Empire Waists, Evening Gowns, Morning Wear & Tailcoats

 Written in partnership with RMS Titanic, Inc.

A short-and-sweet flight between LA and SF may require a versatile outfit that can go from airport to lunch, but planning for the voyage on the Titanic that was supposed to take 7 days? Well, that took some serious style prowess.

It was the year 1912 and technology was racing forward. Gone were the days of the hourglass-shaped corsets and Victorian era etiquette — it was the Edwardian Era; society was on the move. On average, women changed their clothes at least 4 times every day and pastels were the color palette of choice.

Not as bold as their female counterparts, the influential gentlemen of the Titanic’s First Class followed stricter Victorian-era rules regarding fashion with slight creative tweaks. A little added height and depth of a jacket’s notched collar or the knot of a necktie was a clear indicator of a gentleman’s status.

Browse through our gallery of the stylish looks from 1912 and be sure to visit discovertitanic.com for more amazing artifacts and heritage from the RMS Titanic.

 Written in partnership with RMS Titanic, Inc.

A short-and-sweet flight between LA and SF may require a versatile outfit that can go from airport to lunch, but planning for the voyage on the Titanic that was supposed to take 7 days? Well, that took some serious style prowess.

It was the year 1912 and technology was racing forward. Gone were the days of the hourglass-shaped corsets and Victorian era etiquette — it was the Edwardian Era; society was on the move. On average, women changed their clothes at least 4 times every day and pastels were the color palette of choice.

Not as bold as their female counterparts, the influential gentlemen of the Titanic’s First Class followed stricter Victorian-era rules regarding fashion with slight creative tweaks. A little added height and depth of a jacket’s notched collar or the knot of a necktie was a clear indicator of a gentleman’s status.

Browse through our gallery of the stylish looks from 1912 and be sure to visit discovertitanic.com for more amazing artifacts and heritage from the RMS Titanic.

The Empire silhouette, first fashionable during the First French Empire (a century before Titanic), had a fitted bodice that ended just above the waistline (and returned to the runway in the 1960’s.)

Designed by Lucile, the fashion house of couturier, costume designer, and First Class passenger on Titanic, Lucy, Lady Duff Gordon. This silk satin evening dress is made of chiffon, machine-made lace, and a silk velvet cummerbund.

Smart, sophisticated, and tailor-made, these morning suits fit like a glove and help lead the women of 1912 into more active roles in society, eventually helping to propel them into the Suffragette.

Open necklines, chemisettes, and elbow-length sleeves (with skin-tight chiffon or gauze under-sleeves, as bare arms were unacceptable.)

First Class ladies would take tea in the First-Class Lounge, Verandah Café, or Café Parisien. But, if they chose to retire to their stateroom to entertain guests, the ladies changed into a tea-gown. Tea dresses tended to be looser and made of sheer fabrics with lace, eyelet, or embroidery.

Stunning silk pleats, voluminous silk satins and chiffons drape — from high waist to floor — were embroidered with Venetian glass beading.