… and clothing and whether it was fashionable or not clearly marked a woman’s station in life. All women, however, followed the general dictates of Victoria in the line, length, shape, accessories, and hairstyle. The difference was in the quality of the cut, fabric, design based on income – and function.
A woman working in a factory had much different function than a merchant’s wife, or a Royal, yet they all had the same silhouette.
(1855: left, laundresses; right, Princess Victoria, daughter of Queen Victoria and Albert)