The New Edwardian: Why Fashion’s Gilded Age Is Back

Our March Issue features “The New Edwardian,” a beautiful, old-meets-new trend in which “fashion's latest gilded age comes replete with high-collars, puffed sleeves, delicate lawn dresses and an attitude that's very much of the moment.” While fashion is always cyclical, the return of Edwardian style seems to say something about the zeitgeist.

The fashion industry, currently reassessing its values, is shifting toward sustainability, which includes a new appetite for vintage shopping. At the same time, designers are sampling the Edwardian era to take contemporary dressing in a fresh new direction. Modern pieces employ century-old silhouettes and ornate detailing like lace, resulting in garments that feel both yesteryear and entirely new age. The contrast is a breath of fresh air that is permeating houses like Erdem, McQueen, and Dior.

While this trend evokes an earlier age, today's iteration is far more wearable — corsets and petticoats are only stylish accents rather than methods of achieving the Edwardian S-curve. Shop the 15 items below to get in on the days of yore, now.