Proper English men dress

Now gentleman Ansel has not forgotten about you and your proper dressing. Beginning with undergarments before the 1850's most Victorian men wore flannel under a lot of their regular clothes. They then transitioned into wearing west and undershirts. It was usually made out of hand or machine knitted wool. But, now in the 1860’s frilly shirts started are out style. Shirts have become plain with no designs.  Collars and cuffs showed an inch or so beyond the coat sleeve. And, for formal occasions Cuffs were usually doubled. Trousers you should wear should either widened at the ankle or braided down the side, cut wide at the hips, and plaid but can be white for certain occasions. They should mostly be made out of cotton. Men usually wear half boots or knee length boots, which are now rare. They are worn only for riding. Buttoned boots with cloth tops, corresponded with the fashion for wearing short gaiters with knickerbockers and spats. Spats were buttoned at the sides and fastened under the foot with a buckled strap.  The tall silk top hat are worn for formal days and evening wear. The silk opera hat, is worn for visiting the theatre. It could easily be folded flat and put under the seat. The bowler is a hard felt hat with a domed crown. It varies in height over the years, and has a narrow brim rolled up at the sides. When it was first worn with the loungejacket, it is black, but as its popularity increased it was also made into brown and teamed with the Norfolk jacket.

All Fun and Games too!

So, for this blog Ansel and I have decided to talk about entertaining things that only a true VICTORIAN would do keep themselves busy. For all of you upper class Victorians reading I would recommend a night at Ansel's favorite places the Music Hall or my favorite places to go the Theater. Theaters such as The Royal theater, The New Gaiety theater,   Plus, no one is afraid to express their opinions on a play. If its something you don't like you could always boo or throw fruit at the horrible act. Also, another popular theater to attend is the Britannia Theater on Hoxton St. I believe Ansel and I have seen Charles Dickens there from time to time. But, of your into more sports maybe try rowing a boat, skating in the winter, Both could be enjoyable.

But, remember that Queen Victoria has banned  Blood sports such as bear baiting and cockfighting. But games like cricket and rugby could be another way to stay busy and have fun. Croquet is also a fun past time. A another fun thing to do is go to Circus that comes to town, they are set up in parks and public places. And, there are ways to entertain yourself and others.  Performances at home would be amateur, but they enter the spirit of do it yourself family parties will bring your family closer together. Hosts and guests joined in charades, dancing, games, fireworks, magic shows and sing songs making their own lively entertainment.

A Proper English Man

A proper English man is a man who is the head of his family and works hard to keep his family happy but knows how to take charge of his family as well. He should be somewhat strict on his children. His children must learn how to be very respectful to him and call him " Sir".  The man should be known to be a hard worker and if he is a proper English man he should make sure his wife must remain polished and children well mannered and educated. He should always maintain happy. 

His wife should always make sure her husband is well taken care of. Even if that means everyone else keeping quite while he is in his study. A proper English man would be a Duke, Lord, or Priest. Someone with a title. If he is not well known then he is not considered "Proper". He must always be a gentleman, clean, well educated. As young men of the upper class they should be educated at home by tutors, then sent to Eton, Harrow or a school of equivalent stature, and later to Oxford or Cambridge. 

Proper Victorian Etiquette

Now, that we have covered informal etiquette, now its time to know proper etiquette. extended and shook hands to show that they did not intend to use their swords. It was a display of friendship, and the custom remains a gesture of courtesy through today. Hosts and hostess’s shake hands with friends. Guests shake hands with the host or hostess when they leave, people should always shake hands meeting someone and when they depart. Remember to always introduce persons who have not met before, speak to others as you would have them speak to you and offer one’s place to older persons who are standing.

Women should wear long gowns, when it is hard for them to exit a carriage,  gentlemen help them. It is polite for a man to stand ready to give his hand to a woman getting out of a car, opening doors, climbing stairs, getting seated at establishments, offering his seat so that she may not have to stand, offering her the first plate at a buffet, and rising politely when she rises from a seat, walking at the ladies left side or nearest the curb. Women should always be graceful and perfect. Everything has to look effortless and refined. Even at a dinner table women must always be perfect. Cutting the bread right, eating like a lady, they must have great posture and everything must be done neatly at all times.And it is important to have perfect settings with every gathering, which includes place settings, lights, and sharp knives to cut the meat.

