.. meaning style was set by Queen Victoria of England during this early Victorian era – BUT – it was Godey’s Lady’s Handbook that was communicating to women around the world what Victoria expected.
The changing silhouette, and particularly the increasing dome of the 1840’s skirt can be seen in these Godey’s Fashion plate sketches. Note how they usually have two women together doing something leisurely and of high class status. This is most likely because the poor, working classes did not have time and money to buy Godey’s book, but got their information from other sources.
(Godey’s sketches: Demure skirt of 1832 (left), gets wider and more bold by 1837 (right); both still supported only by petticoats)