“Victorian London: Clothing: Dress and Social Status” by Corinne Prenatt

The “Victorian London: Clothing: Dress and Social Status” article By Max Schlesinger highly concentrates on the fact that any working class citizen in 1853 Gravesend, could have appeared to be a Gentleman or a Lady. The stereotypical clothing items that were popular amongst the women were “colored silks, black velvets, silk or straw bonnets with botanical ornaments are worn by the Lady’s maids as well as the Lady.” (Schlesinger) The only real difference between the two may have been in the cost of the dress, in that the maid’s dress may have been slightly cheaper, according to Schlesinger. The main point of the article is, one could not tell the difference between those of a higher class, visually and based off of their dress. As far as men’s fashion goes, black, silk hats were a staple and the sole headwear that is accepted amongst the male populous of Gravesend (Schlesinger). A black dress coat, a hat, and a white tie or “Cravat,” as they called it, was the traditional attire of whom could very well be a Gentleman, a tailor, barber, waiter, tailor or shoemaker, according to Schlesinger. The line between rich and peasant is invisible to the naked eye. A man can completely look the part of an upper class man, but truly be a peasant who crafts the suit he wears. A couple in church could fool the average local townsperson, a man wearing the suit he makes, a gold chain, a waistcoat, with his hair done, and a clean-shaven face with his wife by his side, wearing linens passable to a Lady’s, together look like an elite, and important pair, especially if they exuded the tiniest sense of entitlement or superiority. There was emphasis placed on dressing well. Even those without much money make it priority to look worthy, and to represent themselves well.

One thought on ““Victorian London: Clothing: Dress and Social Status” by Corinne Prenatt

  1. Although the dress code of the Victorian, as written above, seems restricting and strict, it actually offered mobility to the lower classes of society

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