ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Victorian fashion

When people talk about Victorian fashion, they mean the clothes people wore during the time when Queen Victoria ruled England, from 1837 to 1901.

During this time, people had different styles for different situations. For example, a lady might wear a big, fluffy dress with a tight corset and a lot of jewelry to a fancy dinner party, while a man might wear a suit and a top hat.

The dresses were often made of heavy materials like silk and had a lot of decorations like lace, ruffles, and beading. Women wore big, wide skirts that were often supported by something called a crinoline, which was a big, stiff hoop that went under the skirt to make it wide.

Men's suits were often dark colors like black or navy blue, and they wore a shirt with a collar and a tie or bowtie. They also wore a hat, which could be a top hat, a bowler hat, or a cap.

People also had different clothes for different times of the day. During the daytime, women often wore simpler dresses and men wore more casual clothes.

Overall, Victorian fashion was very different from what we wear today. The clothes were fancier, heavier, and more elaborate, and people had different styles for different situations.