Editing Victorian fashion (section)

=== 1870s dress style ===
[[File:1870's Dress.jpg|alt=Dresses featuring the Bustle & Polonaise|left|thumb|1870s dress]]
[[File:1877 Dress.jpg|alt=Dresses fitted the figure, and featured a long tiered, draped train.|thumb|upright|1877 dress]]
[[File:Tournure.jpg|thumb|1870s tournure]]

The trend for broad skirts slowly disappeared during the 1870s, as women started to prefer an even slimmer silhouette. Bodices remained at the natural waistline, necklines varied, while sleeves began under the shoulder line. An [[overskirt]] was commonly worn over the bodice, and secured into a large bow behind. Over time though, the overskirt shortened into a detached [[Basque (clothing)|basque]], resulting in an elongation of the bodice over the hips. As the bodices grew longer in 1873, the [[Polonaise (clothing)|polonaise]] was thus introduced into the Victorian dress styles. A polonaise is a garment featuring both an overskirt and bodice together. The [[tournure]] was also introduced, and along with the polonaise, it created an illusion of an exaggerated rear end.

By 1874, skirts began to taper in the front and were adorned with trimmings, while sleeves tightened around the wrist area. Towards 1875 to 1876, bodices featured long but even tighter laced waists, and converged at a sharp point in front. Bustles lengthened and slipped even lower, causing the fullness of the skirt to further diminish. Extra fabric was gathered together behind in pleats, thus creating a narrower but longer tiered, draped train too. Due to the longer trains, petticoats had to be worn underneath in order to keep the dress clean.

However, when 1877 approached, dresses moulded to fit the figure,<ref name=":2" /> as increasing slimmer silhouettes were favoured. This was allowed by the invention of the [[cuirass]] bodice which functions like a corset, but extends downwards to the hips and upper thighs. Although dress styles took on a more natural form, the narrowness of the skirt limited the wearer in regards to walking.