Fashion in the 1820s is, in many ways, reminiscent of the 1910s: Empire waists, short sleeves, cleavage.  After the 1820s, clothing became more constrictive and skirts more voluminous.  The trends here apply to the wealthy.  Working-class women wore practical garments, and in Colonial Canada it was not uncommon for women of any social class to wear clothing several years, if not decades, out of fashion.

Young woman’s dress circa 1822 made out of silk with silk satin and net trim. Claire was 12 when this dress was made and may have worn a version of it in her youth.

Young woman’s dress circa 1822 made out of silk with silk satin and net trim. Claire was 12 when this dress was made and may have worn a version of it in her youth.

Women’s Fashion in the 1820s

The start of the decade varied little from Regency-era styles, but as the decade progressed skirts and sleeves increased in size and waistlines dropped to the natural waist.  As styles changed, specialized underwear was required to maintain a dress’s shape: corset/stays, petticoats, a small bustle, and sleeve supporters.

Bright colors such as Turkey red and yellow were popular as were calicoes.

Woman’s dress from the 1820s in yellow, a popular color during the decade

Woman’s dress from the 1820s in yellow, a popular color during the decade

Bonnets were the dominate headgear, although older women often wore mobcaps which were the height of fashion in their youth.

“Brims widened into large halos around the face, crowns grew ever taller, and trims were loaded onto the enormous structures,” Fashion History Timelines says of the era’s bonnets. “Wide ribbons fluttered, flowers and greenery were used above and under the brim, and feathers bobbed from the crown.”

Every fashionable woman wore a slipper shoe.

Pair of woman’s slippers from 1820. They measure 8.5 inches and are made of cotton twill, leather, kid leather, and linen.

Pair of woman’s slippers from 1820. They measure 8.5 inches and are made of cotton twill, leather, kid leather, and linen.

 

Men’s Fashion

Trousers were more common than breeches, but girdles were used to achieve a slim silhouette at the waist.  Men also padded their coats and calves to achieve a muscular look.  The fly also appeared for the first time, although it would be two decades before it would become commonplace.

Top hats came into vogue, and men also wore a version of a slipper shoe.

Men’s top hat, stock and tailcoat. The top hat was manufactured in Paris around 1815. It is made of beaver fur. The tailcoat is believed to be from England and was made between 1825-1830. It is made of wool with a silk cut velvet collar on a twill foundation. The stock (the decorative neck piece) was made in Boston around 1830. It is silk satin.

Men’s top hat, stock and tailcoat. The top hat was manufactured in Paris around 1815. It is made of beaver fur. The tailcoat is believed to be from England and was made between 1825-1830. It is made of wool with a silk cut velvet collar on a twill foundation. The stock (the decorative neck piece) was made in Boston around 1830 out of silk satin.

 

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