By Faith Nichol

Gibson Girl Hairstyle: The woman's hair was swept back from her face and piled on top of her head Pompadours hairstyle: The pompadour hairstyle was worn by both men and women. This look was almost a subdued version of the Gibson Girl. Curls hairstyles: In the early part of the 1890s, small, tight curls that were very close to the head became popular, though toward the end of the decade. 

 Gibson girl Pompadours Curls 

Skin: Pale skin was as a sign of wealth. Wealthy women did not have to work outside, and so being pale was a sign of being part of the upper class Eyes: Beeswax was sometimes used to make eyelashes look thicker, and Kohl was often used on eye lashes. Cheeks and Lips Rouge was commercially available, but you could not be seen applying it. Some women, instead of applying rouge to their cheeks, would pinch or slap them to make them appear rosy and glow. Lips were sometimes pinched or even bitten to make them look red and swollen. Lipstick was beeswax dyed with crushed flowers or sometimes carmine beetles.

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Female footwear: Shoes could be very high cut throughout the 1890’s. The Richelieu or Oxford was laced or fastened with three buttons, coming up to the ankle.In the 1890’s, heels were remarkably high, sometimes reaching more than six inches. In the 1890’s yellow made an appearance as a popular colour for shoes, and later ivory satin was accepted. Male footwear: The toes of men’s footwear were one of the few things that changed throughout this period. In 1885, there was a change to a pointed toe, but only seven years later, broad toes came back into fashion.

Female footwear: male spats

Male Accessories: As earlier in the century, top hats remained a requirement for upper class formal wear; bowlers and soft felt hats in a variety of shapes were worn for more casual occasions, and flat straw boaters were worn for yachting and at the seashore. Female Accessories: Tiaras are seen frequently, often with rhinestones and pearls in both gold and silver, short bead necklaces, often with multiple strands, bracelets, of pearls or gold are also quite fashionable. Earrings can be dangles, either long or short. Pearl chokers are worn fairly often, as well as jeweled necklaces and short bead necklaces. Pins and brooches are usually worn at the center front neckline, in gold, with colored stones or pearls. Flowers or small feather headdresses can decorate the hair.

 In 1890,The skirts became slim in front and still very full behind, but without poufs or lift.  Sleeves began to expand slowly. Bodices became either short at the hip, or long as a jacket. During this decade, the focus switched slowly from the skirt to the bodice.  As the skirts became ever plainer, the bodices exploded with layers and frills.  Tailors begin to specialize in ladies clothing and a new style is created, the Tailor-Made.  These suits were often plain, with jacket bodices. They were perfectly to suited to the new professional woman, or for handling business transactions in town.

 Knee-length topcoats, often with contrasting velvet or fur collars, and calf-length overcoats were worn in winter.  Shirt collars were turned over or pressed into "wings", and became taller through the decade.  Dress shirts had stiff fronts, sometimes decorated with shirt studs and buttoned up the back. Striped shirts were popular for informal occasions.  The usual necktie was a four-in-hand or an Ascot tie, made up as a neckband with wide wings attached and worn with a stickpin, but the 1890s also saw the return of the bow tie (in various proportions) for day dress.  The blazer, a navy blue or brightly colored or striped flannel coat cut like a sack coat with patch pockets and brass buttons, was worn for sports, sailing, and other casual activities.

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