Victorian Clothing for Men | Period Clothing

A collection of Victorian costumes and clothing for men - men's vests, hats, shoes, suits - everything to dress Victorian, Steampunk, American Civil War, Dickens & Sherlock Holmes. Period clothing is featured from the years of Pride & Prejudice to the Victorian era to the 1920s. Read about top hats and the proper attire for the Victorian gentleman. Steampunk enthusiast? Steampunk clothing, at heart, is Victorian. Steam punk clothing has a distinct Victorian look and feel with the addition of creative embellishments reminiscent of the extraordinary inventions of the Victorian era. Become inspired with period frock coats, sports clothing & gentlemen’s accessories.

When dressing for steampunk or Sherlock Holmes activities, remember that the extended wardrobe of the well-to-do Victorian gentleman included numerous garments and costumes designed for specific leisure and formal activities. Gentleman followed the rules and protocols for proper dressing. Victorian mens clothing that was both appropriate and simple - could never offend, nor render its wearer conspicuous. The proper Victorian gentleman was not seen outdoors without a hat, usually the straw boater. The top hat was required for formal day and evening wear, but by the 1870s, a gentleman could choose from a variety of styles of headgear for informal wear. For a walk in the damp London fog, Victorian clothing for men would include a stylish overcoat. To know how to dress Victorian you will find suits, shirts, hats, socks, underwear and more.

Men's Victorian Clothing

The proper Victorian gentleman was not seen outdoors without the correct style hat. The top hat was required for formal day and evening wear, but by the 1870s, a gentleman could choose from a variety of Victorian hat styles for informal wear. Leisure Victorian clothing for men in 1867 included an extended wardrobe of garments and costumes designed for specific leisure activities. Here you will find Victorian mens clothing for bicycles, tourists, shooting, yachting and more. Or you can learn How to Dress Victorian - 1880s style with suits, shirts, hats, socks, underwear and more. For fashions in the early 1900s, dressing the Edwardian man included clothing for leisure sports, such as horseback riding, golf, tennis, and yachting. These activites were popular with the upper class during the Edwardian era. Featured are color lithographs of Edwardian garments suitable for horseback riding, tennis, and yachting.

How to Dress Victorian

Smoking Jackets and Chamber Garments for the Victorian Gentleman
"Indoor Outfit of a Howling Swell" -- street garments of the well-to-do leisure class Victorian gentleman are costly enough, but there are numerous special garments—chamber garments, so to speak—in which these gentlemen are exceeding curious and lavish.

Top This ... The Story of Top Hats
The wearing of a top hat began by making a statement, not merely being worn as part of a costume. Gentlemen were simply saying they were important and classy.

How to Dress Like a Victorian Man
How to dress Victorian ... according to “The Gentlemen's Book of Etiquette,” the first rule of guidance for Victorian clothing for men is, "Let the dress suit the occasion."

Coat for the Victorian Gentleman
For a walk in the damp London fog, Victorian clothing for men would include a stylish overcoat. In the late 1890s, Victorian men were able to purchase their fall and winter coats from department store mail-order catalogues.

Hats Off to the Straw Boaters
The straw boater was the rage in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for Victorian men. Men of all classes appreciated the light, cool, comfortable qualities of the straw hat.

Period Clothing for Men

Dressing the 1870s Gentleman
Showcased is a selection of Victorian period clothing for men in the 1870s. Featured are morning promenade suits, morning lounging apparel, a visiting costume, and attire for evening dress.

How to Dress Victorian
The Victorian gentleman followed the rules and protocols for proper dressing. Victorian mens clothing that was both appropriate and simple could never offend, nor render its wearer conspicuous.

Reenacting Not Just Tea-Sipping & Poetry Reading
For those who think reenacting and living history events are just tea-sipping poetry reading events … watch this video!

Fancy Dress Party
An elaborate fancy dress party for the rich and famous with fabulous fancy dress costumes was given in New York.  

Victorian Period Clothing - 1868
Victorian clothing for men in the 1860s feature billiard and smoking jackets, serviceable dressing gowns are made of dark gray woolen serge, buttoned and laced shoes are more fashionable than boots for street wear, scarf rings of coral, watch-chains.

