The Victorian Era: from 1837 to 1901. A time of sagacious societal change, industrial progress, and, above all, a thriving burgeon of fashion. Furthermore, during this extraordinary era, an astonishing group of individuals arose as fashion icons, their styles influencing trends that have been long-lasting and are still embellishing the fashion industry today. However, if one glimpses a more profound look beneath the luxurious clothes and serenely poised appearances, there lie the tales of resilience, creativity, and courage.
In this article, we dwell on the lives and backgrounds of some of the most influential fashion icons of the Victorian Era.
The first icon: Empress Eugénie de Montijo. Born María Eugenia Ignacia Augustina de Palafox y Kirkpatrick in Spain, Empress Eugénie de Montijo married Napoleon III and became the Empress of France. She enthralled an impeccable sense of style and revolutionized the world of fashion. Empress Eugénie's wardrobe was prominent for its extravagance, class, and elegance. She often chose splendid gowns, embellished and adorned with rich fabrics, lace, and intricate embroidery. Her scrumptious taste coupled with her influential status, made her position stronger as one of the era’s most outstanding fashion icons.
The second fashion icon: Oscar Wilde. While fundamentally remembered as a literary genius and a well-known icon of the Aesthetic Movement, Oscar Wilde's sartorial choices had an equal impact. He is known for his flamboyant and ostentatious personality and humor. He embraced a distinguished style characterized by velvet jackets, silk cravats, and brightly colored accessories. He believed that fashion was an art form in itself, and his bold fashion statements challenged societal norms, pushing the boundaries of Victorian fashion.
The third fashion icon: Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi, who captivated a mix of beauty, elegance, and individuality. She rejected the strict and severe conventions of the Victorian Era and admired a more relaxed and uncorseted fashion style. Sisi's iconic fashion choices included diaphanous, flowing gowns, and she was noteworthy for her long, luscious hair. Her boldly brave and rebellious spirit of unconventional fashion sense made her a fantastic fashion muse. This made her influence trends for years to come.
The fashion icons of the Victorian Era beguiled the imagination of their contemporaries and to this day inspire modern-day fashion enthusiasts. Empress Eugénie de Montijo, Oscar Wilde, and Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi) were each delighted with an ethereal and distinct style that challenged societal norms and pushed the boundaries of fashion greatly. Behind their delightful fashion legacies lie stories of daringness, audacity, and beauty. Their influence on Victorian fashion raptured their time, leaving a permanent mark in the world of fashion that echoes the beautiful sense of their styles to this day. Coco Chanel who was a French designer, designs that would forever free women from the constraining corseted fashions of the Victorian Ages Aid, “Fashion is not something that exists in dress only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening”.