Victorian Ball Gown Chic
Goth never quite goes away and part of that look is the Victorian theme. This is especially true when it comes to ball gowns. Formal wear has always had hints of Victoriana in it simply because the sweeping floor length gown was so popular during that era. It was a look that never went away and each year it is a mainstay.
Balls were a staple of Victorian life, especially the upper classes. They were a chance to show off your wealth and good taste. Nowadays they are a chance to show off your eccentricities and ability to integrate vintage lace and details with contemporary clothing styles. These clothes should be prim and proper yet also very elegant. Although Victorian styles were a bit staid, they were at the same time incredibly sexy. Ladies at Victorian dances always looked incredibly attractive even thought they were concealing a lot.
You can get this style of gown everywhere still. You only have to look hard through the racks of any place selling formal gowns. Victorian styling never went out style. You can still find dresses with full or partial detail reminiscent of the era. You can find gowns that have fluffy lace cravats and high collars as well as the long buttoned sleeves. You can still find gowns with bustles or even just a suggestion of a bustle that is created by some gathering of fabric hitched dup at the back of the dress.
Victorian ball gowns are still in vogue. You can wear them to a night club or a charity ball. Thanks to Madonna, Avril Lavigne and other stars these gowns are just considered chic. They are characterized by sweeping satin skirts. Many are trimmed with lace. Many also have low daring décolletage which is reminiscent of the whole Goth thing. This is especially true if the dress is red or black and very low cut.
The short ballet skirt that is a bit stiff and that is combined with a cape is also distinctly Victorian in gist. The woman who wears a top hat is also a Victorian thing….even though we associate it more with Marlene Dietrich and her outfits from the 1930s.
Having the right accessories makes all the difference when you wear a Victorian ball gown. You can add some great touches by wearing the kid boots in colored leather. These boots usually have elegant corrode buttons up the side. You can also add some long or short white gloves to complete the outfit. Vintage and costume jewellery also makes this stuff a hit.
Of course Victorian ball gown chic does not just have to be about parties. It is also very possible to combine a corset with a short contemporary skirt or a high cut Victorian shirt with pants to just give an outfit that Victorian flair. The style translates very well today wear but it does not exclusively have to be about just day wear.