At the front of the bodice, pouches of

cascading lace or gathered fabric gave

emphasis to the low bust line. The straight
sleeves of the late 1890s developed into
bloused effects gathered into wrist bands.
Very deep high lace fabric collars that
reached right under the chin elongated the
neck.
They were often kept in place with wire
covered in silk that was twisted into a series
of hooks and eyes from one piece of wire.
Little wire or boning supports covered with
buttonhole silk were sometimes dispersed
every few inches of the collar to maintain the
rigid effect. Right - High neck blouse 1906.
High necks were usual by day, but by night
exceptionally low sweetheart, square and
round dcollet necklines allowed women to
wear quantities of fine jewellery. No cleavage
was visible as the bust was suppressed into
a monobosom.
The skirts were often gored and created an
elongated trumpet bell shape like the gently
opening head of a longiflorum lily. Modified
versions were less extreme over the hips,
simply flowing to more width at the hemline.

Incredible Edwardian Hats

After the slimmer
silhouette arrived, hats
developed much wider
brims. Lavish trims such
as feathers often stuck
out well beyond the brim.
The hats were named
Merry Widow hats after
the popular operetta of
the era.

Feathers
Feathers were used
excessively as
decoration on hats
and as boas. The fur
skin of whole
animals such as
foxes and even two
foxes were used as
wraps about the
shoulders.

Edwardian Small Accessories

Gloves
Washable kid gloves were always worn with outdoor garments
both winter and summer. Fancy gloves were also made in
suede and silk and covered with fine embroidery.
Parasols
Parasols were still used as decorative accessories and in
summer they dripped with lace and added to the overall fussy
prettiness.
Bags
Handbags were not fashionable in the era, but small decorative
delicate bags with a dainty strap that hung from the wrist were
sometimes used. Ladies carried little money as goods were
charged to accounts and only minimal make up was usual so
none was carried.

Men's fashion
The long, lean,
and athletic
silhouette of the
1890s persisted.
Hair was
generally worn
short. Beards
were less
pointed than
before and
moustaches
were often
curled.

Coats, waistcoats, and trousers

The sack coat or lounge coat

continued to replace the frock coat
for most informal and semi-formal
occasions. Three-piece suits
consisting of a sack coat with
matching waistcoat and trousers
were worn, as were matching coat
and waistcoat with contrasting
trousers, or matching coat and
trousers with contrasting waistcoat.
Trousers were shorter than before,
often had turn-ups or cuffs, and were
creased front and back using the
new trousers.

The blazer, a navy blue or brightlycolored or striped flannel coat cut like
a sack coat with patch pockets and
brass buttons, was worn for sports,
sailing, and other casual activities.

Shirts and neckties

Formal dress shirt collars were turned over or
pressed into "wings". Collars were overall very
tall and stiffened. Dress shirts had stiff fronts,
sometimes decorated with shirt studs and
buttoned up the back. Striped shirts were
popular for informal occasions.
The usual necktie was a narrow four-in-hand.
Ascot ties were worn with formal day dress and
white bow ties with evening dress.

Accessories

Top hats remained a

requirement for upper class
formal wear; soft felt
Homburgs or stiff bowler
hats were worn with lounge
or sack suits, and flat straw
boaters were worn for casual
occasions.
Shoes for men were mostly
over the ankle boots. Toe
cap, lace up boots in black,
gray, or brown were the
most common for everyday
wear. Formal occasions
called for formal boots with
white uppers (spat style) and
buttons on the side. In the
Edwardian times basic lace
up oxford shoes were
introduced.

Children fashion

Styles for Edwardian girls at the start of the century look

remarkably like those of 1800.
Pale cream, white, ivory, and softer daintier lighter fabrics
take over from the heavy plush and thick materials popular
in the 1890s. Voile silk and dotted Swiss muslin were used
for the main dress.
Self coloured embroidery on the main fabric was
complimented by pastel toned and sugar almond coloured
sashes. Sashes of lemon, pale mauve, pink and
aquamarine all created look so familiar to us from a 100
years before.
Short sleeves began to be seen on small girl's dresses.
Frills and deep embroidered hemlines, cape collars or
yokes gave opportunity for decorated areas. For outdoor
wear girls often wore straw boater hats.

1900

1905

1905

Humuta Mihaela
Patlagica Bianca