009). The gigot sleeve was covered by a semi opaque sleeve. When the style was in, the sheer sleeves on the dress became a solid fabric. The semi opaque sleeve was the forerunner of all style of fancy sleeves styles. This set a scene for more romantic dress styles of the 1830.
As the Romantic era arrived, clothing had become more complex and increasingly structured. Horizontal hem treatments were added to create focus on skirts. Also, wide lapels created shoulder emphasis. The sleeves and the shoulders were further emphasized with extended wings too (Admin 2010). Surface beautification, color and print positively thrived then. Three dimensional effects on the trimmings were added and achieved with padding (Admin 2010). By then, the waist line was now even closer to its natural spot and was often emphasized then.
Women and men during the early 1800s of course, wore much simpler things like stockings, drawers, and chemises. Their stockings were worn over their knees and were held up by a ribbon or a garter, a belt. They were often knitted and made of cotton, silk or wool. Women’s drawers, underwear, weren’t necessarily supposed to show, but on little boys and girls, their drawers did often peek out from under their gowns. Men however, did not wear drawers. Some drawers were even spilt right under. This made is easier and quicker to use the bathroom. Chemises were long slips and undershirt combined. They often had tucks, a little lace or embroidery on the front, but no one could see it. Also, women during the early 1800s were not supposed to show much skin. Often, a handkerchief was worn around their necks to hide skin. Whereas if women attended a formal party or ball, she could simply take her handkerchief off.
Shoes were referred to as “pumps”. Girls’ wore a ribbon at the ankle of their pumps and a young mans’ pumps had no ribbon tied to the ankle of their shoes. Young ladies who considered themselves “fashionable” wore their pumps in any type of weather. Another type of shoe was known as the “brogan”. These shoes were considered infancy and were more appropriate for all kinds of weather. These shoes were worn on men and women. Shoes during the early 1800s had no right shoe or left shoe, people would often wear the same shoe on the same foot. Of course these women wore corsets for enhancing their figure and to give support to their bodices when they carried around heavy objects like firewood, milk buckets, and or small children. Most corsets were lined with stiffeners such as whalebone or metal. Some corsets contained busks, helped to make a women’s posture desirable. Almost all of the corsets were to be laced up in the back.
Accessories’ were also worn. Earrings were fashionable then just as they are now. Pear-shaped earrings that dangled were actually quite popular. A tan was unstylish then, unlike the world’s perspective on a women having a tan today. To prevent this, women wore large hats that shaded her face. Straw hats were often used and were made out of rye straw that was grown on farms in New England. The straw was braided and made into hats by women working from their own homes. Doing this, helped to make extra money for a women’s family.
Important people have shaped fashions history. Fashion was often influenced by those who were political figures or plain old fashion designers. Each decade has evolved a lot during the 1800s, as if each decade was going through a “phase”, especially the waistline on women’s dresses. However, simple necessities like drawers, tights, corsets, and shoes have shaped fashion too. Napoleon had a great effect on fashion during his time and succeeded in his purpose; to make France a leader of fashion and an innovator of design and craft skills. He brought in more income, created new styles, and saved the French Textile Industry.
In 1804 Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned Emperor. His goal was to make France the leader of Fashion and an innovator of design and craft skills (Thomas 2009). The French textile industry suffered from the use of textile machinery because it was nonexistent (Thomas 2009). Bonaparte stopped the import of English textiles and recharged the Valenciennes Lace Industry. Fine fabrics, including tulle and batiste, were to be made there. Napoleon Bonaparte had more influence on fashion and the economy. He influenced women to buy more material, but the women during the early 1800s were forbidden to wear same dress to court. He also, blocked fireplaces at the Tuileries so the women would wear more clothing (Thomas 2009). Women during the early 1800s wore a dress with extra fabric in the back. It looked like a tail running from the waist line, down to the bottom of the dress. Men in the military, were enforced by Bonaparte to wear white satin breeches during formal occasions. Bonaparte was promoting the French Economy through fashion (Thomas 2009).
1804 – 1807 was a time when Egyptian decoration, woven or embroidered borders on fabric lengths and on stoles, was known for collaborating with the eastern style then. On Napoleon’s visit to Egypt he brought eastern patterns that influenced others to copy Empress Josephine’s style, Napoleon’s empress. Soon, Empress Josephine, was an icon of fashion and a fashion leader of her time. She was known for her beauty and what she wore. Napoleon made her an icon of fashion then; he had a big impact on her style.
