Edwardian Ladies

Edwardian Ladies

Edwardian refers to the late 1890s and 1914.
Also called La Belle Epoque, and the Gilded Age, this was a time when women’s fashions took on a new opulence and extravagance.

This was inspired by the hedonistic lifestyle of Britain’s King Edward VII.

The well-dressed 1900s woman, was covered from the neck down.
Her silhouette was an S-curve.

The shape came from a corset that put less pressure at the waistline by pushing a woman’s chest forward and her hips back.

Fashion was opulent, with expensive fabrics, such as silk, satin, damask, or chiffon, lace and festoons of ruffles.

High lace collars topped long-sleeved tops, that were often heavily embellished and loose at the bodice.
Hemlines grazed the floor, and sometimes dragged in a modest train.

Party dresses included delicate, lacy tea dresses and evening wear with deeper necklines.

The Edwardian era, was also the time of the hat.
Dramatically large, they were wide-brimmed, straw cartwheel, sailor hats, or heavily-embellished hats.

For driving, some women tied long, sheer veils over silk motoring hats.

Enormous hats, required hairstyles that could support them.
The most popular hairstyle was a full pompadour, with hair swept loosely up into coils or buns.

Women might have added braids, false hairpieces, or wigs to give styles more structure and height.

Some women used hot curling irons to create frizzy or curly edges.
It was also stylish to tuck fresh flowers or decorative combs or hatpins into styled hair.