Clothing and Textiles of the Civil War
As the 1860s marched on, the war took its toll not only in lives lost but on fashion, supplies, and every aspect of life. Pictures of civil war period clothing.

Victorian Smoking Cap
A smoking cap or lounging cap was popular as informal Victorian mens wear from the late 1840s through the 1880s.

Pattern for 1857 Victorian Shirt  
Pattern to make a man's Civil War era shirt. The pattern given is the size for a shirt for an ordinary sized man. Of course, it must be altered according to the size wanted, increasing or decreasing in regular proportion.

Mens Victorian Vests
Traditional styles of Victorian men’s vests are featured. Illustrated are the Victorian gentlemen’s Dress Vest, Double Breasted Men’s Vest, Step Stand Men’s Vest, and No-Collar Men’s Vest.

Waistcoat for the Victorian Gentleman
During the mid-19th century, gentlemen’s waistcoats had a tendency to feature luxurious fabrics such as silk brocade or velvet, and at times even decorated with colorful silk embroidery.

Braces or Suspenders
Braces, or suspenders, were worn from the end of the eighteenth century to the beginning of the 20th century. Mid-nineteenth century braces were crafted in silk, canvas or velvet with silk or berlin woolwork embroidery.

Smoking Cap Pattern
Make an authentic Victorian smoking cap with directions and pattern from a Victorian magazine.

Men's Fashions from 1720 to 1957
A marvelous fashion documentary reveals what it took to be stylish throughout 200 years of British history as it explores men, women, and children’s costume from 1720 to 1957.

Fashions in Detail, 1700–1915
A fascinating look at the details of luxurious textiles, exacting tailoring techniques, and lush trimmings.

His and Hers … Side by Side
Side-by-side displays of men’s and women’s outfits from the 1700s through the 1900s.

Dressing for Sporting Life
Explores the relationship between active sportswear and fashion from the mid-19th century through the present.

Dressing the Part in The Conspirator
A look at the costume design for the film The Conspirator highlighting the process of researching, designing, and producing accurate costumes for the 1860s.

Men’s Vintage Shoes
These Edwardian era men’s shoes were never worn and are like new!

Regency Era Costumes & Styles

Early 19th Century Fashions for Men
Looking good 200 years ago. discover the appropriate styles for early 19th century morning attire, walking costumes, and evening fashions.

Regency Era Clothing for Men: 1803 - 1830
Colorful fashion prints showing men's clothing from 1803 - 1830.

Regency Era Clothing for Men: 1811-1812  
Colorful fashion prints showing men's clothing the years of Pride and Prejudice, 1811-1812. 

Victorian Men's Wear- 1830s 
Colorful 19th century prints showing the latest styles of  men's clothing from the 1830s.

Victorian Clothing for Men- 1840s  
Discover the style of men's clothing during the early Victorian era.

It’s Raining Men
A fun video montage of your favorite men from period dramas and films such as Sense & Sensibility, Wives & Daughters, Pride & Prejudice, and Persuasion.

Vintage & 1920s Clothing for Men

How to Dress 1920s
Attending a Flapper party or want to plan a Boardwalk Empire bash? Provided is a 1920s dress chart advising the debonair gentleman on how to dress for a variety of social situations.

Fancy Dress Costumes
As variety of fancy dress costume is desirable to party-goers it has become customary to hire ready-made fancy dress costumes from a costumer.

Queen Alexandra & King Edward Clothing 
Auction catalog with descriptions of royal Victorian clothing. A reprint of a 1937 auction catalog of clothing worn by British Royalty in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Victorian Hat: Man's Hat 
A late Victorian man's hat.

Proper Attire for the Victorian Wedding  
Victorian Wedding, the proper attire for the Victorian bride groom.

Men's Vintage Clothing Accessories
Men's clothing accessories from 1920.

Smile!  Wedding Photography
See wedding photographs of early 20th century brides and grooms from the Library of Congress.

Vintage Clothing Pieces Find a New Home at Biltmore
Preservation of fragile vintage textiles can carry a hefty price tag for museums. Because of that, some museums have made the tough decision to discontinue presenting their textile collections. What happens to these pieces?

Victorian Gentlemen

Victorian online resource about the life of the Victorian gentleman; his clothes, his manners, his amusements and politics.