Franklin Dean
Wedding dresses in the 1980s were characterised by big shoulders, puffed sleeves, and heavy lace, with some dresses featuring a low cowl back. The dresses were also influenced by the blurring of gender lines in the workplace, with structured masculine designs gaining popularity. In contrast, Victorian-era wedding dresses, which were popularised by Queen Victoria in 1840, featured a slim waist, lace, and a full skirt with crinolines and petticoats. The white colour of these dresses was considered a symbol of innocence and romance. While it is difficult to ascertain the extent of Victorian influence on 1980s wedding dresses, certain elements, such as the use of lace and full skirts, may have drawn inspiration from the Victorian era.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Popularity of white wedding dresses | White wedding dresses became popular in the mid-nineteenth century, when Queen Victoria wore a white dress in 1840. |
| Sleeves | Victorian wedding dresses often featured long, lace, three-quarter, or puffed sleeves. 1980s wedding dresses also featured big, puffed sleeves, popularized by Princess Diana's wedding in 1981. |
| Silhouette | Victorian wedding dresses typically consisted of two pieces: a fitted bodice with a corset and defined waist, and a full A-line or ball gown skirt. 1980s wedding dresses also featured large skirts, reflecting the blurring of gender lines in the workplace. |
| Necklines | Victorian wedding dresses often had high necklines. 1980s wedding dresses varied, with high or stand collar necklines, as well as low necklines popularized by Princess Diana. |
| Lace | Lace was used in both Victorian and 1980s wedding dresses, with 1980s dresses sometimes featuring a semi-sheer lace upper bodice. |
| Individuality | Victorian wedding dresses did not emphasize individual style, as they were influenced by social norms and limited material availability. 1980s wedding dresses reflected the blurring of gender lines in the workplace and featured bold, strong, and independent styles. |
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What You'll Learn
1980s wedding dresses featured lace, high necklines, and big sleeves
The 1980s were a time of bold and memorable wedding dress styles. The decade saw a trend for lace, high necklines, and big sleeves. Princess Diana's iconic 1981 wedding dress, with its 25-foot train, puffy sleeves, ruffled neckline, and lace trim, set a trend for brides of the era. The influence of the Victorian era can be seen in the 1980s trend for lace and high necklines.
Lace was a prominent feature of 1980s wedding dresses, with many brides opting for a semi-sheer lace bodice or lace sleeves. The use of lace in wedding dresses can also be traced back to the Victorian era, where it was used to create romantic, simple, and lightweight gowns. The slim waist, lace, and full skirt of nineteenth-century Victorian fashion are considered a classic and recognisable silhouette for weddings worldwide.
High necklines were also popular in the 1980s, with many brides choosing a stand collar or a ruffled neckline similar to Princess Diana's. The high neckline was often paired with a lace bib on the bodice, creating a luxurious and elegant look. This style of neckline can also be seen in Victorian-era fashion, where high-necked gowns were made from antique silk and old lace.
Big sleeves were a defining feature of 1980s wedding dresses, with puffy sleeves gaining popularity after Princess Diana's wedding. The sleeves were often elaborately styled, with some brides opting for lace sleeves or sleeves with tulle embellishments. The focus on big sleeves in the 1980s may also have been influenced by the Victorian era, where sleeves played a symbolic role. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, teenage brides wore pale grey dresses with long sleeves to symbolise fertility.
The 1980s wedding dress was a reflection of the changing times, with bold and memorable styles that celebrated the blurring of gender lines in the workplace. The combination of lace, high necklines, and big sleeves created a unique and extravagant look that has become synonymous with the decade. The influence of the Victorian era can be seen in these design choices, blending historical romance with modern trends.
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Victorian dresses were slim-waisted with full skirts
The focus on the hourglass figure, with a long slim torso and wide hips, was a key aspect of Victorian fashion during Queen Victoria's reign, which began in 1837. The ideal shape was achieved through the use of corsets, which pulled in the waist and supported the bust, and full skirts. The corset changed over time, and by the 1890s, it extended over the hips and dipped low in the front and back.
The development of crinolines in the mid-1850s also contributed to the full skirt silhouette. Crinolines were made of steel rings, which allowed for greater flexibility and ease of movement compared to multiple layers of petticoats. By the end of the 1860s, the crinoline was replaced by the bustle, which created a straighter silhouette in the front and projection in the back. This evolution in undergarments influenced the shape and style of dresses, with skirts becoming narrower and longer, and bodices elongating over the hips.
The Victorian era, spanning from the 1820s to 1914, was a period of great change in British history, marked by rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. The advancements in textile production during this time, such as the ability to machine-produce complex patterns, influenced the fashion trends of the era, allowing for more ornate and detailed designs.
While I cannot confirm a direct causal relationship between 1980s wedding dresses and Victorian-era fashion, it is evident that Victorian dresses had a lasting impact on wedding dress styles. The influence of Victorian fashion extended to the American Western style and can be seen in the evolution of wedding dress trends. The white wedding dress, popularised by a British Queen in 1840, has become synonymous with traditional weddings globally. Additionally, the 1980s wedding dresses were characterised by big shoulders and skirts, bold and memorable styles, and a heavy influence from Victorian-era fashion, including lace and "Victorian capelet styles".
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Victorian dresses were made with lace to showcase wealth
During the Victorian era, clothing was a means to showcase one's social status and wealth. Upper-class women wore tightly laced corsets, ornate gowns, and skirts adorned with embroidery, lace, and other trims. The amount and quality of fabric used were indicators of wealth, with elaborate and restrictive garments distinguishing the upper class from the more practical clothing of the lower classes.
