There were plenty of things that occurred during the Victorian Era that merited a head shake and the question of "why?" but one of the most peculiar trends came to something a bit more ostentatious: Fashion.
Wearing jewelry designed to look like insects was one thing, but there were plenty of bold trends during this era that would have many people doing a double-take at the outfits on the street. The bling that adorned women's clothing was highly unusual, at least by today's standards. Additionally, some of it even had very solid reasoning behind why it appeared so strange or off-putting. The times were different and it's only expected that the fashion wouldn't be anything like it is today, but it does make a person wonder: Why, and how, could someone walk around wearing a thing like that?
Luckily, we're here to provide the answer.
Insect-Themed Jewelry And Live Insects As Fashion
The idea of taking an exotic insect and framing it to hang on the wall and admire is nothing new. However, during the Victorian Era, this trend took an extreme turn when women began wearing jewelry that was designed to look like large bugs. The most commonly made was the beetle, which would often be decorated with large gemstones that lined the body of the beetle while gold or silver legs dangled out at the sides. This was commonly seen when it came to brooches, which would be attached to whichever outfit a woman wore for the day, with her giant beetle brooch catching the light at just the right angles to make the bedazzled metal creature sparkle.
Even more horrifying was the use of live insects which did actually happen. It was so grotesque, in fact, that many who lived during the Victorian Era and bore witness to the trend often called it off-putting. In order to do this, live insects would be placed in small cages which would then be attached to a woman's clothing with a pin. The concept was the same, although some larger beetles would actually be encrusted with real gems. These would be worn on the lapels and were easily seen - and likely gawked at - by many. The trend itself was actually started by the Egyptians who weren't quite as in-your-face about it, but respected and revered insects nevertheless. This fascination, over time, was translated to fashion during the Victorian Era, leading to many a woman donning insects on her jacket rather than the average precious metal brooch.
Carriage Covers Concealed Valuables From Coach Robbers
Long before the days when a person could get in their car and lock their doors, carriages were susceptible to being robbed while on the road. It was not uncommon for women to be robbed of their jewelry and, unlike today, there was no way to simply file a police report and use high-end technology to catch the crook who did it (not that it's easier today - but during the Victorian Era, it was almost an immediate dead end).
In order to protect their valuables from robbers while still maintaining the right to wear their coveted jewelry, carriage covers were invented. These were plain, boring clasps that would encase the piece of jewelry that had gemstones on it, concealing it from plain sight and making it appear to be just a simpleton piece of costume jewelry.
Mourning Jewelry, Started By Queen Victoria
After the death of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria sank into a deep depression which was thus symbolized with attire of all black clothing. The UK felt the effects profoundly and, as a country, was also in mourning. Queen Victoria was also known for sleeping next to a portrait of her late husband, which, in turn, gave rise to the trend of commemorative jewelry when it came to one's significant other.
Queen Victoria often wore a locket that contained some of Prince Albert's hair, gifting others with similar lockets and locks of hair to go with them. The trend of gifting - and wearing - another's hair became known as 'hairwork' and suddenly, it was everywhere: Wreaths, brooches, earrings, and the like. While the trend has changed over time, the addition of one's hair to a piece is seen as a personal and intimate gesture. It's unusual that one would find anything like this today but the trend of wearing black while in mourning is something that's still ingrained in society, which is why it's so traditional at funerals and memorials.