Edwardian Era Fabrics

When it comes to style, Edwardian fabrics were the predecessors of the modern day fashion trends. The Edwardian period gave more importance to the mature woman with loose breasts and heavy waists. This was well reflected even in the dresses of that era.

While the sleeves of the Edwardian gown were fuller at the top and tighter around the wrists, the gown was a flowing silhouette. Pagoda sleeves were very popular. The fabric used to design these clothes therefore had to live up to the stylistic demands of the dresses.

Fabrics of the skirt determined its silhouette. The 1890s saw the use of stiff wools and silk taffetas in the making of petticoats and skirts. But by the Edwardian era, this gave way to a more fluid, softer fabric for suiting and silks.

The way the outermost petticoat was cut reflected the curvature of the skirt. Since softer fabrics were used, hence the color of these garments also had to become pale. Thus a range of delicate shades came into being.

They included the evocative names of ashes of roses and eau de Nile. But it should not be thought that bright colors went out of fashion completely. In fact, even today, some of the gorgeous Edwardian colors continue to thrive.
Soft clinging fabrics also led way to expensive lace and frills that always seemed to accompany the Edwardian lady. However these soft fabrics were no match for the bitter winter that followed. Hence it became inevitable to resort to tougher Edwardian fabrics.

Tailor-made costumes with formal bodice and skirts of walking length became popular under these circumstances. The tailor dress was favored by the haut ton as a formal daywear which was also very fashionable. Matching coats or jackets often accompanied these dresses which generally were composed of boned bodice and skirt.

However for practical purposes, women still preferred the use of the suit; which consisted of the jacket that had a matching skirt along with a contrasting blouse. The fabrics used for this dress were different from the softer fabrics of the initial dress.

The present dress reflected the spontaneity, sportiveness and fashion taste of the New Woman; who had developed by the late Victorian age.
In short, Edwardian fabrics corresponded with the changing tastes in fashion and trends of the age.