The Victorian era witnessed a trend of wide skirts supported by horsehair crinolines, which became a status symbol of wealth. The introduction of the sewing machine enabled intricate details such as delicate flowers and lace frills to be sewn onto shoes. Gloves were also considered essential accessories, with specific rules governing their use to signify refinement and etiquette.
Evening gowns were often sleeveless or had short sleeves, allowing freedom of movement. These gowns were frequently accompanied by gloves, fans, and extravagant jewelry. The Bertha neckline, a low shoulder style, was popular among upper-class women, who adorned their dresses with swathes of lace.
Queen Victoria's wedding dress played a significant role in popularizing the white wedding dress. She chose a large piece of handmade Honiton lace for her gown, with the rest of the dress designed to showcase this lace. White was selected as the ideal color to highlight the lace. This choice also supported the handmade lace industry, which was suffering due to the emergence of machine-made lace.
The 1980s wedding dresses reflected a blend of Victorian influence and contemporary trends. They featured bold shoulders, extravagant adornments, and three-dimensional details, such as large bow sashes. Lace was also a prominent element, reminiscent of the Victorian era's fascination with lace. The 1980s marked a shift towards structured masculine designs, reflecting the growing professional advancement of women and the blurring of gender lines in the workplace.
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1980s wedding dresses were influenced by the TV series 'Dynasty'
The 1980s wedding dress style was glamorous, bold, and heavily influenced by royalty, with voluminous sleeves, dramatic details, and extravagant designs. While there is no clear indication that 1980s wedding dresses were directly inspired by the Victorian era, there are some similarities between the two. For example, both eras valued elaborate and ornate designs, with a focus on showcasing wealth and social status.
The 1980s was a time of extravagance and glamour, and this was reflected in the decade's wedding dress styles. One source mentions that 1980s bridal gowns were influenced by TV shows of the era, specifically mentioning Dynasty. The popular TV series "Dynasty" reflected the bold and extravagant fashion trends of the 1980s, and it is likely that the show's influence extended to wedding dress styles as well.
"Dynasty" was known for its glamorous and over-the-top fashion, with shoulder pads, bold colours, and dramatic silhouettes. The female characters, such as Alexis Carrington and Krystle Carrington, often wore luxurious gowns and outfits that showcased their wealth and social status. It is not surprising that the show's fashion influenced wedding dress styles, as brides sought to emulate the glamour and luxury portrayed on screen.
The influence of "Dynasty" can be seen in the extravagant and bold designs of 1980s wedding dresses. Like the fashions on the show, wedding dresses of this era featured dramatic elements such as puffed sleeves, oversized bows, and cathedral-length veils. Structured and masculine designs were also popular, reflecting the blurring of gender lines in the workplace. Big shoulders and full skirts gave women a bold and strong appearance.
In conclusion, while there may be some general influences from the Victorian era in terms of opulence and grandeur, the 1980s wedding dress was more directly influenced by the fashion trends of the time, including those set by popular TV series such as "Dynasty." The bold, glamorous, and extravagant styles of the decade's wedding dresses reflected the changing times and the increasing independence of women.
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Queen Victoria wore white, popularising the colour for weddings
The wedding dress has long been a chance for brides to showcase their wealth and social status. Prior to the Victorian era, wedding dress colours were used to symbolise certain traits: in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, for example, teenage brides wore pale grey to symbolise fertility, while older women opted for brown or black.
Queen Victoria's choice to wear a white wedding dress in 1840 was a break from royal custom. The dress was made of Spitalfields silk and Honiton lace, with a satin train over six yards long, carried by twelve attendants. Victoria described her choice in her journal:
> "I wore a white satin dress, with a deep flounce of Honiton lace, an imitation of an old design. My jewels were my Turkish diamond necklace & earrings & dear Albert's beautiful sapphire brooch."
The white dress was chosen partly to showcase a large piece of handmade Honiton lace, in an effort to support and stimulate Britain's lace industry, which was facing poverty due to the invention of machine textiles. The colour white was also symbolic of purity and innocence, and the orange blossom that bordered the satin train was a symbol of virtue and fertility.
The white wedding dress quickly gained popularity, with wealthy and fashionable brides adopting the style. This was facilitated by the rise of print media and magazines, which spread fashions through descriptions and illustrations. By the mid-19th century, white had become customary for bridal wear.
The influence of Victorian fashion extended far and wide, with the shape of the Victorian wedding dress—a slim waist, lace, and a full nineteenth-century skirt layered over crinolines and petticoats—becoming the most recognisable and classic silhouette for weddings worldwide. The 1980s saw a revival of Victorian influence in wedding dresses, with big skirts and lace details reflecting the blurring of gender lines in the workplace.
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Frequently asked questions
Victorian wedding dresses are known for their slim bodices, drapery, lace, embellished jewels and sleeves. The dresses were also characterised by a large skirt circumference, with a hoop worn underneath to keep the dress poised and to prevent the bride from tripping.
1980s wedding dresses did feature some elements inspired by the Victorian era, such as lace, big sleeves, and high necklines. However, 1980s wedding dresses also had notable differences, such as bold, strong, and independent silhouettes with big shoulders and big skirts.
The 1980s wedding dress silhouette was influenced by the blurring of gender lines in the workplace and the growing professional advancement of women. The bold and strong silhouette reflected the changing times.
The Victorian era was a period of great change in British history, marked by rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. The slim waist and large skirt of Victorian wedding dresses reflected the fashion of the time, while the use of lace and other embellishments showcased wealth and social status.
