Style: 1900-1910

1900-1910

The Victorian era drew to a close at the beginning of the Twentieth century, and it also brought with it the end, and beginning, of new fashions.

·         Skirts and dresses were elongated at the back to form a train.

·         Skirts silhouette: fitted and the hip using pleating & smocking

·         Fullness in the skirt was only below the knee

·         For decoration, techniques such as tucks, hem ruffles, lace insertions and buttons were used.

·         In the daytime, ladies adorned high necked dressed and the chest was undefined, and the boning in the bodice would often finish below the waist.

·         Bodices often presented wide cape-like collars that fell over the shoulders.

·         Sleeves fitted from shoulder to elbow, with fullness from the elbow to the wrist.

·         Double sleeves sometimes worn: small gathered under sleeve revealed at the wrist.

·         Evening dresses much more daring: often worn off the shoulder with/without sleeves.

·         Edwardian era began 1905.

·         Small balloon sleeves.

·         Nipped in waists not seen since 1895.

·         Skirts were full, although the fabrics used were soft and allowed to drape.

·         Paul Poiret revolutionised design – around 1906.

·         Paul Poiret showed slim, straight skirts.

·         Fewer undergarments worn.

·         High boned collar disappeared.

·         High waist/empire line grew in popularity.

·         Lace/cord work/applique/beading/tucking/insertion were popular on gowns.