Victorian nightgowns refer to the style of feminine night gowns which were introduced and were in style during Victorian era; that is during the reign of Queen Victoria, from mid to late 1800s. Till the Victorian era there was no special nightwear grouping that was terribly unique.
But during the Victorian era, increased prosperity and consciousness plus an increased interest in hygiene made nightgowns and sleepwear more of a necessity. The voluminous style of these women’s nightgowns is associated with the excessive modesty of the Victorian period. And, while the characteristic long cotton and lace sleeves were truest to that period and comfortable for sleeping, they were not terribly practical.
The most common Victorian nightdress styles are usually seen in romantic peignoir sets, which are the nightgowns and womens robe sets that a lot of brides traditionally wear on their wedding night and on their honeymoon. And, while the classic peignoir set is comprised of a long flowing romantic gown with a robe to match, nowadays shorter gowns are also used.
The Victorian night gown is characterized by a soft cotton glamorous night gown,which combines the best of sexy and stylish while radiating shyness, femininity and passion all in one. In the modern era these gowns became very popular when vintage fashion hit the fashion scene in a big way. Recently, with the influence of romantic Victorian period movies and fashion magazines focusing on specialty lingerie and intimate apparel, the selection at affordable prices has never been better. There are many styles and designs in these gowns which cater to the needs of every woman, whether rich or poor, stylish or orthodox, slim or heavy, glamorous or ordinary. Aside from long gowns and short ones, there are also a wide range of sleeve styles to choose from like the traditional long sleeves that everyone is acquainted with. There are short sleeves, and sleeves with embellishments and details like draw string ties, lace trim, crochet and lace, appliqus in a variety of materials like cotton, satin, silk and synthetics.
Since these nightgowns have increased in popularity it has become easier to shop them for them in some department stores, vintage shops and online. Some of the specialty lingerie and vintage stores make custom made nightgowns according to client’s choices. They also offer custom made matching night gowns for mothers, daughters and sisters or different styles that can be ordered through their catalogs. Though some may come in a polyester blend, traditionalists always tend to choose 100 percent cotton ones. What is so appealing about cotton? It is cool in summer and warm in the winter and it is usually extremely comfortable to wear. Cottons are machine washable, but extra care should be taken with regard to any lace trim or and delicate buttons used in the gowns. As mentioned before, today’s Victorian night gowns are both modern and traditional at the same time, and are available every where although the style and selection will vary from store to store and region to region.
Saree is indeed one of the most elegant wear for women. Not only saree draping is an art but also its shopping needs a special care. In order to buy a perfect saree for a particular occasion or just like that, one should keep in mind the following important things.
Weather
If you are too picky about weather then follow these basic rules:
Pure silk are best for winters.
Cotton saree will help you feel fresh during summer.
Synthetic saree are good for rainy seasons for the simple reason they tend to dry fast.
Occasion
All women have a good sense of styling. Still saree can be categorized as per occasion too
Heavy embroidered and designer sarees are best suited for weddings, semi-formal occasions or celebrations.
Less embroidered can be chosen for parties and other celebrations.
For casual occasions sober sarees should be bought.
Designs & Patterns
There is however no hard and fast rule to select saree as per design and pattern. All sarees look good on every woman if worn properly. And one should always go for ones choice. Whatever one feels good in.
Georgette, chiffon and silk sarees can be opted to look slimmer.
Cotton, tissue and tussar fabrics can help thinner women to look a bit fuller.
Big borders can help taller women to conceal some inches.
While thin borders or no borders can add some inches to your height.
Color
The above rule applies here too. Always go with your heart. Truth is there is no limit to experimenting, if you have a favorite color or may be know your loved ones favorite then go for it. Still the following are the basic rules:
Dark skin women should go for dark colors.
For the fairer complexion you have the range from pastel to brighter shades.
Finishing up the Saree
The bottom edge of the saree needs an additional inside border stitched called fall. This should match the base color of the saree. It will keep your saree in shape once you have draped it and also prevent it from getting damaged.
If saree ends are unfinished they need to finely stitched known as pico or edging to give it a perfect finish.
Matching Petticoat and Blouse
Saree is worn with matching petticoat (inner skirt worn below the saree) and blouse (upper garment). The following things should be kept in mind about them
The petticoat should ideally be of the same base color as of the saree.
Rich net sarees mostly comes with matching shimmer petticoat fabric.
If the blouse is to be cut from saree it shouldnt affect saree width.
Their fitting is also very important. So if you are buying them online read the instructions of taking measurements to get them stitched carefully.
Also look for the customization of blouse and petticoat if you are buying saree online. Also dont go by just with the image of blouse shown there on site. Clarify whether you will get the exact design or not.
Innovative and Designer Sarees
The innovative saris (lehenga pattern, ready pleats etc.) differ only in pattern and design from the usual sari that we come across. If you are not sure about draping the sari then these are the saris for you. They are easy to drape and manage whilst looking gorgeous and elegant. Clarify your all queries e.g. how to wear them before you buy such sarees.
Online Buying
Now if you are buying a sari online for the first time consider the following points too:
As a buyer you should look for maximum information available about the sari (colour, combination, pattern, embroidery, length, material) or simply ask for them using live support, mail etc.
Look for enlarged images of the saree which gives an understanding of the material.
Consider the customization, shipping, postage and packing costs to determine the right price.
A secure way of paying should be there.
Check privacy statement.
Make sure you know the traders full address.
Read the refund and return policies.
You should be sure that the store has refunds or exchange option in case you didnt like the saree or any of its customizations after the delivery.
Check Your Saree Thoroughly Once Its Delivered to You
To avoid any kind of issue make sure you check the following things in your saree as soon as you get it delivered so that you can ask for alteration or refund. However most of them applies equally when you buy saree from a local store.
Always ensure yourself about the optimum length of a saree. Shorter sarees can not make enough pleats (min 5-7) which in turn do not grant the so much appreciated grace of a saree. The average length of a sari is 5.5 m, and its width is approximately 1.5 m. (Note: Some designer sarees like lehenga pattern use to be short as they dont require pleats)
If you are very tall, check that if its enough wider.
If you are going to get the blouse stitched by yourself and have bought a saree that contains extra cloth for making a blouse, always ensure to measure the sarees length after deducting at least one meter cloth from it.
When buying embroidered sarees, see there are no broken threads in between.
Check fall and pico are in place.
Ensure flitting of blouse and petticoat.