Victorian Era

Intro History\Origin ContextualIsation Cultural Research

Victorian era, in British history, the period between approximately 1820 and 1914, corresponding roughly but not exactly to the period of Queen Victoria’s reign (1837–1901) and characterized by a class-based society, a growing number of people able to vote, a growing state and economy, and Britain’sstatus as the most powerful empire in the world.

Victorian era, in British history, the period between approximately 1820 and 1914, corresponding roughly but not exactly to the period of Queen Victoria's reign (1837–1901) and characterized by a classbased society, a growing number of people able to vote, a growing state and economy

Clothing created for high-society women during the Victorian era was manufactured from some of the world's most opulent and luxurious fabrics, such as silk, satin, velvet, and lace. Today, the runways of many high-end fashion designers are still dotted with these decadent, < expensive fabrics.

The most obvious place that Victorian Fashion has an influence on modern fashion choices is when it comes to bridal gowns. Before the wedding of Queen Victoria in February of 1840, women rarely wore white or ivory on their wedding day. After the d young Queen walked down the aisle and married her prince, however, everything changed. Suddenly, Victorian women wanted their wedding day looks to resemble that of this fashionable member of the royal family.

The Victorians liked to have their social classes clearly defined. The working class was divided into three layers, the lowest being 'working men' or labourers, then the 'intelligent artisan', and above him the 'educated working man'.

Women were generally expected to marry and perform household and motherly duties rather than seek formal education. Even women who were not successful in finding husbands were generally expected to remain uneducated, and to take a position in childcare (as a governess or as a supporter to other members of her family). body text

The Victorians liked to have their social classes clearly defined. The working class was divided into three layers, the lowest being 'working men' or labourers, then the 'intelligent artisan', and above him the 'educated working man'

As a time of peace and prosperity, the Victorian period began in June 1837 with the coronation of Queen Victoria, and lasted until her death on January 22, 1901. During this prosperous time, women’s roles both in and outside the home began to evolve. While motherhood and marriage remained the primary focus for many Victorian women, others – fueled by financial necessity or by a quest for more independence – began finding occupations outside the home.t

The Victorian Era (1837–1901) is defined by the reign of Queen Victoria, who ascended to the throne at the age of 18 and ruled during the industrialization of England, encouraging tremendous change and expansive growth of England's domestic and foreign power.

Over the last decade, minimalism and Scandinavian style trends have dominated the art, fashion and home sectors. Minimalism focuses on living life with bare essentials. Simplicity defines the minimalism lifestyle and those who adopt it seek streamlined shapes, minimal colour and obtain fewer physical belongings in order to lead a clean, organised life. In the 1950s, when minimalism was first explored, artists set out to challenge the conventional ways consumers viewed art. Until then, art was representational of reality. The viewer of minimalism art was to respond to only what was directly in front of them as there would be no connection between the geometric, abstract design and the outside world. Frank Stella, minimalist artist active between the 1960s to 1990s, famously said, ‘only what can be seen there is there’ and ‘what you see is what you see’.