Fashion and architecture in the Edwardian era

The start of the Edwardian periodBegan when Edward VII became king on the death of Queen Victoria in 1901. This period was relatively short compared to the long reign of Victoria but the Edwardian style is generally recognized to have lasted until 1920 (10 years after Edward VII's death). Although the Edwardian period was much shorter than the Victorian period, the housing boom at that time meant that the architecture of that time heavily dominates our present suburbs. King Edward the VI

Architecture Edwardian architecture is the style popular when King Edward VII of the United Kingdom was in power; he reigned from 1901 to 1910, but the architecture style is generally considered to be indicative of the years 1901 to 1914.Edwardian architecture is generally less ornate than high or late Victorian architecture, apart from a subset used for major buildings known as Edwardian Baroque architect

Characteristics

Colour: lighter colours were used; the use of gas and later electric lights caused designers to be less concerned about the need to disguise soot buildup on walls compared to Victorian era architecture.Patterns: "Decorative patterns were less complex; both wallpaper and curtain designs were more plain." Clutter: "There was less clutter than in the Victorian era . Ornaments were perhaps grouped rather than everywhere."

Antrim House is a historic building of Edwardian architecture in Wellington, New Zealand. Masonic Temple, Aberdeen, Scotland built in 1910.

Edwardian Baroque ArchitectureThe term Edwardian Baroque refers to the Neo-Baroque architectural style of many public buildings built in the British Empire during the Edwardian era (19011910).The characteristic features of the Edwardian Baroque style were drawn from two main sources: the architecture of France in the 18th century and that of Sir Christopher Wren in England in the 17th. Some of the architecture that borrowed more heavily from the English Baroque architects was known by the term Wrenaissance. Sir Edwin Lutyens was a leading exponent, designing many commercial buildings in what he termed 'the Grand Style' in the later 1910s and 20s. This period of British architectural history is considered a particularly retrospective one, since it is contemporary with Art Nouveau.

The War Office in Whitehall, London (built 1906 Port of Liverpool Building (built 1907).

Typical details of Edwardian Baroque architecture include extensive rustication, usually heavier at ground level, often running into and exaggerating the voissours of arched openings (derived from French models); domed corner rooftop pavilions and a central taller tower-like element creating a lively rooftop silhouette; revived Italian Baroque elements such as exaggerated keystones, segmental arched pediments, columns with engaged blocks, attached block-like rustication to window surrounds; colonnades of (sometimes paired) columns in the Ionic order and domed towers modelled closely on Wren's for the Royal Naval College in Greenwich. Some Edwardian Baroque buildings include details from other sources, such as the Dutch gables of Norman Shaw's Piccadilly Hotel in London.

Royal Naval College in Greenwich.The Painted Hall of Royal Naval College

FASHION The French called the era from 1895 to 1914 La Belle poque. It was an epoch of beautiful clothes and the peak of luxury living for a select few - the very rich and the very privileged through birth.

The Edwardian Silhouette 1900-1907

The fashionable hour glass silhouette belonged to the mature woman of ample curves and full bosom. The S-bend health corset described fully in the section on Edwardian Corsetry set the line for fashion conscious women until 1905. The corset was too tightly laced at the waist and so forced the hips back and the drooping monobosom was thrust forward in a pouter pigeon effect creating an S shape.

If you were wealthy like an Edwardian society hostess, cascades of lace and ultra feminine clothes were available as labour was plentiful and sweated. During this time it was still usual to make dresses in two pieces. The bodice was heavily boned and was almost like a mini corset itself worn over the S-bend corset. A top bodice was usually mounted onto a lightly boned under bodice lining which fastened up with hooks and eyes very snugly. It acted as a stay garment giving extra stability, contour and directional shape beneath the delicate top fabric. By 1905 press fasteners were used in Britain to hold the bodice or blouse to a skirt, but America had dress fasteners as early as 1901. .

Bodice pouched Edwardian day dresses