The Mourning Veil

Picture by Val

Another significant piece of mourning clothing in the Victorian era was the "mourning veil." These veils were an integral part of a widow's attire and played a crucial role in concealing her face from the public eye. Made from fine materials like silk crepe or crape (a specially crinkled fabric), mourning veils were typically long and flowed elegantly down from the widow's head, effectively shrouding her features in a delicate, semi-translucent black fabric. The length and opacity of the veil often indicated the widow's stage of mourning, with longer, heavier veils worn during the initial period of intense grief and gradually transitioning to shorter, less opaque ones as mourning progressed. These veils were not only a symbol of sorrow but also provided a shield of privacy for grieving individuals during a time when mourning was a highly visible and socially prescribed process.