Etiquette of a Victorian Lady :: Victorian Women

Etiquette of a Victorian LadyIn both the upper and middle classes, there were certain expectations, or guiding principles that women had to personify in enounce to be called a lady. There were numerous etiquette guides and books create in this time period regarding dining, beauty, and social activities, and most of the newspapers and womens magazines included articles on how to be the perfect Victorian Lady. These are some of the most arouse forms of etiquette.Ball agency EtiquetteA Lady should always maintain an easy, becoming and urbane movement while engaged in a quadrille or promenade. It is more pleasing to the gentleman.--from Etiquette for the Ball boardWomen were supposed to always be beauteous and even something as enjoyable as dancing had to image effortless, and the muliebrity always had to make sure that she appeared elegant and refined. It also has a fictitious character to the fact that when dancing, the goal of the womans etiquette was to please the man. An other mannerism that Victorian women followed in the ball room was that a lady should not attend a public ball without an escort, or that no lady should ever be left unattended (Etiquette for the Ball Room). This is just another pillowcase of how a woman needed a man in order for her to fit into society. It was considered rude if a woman were to ever be seen alone(predicate) at a ball.Dressing Room EtiquetteThe dressing room of a lady was supposed to be her sanctuary, or a place where nonentity except for her ever entered. It was a place where women were meant to admire themselves and make themselves attend to presentable at all times for their husbands. The husband should always discern the wife fresh, beautiful, sweet as a flower (The Ladys Dressing Room). The dressing room was a place where the woman was to be narcissistic and cover up or hide any imperfections that she may have had. The article above also asks, what is life or love without illusions? In order for her husba nd to be pleased, the woman was to retire to the dressing room and make herself beautiful, even if it included tricks. Above all, it was private. A lady was to look beautiful at all times, but make it look uniform it didnt take any effort at all. This was also the place in which the specific hairstyles of Victorian Ladies were created. It was proper etiquette to always wear the hair up.