The Fashion Blog

If you’re fond of classic and vintage fashion styles, you may be interested in their origins and how they influence contemporary fashion designs. It’s true that fashion is evolving constantly, but it’s also very common to return to past fashion elements, especially in women’s clothing design.

For instance, when designing special occasion dresses, some contemporary fashion houses use Victorian details. The term “Victorian” refers to a style of clothing that was fashionable in the United Kingdom and its colonies in the Victorian era, during the reign of its namesake, Queen Victoria. Sometimes the term is also used to refer to western fashions at the turn of the 20th century.

Nowadays, the updated versions of this style are categorized under the term “Neo-Victorianism” and are incorporated into the designs of such trends as Lolita, Aristocrat and Madam, to name a couple. The style has taken off in fashion-forward Japan and is becoming more and more noticeable in Europe.

These echoes of the past have infused some of the trendiest fashions of the day, with a twist, of course. Lolita is a fashion subculture in Japan, which is primarily influenced by Victorian children’s clothing and costumes from the Rococo period. Lolita combines those two styles and also adds Gothic and original design elements to the look. The Lolita look consists mainly of a knee length skirt or dress, headdress, blouse, petticoat, knee length socks or stockings and rocking horse or high platform shoes. Teddy bears and dolls such as Super Dollfies (play-scale size, vinyl, ball-jointed dolls made by a Japanese company called Volks) are often carried to emphasize the childlike look.

Another subculture that pays homage Victorian fashion is Madam. This is a collection of women’s clothing and is the feminine version of the Aristocrat style, which is inspired by what is thought to have been worn by European Middle Class and Elite, in the Middle Ages. The fashion includes long sleeve blouses and shirts, long skirts, corsets and dresses in a variety of colors.

So ladies, when choosing special occasion dresses, you can now “update” your look by choosing attire that reaches back to Victorian roots. So many styles that are popular today borrow from styles of the past. Even fetish clothing, popular on the current rock scene, is influenced by fashion from the late 1700s.

If you’re looking to stand out in a crowd and are a daring diva, try a Victorian inspired dress for your next special event. You will definitely turn heads and attract attention and your clothing just might be a conversation starter!

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