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Men's Portrait Gallery
1840

1840 victorian men's clothing

1840’s men's fashion was marked by tightly tailored coats and trousers.  In fact, some wealthy gentlemen continued to wear corsets.  The coats were noticeable for their fitted sleeves and often featured oversized buttons.  Frocks and cutaway coats were the most common style.

Vests were still de rigueur and are seen in both notch and shawl collar variants as well as single and double breasted styles.  Shirts featured a high straight collar, though some did appear with a slight turndown over the cravat.

At the outset of the decade cravats were relatively thin and often worn in the familiar bow tie style.  But by the end of the decade, gentlemen wore very wide cravats, some of which featured frames to hold the fabric in place throughout the day.

This decade also marks the movement from fall front trousers (those featuring a front flap with a button side seam) toward the fly front trouser with which we are all familiar.

Men's Portrait Gallery 1840

The Bells

This handsome gentleman wears the high necked collar with wide cravat tied in a small, centered bow. His low-cut vest allows for a good view of his fine white shirt. Notice the wrinkling in the elbows of the sleeve, which highlights the trim tailoring of the arms. He also wears his hair long over the ears and you see the beginnings of the high frontal wave that will become so popular in the early 1850's.

victorian style

Dapper Gentleman

This fashionable Victorian showcases the high collar that was so common during the 1840's and has the low cut vest and long frock coat to complete his outfit. The sleeve on his frock coat is very tightly tailored and appears to have extra decorative buttons at the wrist. His hair is casually combed slightly forward and over his ears.

? Q&A About 1840s Men's Fashion

What did men wear in the 1840s?

Men in the 1840s wore a more restrained and simpler silhouette influenced by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's conservative tastes, moving away from the previous era's romantic exaggeration. Their typical ensemble included frock coats (which had replaced tailcoats for standard daytime wear), vests in vibrant colors and patterns, white shirts with narrower collars, black silk stocks or cravats, straight-cut trousers, formal top hats, and short boots, all reflecting Victorian values of piety and decorum.

What did upper class men wear in the 1840s?

Upper class men in the 1840s embraced the new, more restrained Victorian style led by Prince Albert, wearing finely tailored frock coats, colorful but tasteful waistcoats, pristine white shirts with modest collars, and slim trousers. For evening events, they donned the strictly codified formal attire consisting of a black tailcoat over a white shirt and white waistcoat, white stock or cravat, black pants, black leather dress shoes, and a black silk top hat.

What did lower class men wear in the 1840s?

Working-class men in the 1840s benefited from the increased availability of mass-produced clothing, particularly the new, unlined sack coat which was cheaper and easier to make. Their trousers were generally looser and made from durable fabrics in lighter colors suitable for work. The introduction of "ditto" suits—consisting of matching trousers, vest, and sack coat in black wool—provided an affordable option for Sunday best, while a variety of practical hats like wide awake hats and peaked caps completed their everyday attire.
MORE Q&A

Want to learn more? Visit our 1840s Mens Fashion Guide.

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