.. many wealthy women, and particularly English and American women, could afford to be what was considered “on the fringe” of fashion by wearing Aesthetic clothing. The obvious difference between Aesthetic gowns and high fashion of the day was a distinct lack of corset. Second notorious feature were flowing and mythical draping; 3rd the gorgeous fabrics and textures.
As with all Victorian culture, the wife of a rising merchantman was his marketing agent. She had to dress to impress.
(Photos: Rosamund Hussey, wealthy woman from Kent, proudly marketed for the Aesthetes to try to get her peers to embrace the fashion movement)