# Which Historical Era Had The Best Fashions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 22, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-historical-era-had-the-best-fashions/190130 "2003-07-22T13:00:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-historical-era-had-the-best-fashions/190130/1 "2003-07-22T13:00:12Z")
I find the present era’s clothing for men and women to be pretty bland…actually, we haven’t seen anything new in clothing for years…the basic styles of dress clothes today are pretty similar to those of 1900. I f you look back in history, there was a great deal more change in fashion-take AD 1300 vs AD 1500-huge difeerences! My favorite era would be the 1750’s-the clothing was quite leaborate. I visited Williamsburg VA last year, and I was struck by how elaborate the clothes of that time were. Is there any chance that we will ever see a revival of the fashions of the 1750’s? Or, Roman togas werepretty cool too (but I can’t imagine driving in one!). Any Dopers ever work at Williamsburg? What was getting dressed in 1750 like? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-historical-era-had-the-best-fashions/190130/2 "2003-07-22T13:14:11Z")
Depends what you mean by “best.” We’re so lazy and spoiled now if we had to wear decent foundation undergarments, we’d all collapse in a pool of tears. Fashions do go in cycles, but I don’t know if we’ll ever see anything as elaborate as we had 100 or 200 years ago. My personal favorite? Edwardian. Gorgeous. Mens’ _and_ womens’ clothing were flattering and elegant, for all ages and body types. ---
**Author:** ![elfje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19b73/32.png) [@elfje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfje)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-historical-era-had-the-best-fashions/190130/3 "2003-07-22T13:17:46Z")
but not very comfortable. actually, I pretty much like this era. Where anything goes. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-historical-era-had-the-best-fashions/190130/4 "2003-07-22T13:19:50Z")
American West, circa the American Civil War. I definitely think hats should come back in style. ---
**Author:** ![Stonebow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Stonebow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stonebow)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-historical-era-had-the-best-fashions/190130/5 "2003-07-22T14:22:53Z")
As a member of the SCA, my porsona, and that of my wife, are both 12th/13th century Norman French (think Robin hood, but not exactly). Very comfy clothes! The fashions for men and women are very similar, in that they drape very well. Lots of fabric, and if made of natural materials (no poly) they breathe wonderfully, even when it’s hot out. the basic outfit is an undertunic (close fitting down to the calves with slits at the sides from the waist down), usually plain white/linen, with breeches or hose under, and either shoes or boots. Then an overtunic is worn, lots of fabric, same pattern as under, but larger, and colored. The whole thing is belted with a long belt that drapes to the knee. As I said. very cool and comfy. ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-historical-era-had-the-best-fashions/190130/6 "2003-07-22T16:40:41Z")
I really like [the Roman toga](http://www.ku.edu/history/index/europe/ancient_rome/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Toga.html) (the real one, not the Animal House variety), though it got pretty bulky during the Late Empire. With the Republican/Early Empire varieties, you could probably drive around wearing one without any problems–I wore one once (not while driving, though), and found it surprisingly comfortable. But I think it’s best to wear it while moseying around the Forum (your city _does_ have a Forum, doesn’t it?) I also have a fondness for [the Celtic _brat_](http://www.celticgarb.org/clothing/brat.html). This mantle-type garment was usually a very large wool cloth that could be draped into several folds, depending on one’s social status. I must have a thing for wrapping myself in voluminous folds of cloth. ---
**Author:** ![Umbriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9de053/32.png) [@Umbriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbriel)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-historical-era-had-the-best-fashions/190130/7 "2003-07-22T17:47:54Z")
I’ve always been partial to late Victorian/Edwardian. Obviously that’s purely on aesthetic grounds. Nothing can beat the modern era for comfort, unless one insists on “stylish” goofiness like pants you can’t help but trip over or multi-inch thick platform shoes. Years ago I was an extra when _[The Age of Innocence](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0106226)_ filmed in Philadelphia. I can testify that, besides the obvious disadvantages of female Victorian fashion (as I recall we had two or three faintings, and I’m sure the extras’ corsets weren’t nearly at historical tightness), the men’s wardrobe was no prize either. The waistcoat I wore was starched rigid, and enforced a gentlemanly, but highly uncomfortable, posture. Looked damn good, though… ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-historical-era-had-the-best-fashions/190130/8 "2003-07-22T18:21:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Umbriel \* > \*\*I can testify that, besides the obvious disadvantages of female Victorian fashion (as I recall we had two or three faintings, and I’m sure the extras’ corsets weren’t nearly at historical tightness), the men’s wardrobe was no prize either. \*\* Actually, very few women laced their corsets tightly—corsets were used for shape and support, and rarely took the waist in more than an inch or maybe two. “Tight-lacers” were the Victorian equivalent of anorexics. The extras probably fainted because they _were_ laced too tightly, or because they simply were unused to _any_ corseting. ---
**Author:** ![Umbriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9de053/32.png) [@Umbriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbriel)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-historical-era-had-the-best-fashions/190130/9 "2003-07-22T18:52:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*Actually, very few women laced their corsets tightly—corsets were used for shape and support, and rarely took the waist in more than an inch or maybe two. “Tight-lacers” were the Victorian equivalent of anorexics. The extras probably fainted because they _were_ laced too tightly, or because they simply were unused to _any_ corseting. \*\* Point taken. Acclimatization probably matters as much in matters of fashion as it does in matters of temperature. I’m reminded of a visit to Miami one march when I enjoyed the mid-60s temperature on evening strolls, but was constantly asked by locals if I wanted to borrow a sweater or jacket. A few months in a significantly different temperature, and one might as well be of a different species. The same, I guess, goes for clothing. ---
**Author:** ![SeGate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@SeGate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeGate)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-historical-era-had-the-best-fashions/190130/10 "2003-07-22T18:55:49Z")
My vote would be for the Regency period in England. Those empire waists are flattering to most figures. And you could even dampen your dress to make it transparent, without being labeled as a loose woman (or whatever they called them back then). ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-historical-era-had-the-best-fashions/190130/11 "2003-07-23T02:44:24Z")
Women would also go through “waist training”, starting at puberty, where they would start out wearing their corsets loser than normal, gradually tightening them. I agree, Edwardian, Regency, 19teens, the 20s. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-historical-era-had-the-best-fashions/190130/12 "2003-07-23T03:18:56Z")
For lavishness, nothing can beat Tudor era English fashion. Cloth-of-Gold, jewels sewn to skirts, elaborate embroidery, rich furs . . . ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Gutgore\_Blooddrink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Captain\_Gutgore\_Blooddrink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Gutgore_Blooddrink)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-historical-era-had-the-best-fashions/190130/13 "2003-07-23T08:08:55Z")
You know, if you go for just comfor and convenience, modern really can’t be beat. But if you’re going formal and fancy looking, Edwardian please. Modern day formal, especially for men, is just rediculous looking IMHO. I still have no idea what the hell is with ties.