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THE VICTORIAN MOURNING
ATTIRE
In early 19th-century Britain, mourning customs were less rigid and formal than they would later become. The era saw a period of detailed protocols revolving around mourning, having elaborate rules that governed one’s clothing, social behaviors, and lifestyle of the bereaved.
Image Source - Public site, Victorian era Article
Image Source - Frick Pittsbyrgh
Image Source - Catherine Kullmann Archieves
Maintaining the correct mourning practices pertaining to each stage was crucial for maintaining respectability, particularly in the upper and middle classes. Incorrect or lax mourning attire could lead to social criticism.
Widows faced much longer and stricter mourning obligations than widowers, reflecting Victorian ideals of women as emotional and dependent on their husbands. The practice limited widows' autonomy, as they were expected to prioritize grief over all other personal and social needs.
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