The term Gilded Age fashion comes from the large amounts of wealth and extravagance that were seen in the clothing styles of the time. Although the fashion of the Gilded Age was glamorous, it was also criticized for being overly elaborate and gaudy.
In this blog post, we will explore the beauty and the controversy of the Gilded Age.
Learn in This Article
- Trends by decade
- The context of the Gilded Age
- Main Features
- Silhouette
- Colors
- Materials
- Details
- Accessories
- Legacy of the Gilded Age fashion
What Were the Trends in the Gilded Age?
1870s
Gilded Age fashion in the 1870s was characterized by the bustle silhouette, with women’s dresses featuring elaborate drapery and trimmings. Men’s fashion included tailored suits with frock coats and top hats, reflecting a formal and structured look.
1880s
The 1880s saw a continuation of the bustle silhouette for women’s fashion, with an emphasis on elaborate trimmings, ruffles, and decorative fabrics. Men’s fashion included more relaxed and informal styles, with sack suits becoming popular for everyday wear.
1890s
In the 1890s, women’s fashion saw a shift towards the “Gibson Girl” look, featuring a slender, elongated silhouette with high collars and puffed sleeves. Men’s fashion embraced the three-piece suit with a more tailored and structured look, reflecting a sense of formality and elegance.
What Is the Gilded Age of Fashion?
The Gilded Age was a period of time spanning the late 19th century, from the 1870s to the early 1900s. During this time, clothing styles were influenced by Victorian fashion trends — as much as the industrial revolution.
The clothes of the Gilded Age were characterized by their opulence and elegance, often featuring luxurious materials and intricate details. Fashion icons of the era such as Sarah Bernhardt, the Gibson Girl, and even Britain’s Queen Victoria helped shape fashion trends at the time.
Elaborate gowns, lace trims, bustles, and corsets dominated women’s fashion. Men’s fashion during this period was more conservative and featured three-piece suits and top hats.
Accessories such as gloves, fans, and parasols were popular for both genders. The clothing was typically expensive, reflecting the affluence and wealth of the upper class. As the Gilded Age transitioned into the Edwardian era, fashion became even more extravagant and opulent, with larger hats and even bigger bustles becoming popular.
Main Features of Gilded Age Fashion
The Silhouette
Fashion in the late 1800s was characterized by opulence and extravagance. The silhouette of Gilded Age fashion had a structured, stiff, and conservative aesthetic.
Women’s dresses featured high collars and tight waists, emphasizing the hourglass figure. Tailored suits with long coats, vests, and trousers dominated the men’s closets. Both men’s and women’s clothing of this period featured intricate details such as pleats, tucks, bows, and ruffles.
As the industrial revolution came into full swing, fashion changed rapidly. With more machine-made fabrics readily available — and more design options — clothing styles developed quickly during this era. This period is often seen as a bridge between the structured Gilded Age fashion and the modern age of fashion.
It’s clear that the silhouettes of Gilded Age fashion have had a lasting impact on fashion trends. This era has left us with timeless pieces that continue to be seen on the runway today.
The Colors
During the Gilded Age and the Edwardian Era, fashion saw a shift in the colors people chose to wear. Men’s fashion during the Gilded Age was colored in muted, somber hues such as gray, navy, brown, and black. On the other hand, women’s fashion during the Gilded Age was marked by rich, deep colors like magenta, pink, yellow, and blue.
These vibrant hues reflected the industrial revolution and gave birth to the era of luxury goods. Bold colors allowed for more intricate details to be added to a garment, resulting in statement-making looks.
For formal occasions, people donned sophisticated eveningwear in shades of ivory, lavender, and mint green. For daywear and casual events, color-blocking was popular as it provided an eye-catching contrast between two or more hues.
Fancier fabrics like velvet and taffeta were dyed in rich jewel tones like emerald green and sapphire blue.
The Materials
When it comes to the materials used in men’s and women’s fashion during the Gilded Age, they reflected the newfound wealth and extravagance of the period.
The industrial revolution had a huge impact on the production of textiles and made them much more accessible to the general public.
Popular materials used in clothing during this period included velvet, silk, cotton, and brocade. It was common for wealthy individuals to have their clothing tailored with these luxurious materials.
Women’s fashion was characterized by corsets that were made with heavy fabrics like silk, satin, and velvet. In addition, lace was used as trimming for dresses and similar garments.
The Details
During the Gilded Age, both men’s and women’s fashion was drastically different from that of previous decades.
Men’s fashion began to move away from the more formal garments that had been in style during the Victorian era. Suits were more casual and featured light fabrics, such as linen or tweed, instead of heavier fabrics like velvet or brocade. Men also began to wear bow ties rather than the long ties they had previously favored.
On the other hand, women’s fashion was characterized by a dramatic shift in silhouette. Waistlines rose significantly and skirts widened at the bottom, creating a bell-like shape. Bodices and blouses were fitted with low necklines, often featuring intricate lace detailing. Many garments featured tight corseting and high collars, with sleeves becoming increasingly puffy near the end of this era.
The industrial revolution was an important factor in the development of fashion during this time period; the introduction of new machines and fabrics allowed designers to create intricate and fashionable pieces for their customers.
The Accessories
From jewelry to hats, accessories were essential for both men and women to achieve the trendiest looks.
Jewelry
One popular accessory for women during the Gilded Age was jewelry — particularly necklaces, brooches, and earrings. These pieces were often made with precious stones and metals, such as diamonds, pearls, and gold, and were designed to be bold and eye-catching.
Brooches, in particular, were worn not only as adornment but also as functional items, i.e. to secure a shawl or scarf in place.
Handbags
Another accessory that was essential for women during this time was the handbag. Women’s handbags came in a variety of styles, from small purses to larger tote bags, and were often decorated with intricate beadwork and embroidery.
Gloves
Gloves were also a must-have accessory for women during the Gilded Age, and they were often made from fine materials such as silk or kid leather.
Men’s Accessories
For men, accessories were just as important. One popular accessory was the top hat, which was considered a symbol of wealth and status. Bowler hats were also popular, particularly for more casual occasions. Men also wore gloves, particularly when attending formal events or when out in public.
Canes or walking sticks were also popular accessories for men during this time, and were often made from materials such as ivory, wood, or metal.
The Legacy of Gilded Age Fashion — Conclusion
The Gilded Age, which lasted from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, was a time of unprecedented wealth and prosperity in the United States.
The legacy of Gilded Age fashion can be seen in many aspects of contemporary fashion. For example, the elaborate embellishments and attention to detail that characterized Gilded Age fashion can be seen in modern haute couture designs, where designers still use intricate embroidery, beading, and other decorations to create luxurious and opulent garments.
Similarly, the use of luxurious fabrics such as silk, velvet, and fur is a direct legacy of the Gilded Age, where wealthy individuals would spare no expense in dressing themselves in the finest fabrics and materials.
Overall, the legacy of Gilded Age fashion is a testament to the enduring influence of fashion and style on our cultural consciousness. Whether through the opulent designs of haute couture or the everyday clothing that we wear, the influence of this era on fashion is felt today.