10/21/2026
During the Victorian era, mourning was governed by elaborate social customs, particularly among the upper and middle classes. Following the death of a loved one, people were often expected to observe a period of mourning, with clothing, social activities, and even jewelry reflecting their loss.
Black clothing was especially associated with mourning. Some people wore black crepe, a dull, textured fabric, while mourning jewelry could incorporate materials such as jet or even a lock of the deceased's hair.
Widows were often expected to observe the most formal and prolonged mourning period. These expectations varied depending on a person's relationship to the deceased, their social circumstances, and the period in which they lived.
Mourning wasn't simply a private expression of grief, it was also a visible social custom that communicated loss to the wider community.
📸: This grey ensemble of a walking skirt and jacket in The Barker Mansion collection would have been suitable for "lesser mourning". Full mourning would have required all black
