Leisure Time..

The people enjoyed alot of different activities. They play games like charades, had tea parties, or just simply took strolls in the park.

The mn played sports such as rugby, cricket, golf, tennis, and they liked to bathe. We today in the modern era call it swimming. Also, as entertainment they rode penny-farthing bicyles..

Today our leisure times would be going to the movies, hanging with friends, going to the beach, talking on the phone, etc...

Working Conditions

Conditions of the working class were still bad, though, through the century, three reform bills gradually gave the vote to most males over the age of twenty-one. Contrasting to that was the horrible reality of child labor which persisted throughout the period. When a bill was passed stipulating that children under nine could not work in the textile industry, this in no way applied to other industries, nor did it in any way curb rampant teenaged prostitution.

Today the laws prohibit child labor at least in the USA. In India these things are an epidemic. Such as things like sex slaves, human trafficking etc...

The mid-nineteenth century lady was a vision of elegance and grace in beautiful gowns lavishly trimmed with frills, flounces, lace, braid, fringe, ruche and ribbons. Numerous heavy petticoats, layers of underclothes, metal hoops, tight corsets under-pointed boned bodices of whalebone and steel were hidden by an array of ornately accented undersleeves, collars, pelerines, fans, gloves, hats, and parasols. The finished look was of elegance and grace with an illusion of ease and comfort.

The term Victorian fashion is generally used only with regard to the United Kingdom. There were certain clothing styles and mannerisms that were observed during this period. In the early period of the Victorian Era, the silhouette for the woman was more of the demure kind. Women wore pointed bodice, which were long and had fitting waists. The bodice was designed to enhance the waist. In the early period, Victorian clothing for women was about restriction of arm movements. Another interesting feature were the detachable collars! The colors used in the early period of the Victorian fashion were soft, pastel shades. Patterns were delicate and fashionable, all designed to maintain the femininity of the woman.

Since all things change, perhaps the ladies would soon have all of this paraphernalia banished! But, alas---next came the crinoline, which made its appearance in the early 1840’s. The crinoline, with it’s excessively large skirt, now made the waist appear comparatively small and as a result, corsets could be loosened if the lady’s vanity would allow it. That was one good thing. But so far, we can easily see how restrictive and obviously uncomfortable the ladies had it during the last couple of centuries.

Elaborate dresses, lavish balls, a beautiful countryside and images straight from the canvas of the great artists come to my mind when I think about the Victorian era. The Victorian period or the Victorian era can be termed as the period under the reign of Queen Victoria. This period was between the year-1837 to 1901. I am sure many women would love to slip back into time and fulfill their dream of wearing bustle skirts with some fancy feathered hats at some point in their lives! Rich fabrics and genteel women attending fancy dos with cultured men are some of the glimpses of the life back then!

The Women's Role

http://www.fashion-era.com/victorian_occupations_wojtczak.htm