.. in fashion in Europe and America in 1836. When Victoria took the throne in 1837, the sleeves collapsed abruptly so the ensemble began to have that “Early Victorian” look we associate with the prim, proper, and sentimental style of the time.
The popular ringlet hairstyle epitomized the attitude women were trying to express at the time.. a demure, feminine, and wistful kind of gal. The Victorian era was as much about “attitude” as it was about appearances.
(Portraits of English Royals – just before Victoria’s influence, showing the large sleeves, low waist, and style coming out of Regency – with the subtle differences as Victorians began to create the demure and more “feminine” look using ringlets, bonnets, and emphasis on the waist)