Victorian Costume Accessories- Gloves, Purse, Hat, Brooch, and Parasol

While a fashionable Victorian dress is the quickest way to transport yourself back in time you must not forget about several important accessories. Without these your ensemble will lack the ornamentation the Victorian era was known for.

1. Gloves

Both ladies and gentlemen would feel naked without a fine pair of gloves. Like the rest of a lady’s outfit gloves could be formal or informal. Formal gloves were often made from white kid leather and were mid arm to whole arm (Opera) length. Day wear required less formality and thus were usually short, wrist length, gloves made of homemade lace.

FACT: A lady wore her gloves everywhere and for every occasion. The only time a lady could remove her gloves was for putting food in her body or removing food from her body.

2. Beaded Purse

Another item a lady would feel incomplete without would be her purse. They are small since ladies didn’t have a need for wallets, makeup, or cell phones. What they lack in size they make up in exquisite detail. If you could afford it, purses were sewn with intricate glass beaded designs and closed with brass or silver clasps. These are highly collectible today. Carry one to your next Victorian party and your purse will be an immediate attraction.

FACT: Making a beaded purse is not particularly difficult, just time consuming. Purchasing a new replica purse is viable option. Otherwise take a look at these original Victorian beaded purse patterns and decide for yourself if the satisfaction of making your own purse is worth the endeavor (I think it is.)

3. Hats, hat pins

Hats came in all shapes and sizes and carried different purposes depending on the decade, your class, and your activity. Except for lace head dresses, hats were worn for outdoor activities or traveling between visiting friends.  Bonnets were lower class and mostly provided shade or hair covering from the elements. Stylish hats matched a wealthy lady’s dress and grew increasingly more decorated as the Victorian era progressed. Read about late Victorian/Edwardian picture hats.

Most stylish hats were held into place by hat pins. Hat pins are strong metal with a blunt pointed tip that pierced through the hat and into the ladies hair. One pin was usually enough to hold a hat in place. The end of the pin was decorated in large glass beads and jewels.

TIP: Not all hat pins are made a like. If you can easily bend the pin then keep looking. A flimsy pin rod wont pierce a felt hat or hold your picture hat to your hair very well. Test the hat pin before you buy or ask the seller what the gauge is before making this common mistake.

4. Brooch/jewelry

So much can be said about Victorian jewelry. It is highly ornate and very collectible. However, there is one piece that was exceedingly popular yet is not discussed much today. The brooch. A Victorian brooch is a large pin usually depicting a portrait of a lady or Greek goddess. Other brooch style were of gold plated intricate patterns or large gems surrounded by a detailed frame.

TIP: Brooches are best worn on a high neck dress or blouse on the upper left side. The less ornamentation on your dress the easier it is to show of your brooch. They are an instant way to dress up a plain outfit for day or night events.

5. Parasol

Since many fashionable hats were stylish but impractical for protection from the sun a lady would need a parasol. Almost always made of solid material or white lace, parasols were useful as well as decorative. Fancy handles were intricately carved wood designs or even ivory.

TIP: Small and dainty parasols might be what is portrayed in movies but it is not historically accurate. A parasols true purpose was to shade your face, neck and arms from the sun. The more skin you have exposed the larger your parasol would need to be.

Now that you know what accessories you will need to complete your Victorian Costume it is time to start shopping. Here are some Victorian style clothes and accessories I have found online.

Related posts:

1. 8 Favorite Websites for Victorian Dresses
2. Budget Friendly Victorian and Edwardian Men’s Boots and Shoes