The influence that the Victorian Era has on fashion reaches far and wide. Designers past and present consistently use popular aspects from this historic period. A modernized take on the era has been evident over the past year or so with voluminous sleeves, high-neck ruffled blouses and dresses in lace, velvet and chiffon. The straight-laced feel of the era is absent with the addition of bright colors, leather details and sexy silhouettes. When designers like Altuzarra, Alberta Ferretti, Marc Jacobs, Erdem, Oscar de la Renta, Valentino and Alexander McQueen take part, we know it’s a style to keep an eye on.

The Victorian Era is named after the United Kingdom’s second longest reigning monarch, Queen Victoria. Surviving her father and three uncles, she became Queen at just 18 years of age, reigning for over 60 years. While Queen Victoria is not directly responsible for any specific fashion trend, she is credited with the tradition of wearing white on your wedding day. The newly crowned Queen, stayed away from the status quo of a colored dress and instead went with a white silk-satin and lacy gown. A few years later, white was being praised as the “the most fitting hue” for a bride and the rest as we say is history.