History of Titanic Fashion Styles and Trends

When the Titanic set sail in 1912, it was the height of luxury. Although destined for doom, the legendary ocean liner exemplified the extravagant nature of culture during the early 20th century. The opulence of the Titanic is simply unmatched, which is part of the reason people are continually fascinated by the tragedy that surrounds this magnificent vessel.

The ship featured majestic dining areas and intricately decorated staterooms, which reflected the ornate nature of styles of upper class style. The fashion and styles worn by those who sailed on the Titanic is another magnificent aspect that adds to the romantic nature of the story itself.

Casual Styles

The wildly popular movie also shone a light on the beautiful and elegant garments worn by fashionable ladies during this time period. During more casual moments on deck, women of the Titanic wore decadent gowns made of rich fabrics like embroidered silk, brocade, and delicate lace. Although Edwardian day dresses were less detailed than formal wear during the period, it was not uncommon to find rows of buttons, tonal embroidery, or elaborate collars on these dresses.

Tailor-made suit dresses were also common for more active endeavors on board. Typically constructed of more structured fabrics, these dresses consisted of a white ruffled blouse, a long collared jacket, a straight line skirt, and laced leather boots with a slight heel. Variations on this outfit can be spotted many times throughout the movie, as this trend was incredibly popular with fashionable women on the Titanic.

Formal Wear

Dinners on the Titanic were lavish events that required incredibly formal ensembles, meaning women Titanic always wore their finest gowns. While the structured style of the Edwardian Era was still popular among older women the Titanic, younger women wore opulent Kimono Style gowns that were heavily influenced by the fashion of the Orient. The silhouettes of these gowns were slightly more relaxed, and often featured luxurious silks with heavily beaded overlays.

Traditional etiquette of this period also required women to wear long gloves during formal events so that they remained covered. These long gloves often extended beyond the elbow and were made of thin white or cream leather for a crisp appearance. Incredibly decadent, they were tight fitting and featured rows of tiny buttons and other details. While beautiful, they were also impractical, and fashionable women of the Titanic often required the assistance of a servant every time they wanted to put a pair on or take a pair off, which happened several times throughout the day.