Napoleon’s influence on military style was well known to other armies. The Napoleonic Wars were meant to show that a soldier’s uniform had clarity. Male and Female clothing had easily visible military style details. Frogging, braids, cords, velvet, and other trims were worn on their uniforms (Thomas 2009). These decorations on uniforms were considered as “high visibility.” The uniforms were considered to be dashing, famously known for their choice of uniform and were well known considering how great they were in army combat. Fashion for the military still progressed, but few touches were made. Many Pelisses and Spencers still continued to be covered in decorative braids, tassels, frogging and cords. As of result, their wearers looked like members of the Hussars, European armies with striking or flamboyant uniforms (Thomas 2009).
During the wartime in 1808 – 1814, female waistlines, on clothing, had lengthened in England. When the Napoleonic Wars were over in 1815, Britain began to follow the waistline trend that was started by the French (Thomas 2009). The waistline on woman’s clothing was constantly raised. Until, only later in 1816 – 1817, the waistline line fell directly under a women’s breasts. But that’s not all, in 1818 fashion plates were beginning to show the waistline dropping and tightening. Finally, a women’s waistline on clothing was dropped annually by an inch, until 1825 when it was placed back in its normal position.
Another innovator of fashion in the early 1800s was Leroy, a French designer. Women preferred the English style, Anglomania. After 1820, a neat, slim waist emerged and corsets were then worn again by all women (Thomas 2009). Then, narrower buckles were belted on the waist, or a sash was wrapped around the women’s waist. This was balanced by widening skirts that were often horsehair padded and frilled to make them stand away from the legs (Thomas 2009). Women then, still weren’t happy with what was given to them. So, by 1824 – 1825, the wider skirts were balanced by an even wider shoulder line with a leg of lamb sleeve, known as a gigot sleeve (Thomas 2009). The gigot sleeve was covered by a semi opaque sleeve. When the style was in, the sheer sleeves on the dress became a solid fabric. The semi opaque sleeve was the forerunner of all style of fancy sleeves styles. This set a scene for more romantic dress styles of the 1830.
As the Romantic era arrived, clothing had become more complex and increasingly structured. Horizontal hem treatments were added to create focus on skirts. Also, wide lapels created shoulder emphasis. The sleeves and the shoulders were further emphasized with extended wings too (Admin 2010). Surface beautification, color and print positively thrived then. Three dimensional effects on the trimmings were added and achieved with padding (Admin 2010). By then, the waist line was now even closer to its natural spot and was often emphasized then.
Women and men during the early 1800s of course, wore much simpler things like stockings, drawers, and chemises. Their stockings were worn over their knees and were held up by a ribbon or a garter, a belt. They were often knitted and made of cotton, silk or wool. Women’s drawers, underwear, weren’t necessarily supposed to show, but on little boys and girls, their drawers did often peek out from under their gowns. Men however, did not wear drawers. Some drawers were even spilt right under. This made is easier and quicker to use the bathroom. Chemises were long slips and undershirt combined. They often had tucks, a little lace or embroidery on the front, but no one could see it. Also, women during the early 1800s were not supposed to show much skin. Often, a handkerchief was worn around their necks to hide skin. Whereas if women attended a formal party or ball, she could simply take her handkerchief off.
Shoes were referred to as “pumps”. Girls’ wore a ribbon at the ankle of their pumps and a young mans’ pumps had no ribbon tied to the ankle of their shoes. Young ladies who considered themselves “fashionable” wore their pumps in any type of weather. Another type of shoe was known as the “brogan”. These shoes were considered infancy and were more appropriate for all kinds of weather. These shoes were worn on men and women. Shoes during the early 1800s had no right shoe or left shoe, people would often wear the same shoe on the same foot. Of course these women wore corsets for enhancing their figure and to give support to their bodices when they carried around heavy objects like firewood, milk buckets, and or small children. Most corsets were lined with stiffeners such as whalebone or metal. Some corsets contained busks, helped to make a women’s posture desirable. Almost all of the corsets were to be laced up in the back.
Accessories’ were also worn. Earrings were fashionable then just as they are now. Pear-shaped earrings that dangled were actually quite popular. A tan was unstylish then, unlike the world’s perspective on a women having a tan today. To prevent this, women wore large hats that shaded her face. Straw hats were often used and were made out of rye straw that was grown on farms in New England. The straw was braided and made into hats by women working from their own homes. Doing this, helped to make extra money for a women’s family.
Important people have shaped fashions history. Fashion was often influenced by those who were political figures or plain old fashion designers. Each decade has evolved a lot during the 1800s, as if each decade was going through a “phase”, especially the waistline on women’s dresses. However, simple necessities like drawers, tights, corsets, and shoes have shaped fashion too. Napoleon had a great effect on fashion during his time and succeeded in his purpose; to make France a leader of fashion and an innovator of design and craft skills. He brought in more income, created new styles, and saved the French Textile Industry.