To dress a victorian porcelain doll with historical
acuracy one must understand the history of
victorian dress. The various styles of victorian
porcelain doll dress originate from either
ceremonial or societal functions of the past.
After 1815 women's dress became increasingly
fussy and decorative, as skirts became fuller,
and the waistline gradually descended to the
natural waist. Severe corseting also returned,
as did layers of petticoats. In this period,
women were pushed back into a more modest
role, befitting the "weaker" sex,
often described as delicate, fragile, and
decorative. The intellectuals and artists
of the Romantic movement valued emotion and
sentiment, in contrast to the cold reason
that was perceived to have driven the revolutions
of the 18th century enlightenment. Women,
believed to be more emotional than men, were
idealized as the muses of artists. Some, like
Elizabeth Barret Browning and Mary Shelley,
achieved recognition as artists in their own
right. Women were also placed on a moral pedestal,
and looked upon as the guardians of family
and community virtue, and the educators of
the children. This moral elevation of women
would eventually lead some to suggest that
women deserved a wider role in public affairs.
However, for now, dress reflected the perception
of women as weak and decorative. The slope-shouldered,
full sleeved silhouette suggested a weak body,
and a butterfly-like decorative quality. Later
in the period, the look became increasingly
subdued and modest.
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