Lecture Notes: Prince Albert's Fashion and Legacy

Overview

• Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was Queen Victoria's husband in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
• Known for both his fashion influence and his significant contributions to cultural and educational developments.

Fashion Details

Clothing Features

• Drawers: Made of silk or wool stockinette.
• Shirt: Traditional cut, squared-off hem, pleated yoke at the front, and buttoned closed. Collars could be attached or separate, worn high and upstanding.
• Trousers: Tight, slim-fitting, with a button fly front, high-waisted. Secured with embroidered straps known as braces.
• Waistcoat: Finished just below the waist, contrasting color and fabric, decorative. Single-breasted for evening wear.
• Tail Coat: Fronts cut away to waist level for both formal day and evening wear. Long lapels, not intended to fasten across the front.

Accessories

• Shoes: Varied; lace-up ankle boots and knee-length riding boots depending on the occasion.
• Cuffs: Closed with pearl buttons or cufflinks.
• Fob Watch: Carried in the left waistcoat pocket with a chain linked through a buttonhole.
• Cravat: White silk, worn in the evening, long, wrapped around the throat, soft bow at the front.
• Order of the Garter: Blue sash and insignia on the tailcoat, with the Red Cross of St. George.

Personal Relations

• Rudolf Flowline: Became Prince Albert's second valet in 1847, childhood friend, part of several valets among the Prince's staff.

Legacy and Impact

• 1851 Great Exhibition: Prince Albert was the driving force.
  • Profits financed cultural and educational buildings including:
    • Victoria and Albert Museum (VNA)
    • Natural History Museum
    • Albert Hall in South Kensington, London.
• Area Impact: The area became known as "Albertopolis" due to these contributions.

Conclusion

Prince Albert's influence extended beyond fashion, leaving a lasting legacy through his role in the Great Exhibition and the development of key cultural institutions in London. His style and efforts in education and culture have left a significant mark on history.