Just as we enjoy looking back at Victorian fashions, Victorian ladies enjoyed looking back at the "odd" fashions that preceded their own era. To the Victorian lady of the 1880's and 1890's, the fashions of her mother's and grandmother's eras (which might also qualify in our own minds as "Victorian") seemed impossibly quaint!

Costume in All Ages (Godey's, 1860)

Hoops and Crinolines (Cassell's Family Paper, 1860)

History of the Bonnet (Peterson's, 1856)

The Fans of Past and Present, by Dora de Blaquière (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1878)

A look at fans from around the world, including tips on how to paint fans.

Some New York Fashions in 1814-1830, by Gordon Bremner (Scribner's, 1879B)

Fashionable Costumes of Long Ago, by Ardern Holt (Girl's Own Paper, 1880)

A beautifully illustrated look at lady's fashions from the Middle Ages to the Victorian Age.

Hairdressing Extraordinary (Girl's Own Paper, 1880)

A look at some of the more unusual hairstyles of the 19th century.

Hats and Bonnets of the 19th Century, by Sophia F.A. Caulfeild (Girl's Own Paper, 1880)

"The extraordinary freaks of fashion in olden times scarcely exceed the absurdities into which we have been led since the first development of a bonnet out of the hat..."

About Gloves and Their Significance, by Henry Frith (Girl's Own Paper, 1883)

From dainty hand-warmers to lethal gauntlets, gloves have a fascinating history.

When the Century Began, by J.Q. Throckmorton (Peterson's, 1883)

A look at fashions at the beginning of the 19th century.

A Chat About Wigs, by Tom Robinson, MD (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1887)

Some history of wigs in England.

Fashions of the Nineteenth Century, by Mrs. Strange Butson (English Illustrated Magazine, 1892)

A lengthy and detailed look at the history of fashions from the beginning of the 1800's through the time of the article, with a great deal of information on what influenced various styles and changes.

The Garb of Our Grandmothers (Girl's Own Paper, 1895)

A Victorian look at the "odd" fashions of their own ancestors!

The Apotheosis of the Pocket Handkerchief, by Dora de Blaquière (Girl's Own Paper, 1897)

It was an "article of fashion, an ornament to be worn, and carried in the hand and used on state occasions" - this article describes the evolution of the lady's handkerchief from the 15th century.

• See also Objects, Curiosities & Antiquities: Textiles