Upper class Vs. Middle class

Many of my readers have asked me about the difference between an upper class women to a middle class women. Its always interesting to me that people are confused on it but to help with the confusion I am going to explain the difference. The middle class is divided into two categories. In the upper category are known to be the skilled laborers who work with their hands, like carpenters and blacksmiths. The lower category are working men and women who provide unskilled paid labor to factories, farms and shops, or who do the dirtier jobs like fishing and butchery. This is the highest class in which women are allowed to work without social repercussions. To be known as an Upper class women you are known to be wealthy and titled. The women of the upper class never work, even in the home, but they rather spend their days socializing or shopping! They employ numerous members of the working class as servants

Upper class women socialize with no one but the upper class. They must attend all balls and social gatherings where only the upper class would attend. Upper class women also do not dress themselves. They have many servants to do that, they do not feed their children or bath them. Their servants tend to the children and get them ready. Middle class women are a bit different. Some might have servants but the women work. They are not poor but they are not  rich either. they work hard for what they have. And, have taken motherhood on more than upper class women. They bath them, feed, them and get them ready. They don'y leave everything for the servants, and they attend their own social gatherings. They do well for themselves even though not everything is handed to them like it is for upper class women. Sometimes they can't afford expensive things but they are not treated like lower class. They are respected because they are in a different category than the lower class. Instead of socializing and shopping middle class women have jobs. But with Young women are educated in the arts and languages, but were rarely taught the more demanding subjects like higher mathematics. Young girls are sent to finishing schools or boarding schools to perfect their French, but never to college. We are expected to become wives and mothers, not leaders. I never agreed with that!

Informal Etiquette

Cheerio! My friends have asked me to write a blog on informal etiquette. I thought it would be a great idea since many people mistake informal etiquette for proper etiquette. Informal etiquette is more than just eating, it's how we dress, speak, and over all appearance. At a dinner party or at home it is informal to shovel food into your mouths, come to the table with unwashed hands. When eating you should never talk with your mouth full, slurp soup, chew with your mouths open, eat messy food with your fingers, break bread after buttering, leave food on your faces, dribble food down the front of our clothing, pick your teeth, or floss in public. When you are a dinner guest you should not pick over your food. And, when you have guest over make sure to take frequent baths, come and clean hair, groom your nails, make sure your breath is fresh, maintain polished shoes, and keep your children, pets, and home neat.

While out at a gathering it's important not to show poor personal habits like nose picking, scratching body parts, passing gas, fidgeting, taking your shoes off if your feet smell, wearing hose with runs, spitting while speaking, using poor language, or constantly speaking. One should never bump into companions while walking side by side, slap others on the back when we greet them, talk too much about yourself, touch others repeatedly while we speaking to them, interrupting others while they are speaking. you should also refrain from clearing our throats repeatedly, coughing or sneezing in someone else's face, also smoking in the presence of a non-smoker could also be taken offensively. All of these things are known to be very informal etiquette and is what all should watch put for at any formal setting or small gathering.

The Queens Royal Garden Party

Just got back from The Queens Royal Garden Party and it was marvelous! The Queen looked ravishing as well as her royal court., well some of them. Lady Allison looked absolutely dreadful! Her attire was not proper for such an occasion, and it seems that she has forgotten the Victorian etiquette at events such as these. Sadly she wasn’t the only one who was dressed in the dark both Lady Abbey and Duke Adair both attended the event in with various fashion errors. Word to the wise readers if your corset is there to make you look thinner and plaid trousers for such an occasion as this? Simply Dreadful!!!
The proper dress for a middle to upper class women would be a very dainty look.
For all women your undergarments are what sets the tone for your entire outfit. The most important thing a women can wear as her undergarment are her stays or in other words her corset. Her corset is there to help give her body a more flattering shape skinny or thick your corset is very important. Plus it gives your bust a natural outline. Its best to wear silk above the corset. And to help with discomfort invest in a pair or men’s pantaloons. The best colors to wear for undergarments are white, beige, or tan. As for your clothes as a fashion designer I would recommend  “The New Princess Line”. The Princess gown was cut in one piece and consisted of a number of joined panels fitted and gored from shoulder to hem that gave the figure shape through seaming. This line is what has all of the ladies ranting about, the line is beautiful. But as we all know fashion is always changing.