Home
New Pages
Search
What is YOUR goal?
Join Elegantwoman
Shop Our Store
Start Here Women Inspirations
Refined Womanhood
How To Be Elegant
How To Be A Lady
How To Be Lovely
Sophistication
Living Well
Top Tips
Audrey Hepburn
Manners
Etiquette
Ask A Question
Elegant Style Timeless Style
Your Wardrobe
Personal Grooming
Elegant Hairstyles
Poise
Choose Elegance
Dating Tastefully
Formal Gowns
Prom Dresses
Beauty Pageants
Elegant Entertaining Elegant Entertaining
Social Ease
Elegant Home
Finishing School
Online Classes
Bookshelf
F.Womanhood Class
Wedding Etiquette Elegant Weddings
Wedding Gifts
Wedding Invitations
Guest Etiquette
Names & Titles
Lady at a Table Tea Etiquette
Table Setting
Hosting A Tea
Table Decorations
Table Set Gallery
Dressing Elegantly
Settings Gallery
French Manners
How To Be Classy Society Women
Being Classy
Elegant Sports
Art of Conversation
High Society
Society Balls
A Socialite's Life
Converse With Class
Hosting A Ball
Golf Etiquette
Random Musings
Travel & Culture Royal Etiquette
Victorian Manners
Hotel Manners
British Etiquette
60 Days Program
Sitemap Sitemap
Contact Me
Admin

Subscribe To This Site
XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines

Victorian Etiquette

Interested in what Victorian etiquette used to be?

Victorian roses

One thing's for sure is that manners and etiquette were ranked as high as education back in those days. They associated etiquette with status and wealth as well. Though times have changed and it would be not appropriate to try to enforce similar etiquette in our lives, it is worth knowing how the refined lived in a romantic era, where chivalry and gentility were prized and honoured.

Victorian Etiquette

Manners & Etiquette

  • Rising to one's feet when being introduced, or when someone enters the room.

  • Ladies do a little curtsey and men greet with a bow.

  • Never turn your back on someone. When you have to remove yourself from the attention or presence of someone, to answer a door, look out the window etc, you always asked to be excused.

  • Manners were scrutinized by others and most educated families place a great emphasis on the excellence of manners.

  • Emotions were often hid . Good words were always spoken and everything assumed the best of situations (or at least seemingly), words in speech, no matter how annoyed they are.Victorian Manners

    In Jane Austen's novel, "Pride and Prejudice", Mr Darcy was trying to write a letter to his sister but was constantly interrupted by his friend Mr Bingley's sister with her barrage of opinions on what to write in her letter. He simply said, (paraphrased) "Do allow me to convey your sentiments to my sister another time, I do not have room (in the letter) to do justice to your words."

    How completely civil is that?

  • People with bad manners were looked down upon and were social outcasts.

  • Before the finishing schools were implemented, the education and training of their young daughters to become ladies, to charm men to obtain husbands and to become good wives were done at home as this was their way of "getting a future".

    That became the pre-occupation of females during victorian times.

    They were also trained to devote themselves to meaningful work should they not marry for the rest of their lives.

  • As always, it has always been ladies first. Men will also perform more chivalry acts such as offering the lady a hand to go up her carriage. Ladies are never seen opening their own doors in the presence of a man, or carrying anything heavy.

  • It was rude to boast, brag or be pretentious. It was considered vulgar. One should always remain humble.

    Victorian jewelry

    Victorian Etiquette

    Grooming

    Grooming
    was of high importance. People living in Victorian times also do not have the type of busy lifestyles most people lead today.

    No one came down to their breakfast in pajamas.

    A lady's hair was always tied up in a chignon, in a bonnet unless she is still very young.

    The ladies always dressed modesty, in good taste and in very feminine colours with beads, laces and ribbons.

    It was frowned upon otherwise.

    Victorian lady with beautiful comb

    Victorian Etiquette

    Posture & Poise

    Posture and carriagewas of utmost importance.

    Ladies were trained to carry themselves well, from the way they lift their dress as they cross a step, just ever so slightly.

    Other things also include, how to stand, sit, walk. How to take the arm of a man escorting them to their next place of destination, eat, speak, greet, dance etc.

    They were taught to have poise, to gesture elegantly, if they need to, never be in a hurry or seem flustered.

    Good posture and gracefulness were seen as beauty.

    Victorian Etiquette

    How To Be A Lady

    Learning to become a lady with beautiful etiquette was placed as equal to education and was placed with a heavy social responsibility in Victorian days.

    In Victorian times, the true foundation of female loveliness is a natural beauty.

    Beauty must be natural, with fair and clear skin due to good health, rosy cheeks due to excitement and a zest for life, interesting eyes due to a sharp, educated mind.

    Dress must be modest in feminine styles and colours are much preferred.

    There is definitely a greater distinction in dress between men and women in Victorian times. There was no room for ambiguity.

    Victorian Etiquette

    The Art Of Conversation

    With less options to entertain themselves and guests, the art of conversation was highly esteemed.

    Their social calendar would include , Afternoon tea , balls and dances , traveling to visit friends and family, going on walks, sports, watching someone paint or draw, hearing someone read, playing the piano, and means of elegant entertaining through hosting teasand dinners or hosting balls

    Victorian Manners Etiquette

    History

    Ladies were judged by their manners on their upbringing, class status, their family's wealth, their education, the kind of man (or class of a man) they would be entitled to marry.

    It was almost as though if they did not devote much attention or study to their refinement , they would most certainly not get married or will not be able to "marry well".

    A good example of these are echoed in Jane Austen's novels, Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and Sensibility.

    Thank you for reading "Victorian Manners Etiquette"!

    You might also be interested in:

    Ms Manners - Everyday Manners
    Missy Manners on the Art of Conversation
    Manners Today A List Of Good Manners

    elegant border

    Return to the top of Victorian Etiquette

    Go back to homepage

    Tags: Victorian manners, Victorian Etiquette, Victorian ladies, Victorian era, victorian women

    “A truly elegant taste is generally accompanied with excellency of heart.”


    footer for Victorian Etiquette page