Phyllis Brown
The Edwardian era, spanning from the late 1890s to the early 1910s, is a period known for its elegant and extravagant fashion. That’s why women’s clothes are often made from luxurious fabrics and expensive trimmings.
Women were often seen in tightly cinched corsets, long, flowing skirts, beautifully embroidered blouses, and stylish shirtwaist dresses while out on the streets.
This time, also known as La Belle Époque or the Gilded Age, was heavily influenced by the hedonistic tastes of King Edward VII of Britain.
This influence was evident in the opulence of women’s clothing, marking a significant shift from previous fashion styles.
The Edwardian fashion on London street 1905-1908
One of the defining features of Edwardian fashion was the S-shaped silhouette created by the era’s corsets. Unlike the Victorian hourglass figure, the Edwardian corset pushed the hips back and the bust forward, producing an S-bend shape.
This look idealized a mature woman with a full, pigeon-shaped bust. The new style represented a significant departure from the tightly cinched waists of the previous decades, focusing instead on a more relaxed and natural grace.
Outdoor fashion in the Edwardian era showed a practical yet stylish evolution. Tailored clothing became popular for outdoor activities. The shirtwaist, a bodice resembling a man’s shirt with high collars, became a popular choice among working women.
This period also saw the rise of ankle-length skirts paired with matching jackets and fur accessories. Hats were an essential accessory, with the automobile bonnet for driving and the sailor’s hat for sports like tennis.
By 1906, fashion began to shift towards a more relaxed and natural look. The tight-fitting skirts gave way to softer, more fluid designs that ended just above the ankle.
The new fashion featured puffed sleeves at the shoulders, slim from the elbows, and blouses adorned with lacy frills. The straight-front corset and the move towards natural grace marked a significant change, emphasizing a more relaxed yet stylish approach to dressing.
Amazing photos of London street style during the Edwardian era
Photographs from this period, like those by Sambourne, vividly capture the charm and beauty of Edwardian fashion.
1. Edwardian street style – London
2. A well-dressed Edwardian women
3. This woman was photographed in Earls Court Road in 1905
4. Two women talking, Kensington, 1906
5. 20th July 1906 in Notting Hill Gate – even in summer, gloves are worn, and one of these two women carries a muff
6. This view is of Kensington Church Street 1906, with some horse-drawn buses in the background
7. This woman is slightly more formally dressed; perhaps she is on her way to work in Ken Church St. 1906
8. A cyclist struggles with an enormous hat on Kensington, 1906
9. Reading while walking in Kensington, 1908
10. A family group, from the front, in St. Albans Road, 1907
11. A young woman of the early twentieth century walking confidently forward, looking straight into the eye of the camera in Kensington, 1906
12. A lady in Cornwall Gdns, 1906
13. Another woman reading in Ken. Ch. St. 1906
14. Another picture from the rear, in Kensington, 1906
15. The woman is looking right at the photographer as though she knows what he is doing, Kensington, 1906
16. A distinctly middle-class married woman, Cromwell Road, 1906
17. This picture taken in 1906 in Cheniston Gardens shows a young maid engaged in the perennial and tedious task of cleaning the steps
18. A different set of steps and a different woman, but she looks as though she is responding to a request from Sambourne to hold that pose for a moment
19. This was in St Albans Road, well off the main streets of Kensington and well out of Sambourne’s main patch, 1906
20. In May 1907, she is escorting her two sons along a tree-lined Cromwell Road with just a few horse-drawn vehicles in the background
