Trends from the Victorian Era That Could Totally Go Viral Today

The Victorian Era, spanning Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 to 1901, was a period of immense social, technological, and cultural change.

While known for its strict etiquette and elaborate fashions, many aspects of Victorian life, if transplanted to our current social media-driven world, would undoubtedly go viral due to their sheer uniqueness, eccentricity, or unexpected relevance.

Post-Mortem Photography

Imagine a TikTok trend where people pose with recently deceased loved ones, often arranged to look alive. Victorians frequently took photos of the deceased, sometimes with family members, as a way to mourn and remember before widespread photography was accessible. This practice, unsettling to modern eyes, would shock and trend.

Mourning Fashion and Jewelry

When Queen Victoria went into deep mourning for Prince Albert, it set a widespread trend. Consider elaborate black clothing crafted from specific fabrics, accompanied by veils and jewelry made from the deceased’s hair.

Today, this level of public, stylized grief and unique, slightly macabre accessories would generate countless shares and OMG reactions.

Spirit Photography and Seances

Victorians were obsessed with spiritualism, believing they could communicate with the dead. Spirit photography, which used double exposure to add ghostly figures to photos, would be the ultimate viral content. Imagine influencers live-streaming seances or sharing their ghostly selfies – engagement would be through the roof.

Taxidermy as Decor and Art

Forget minimalist decor; Victorians loved elaborate taxidermy, often posing animals in human-like scenes, like squirrels playing cards or kittens having a tea party.

This quirky, often unsettling art form, from a squirrel in a tiny suit to elaborate dioramas, would be instant viral gold on Instagram and Pinterest today, sparking endless debates.

Flower Language

Before emojis, Victorians communicated secret messages through specific flowers and arrangements. A yellow rose meant friendship, while a red tulip declared love.

This intricate, poetic way of conveying unspoken feelings would inspire countless “decode my bouquet” challenges and aesthetic posts, becoming a charming viral trend.

Hair Art and Jewelry

Beyond just mourning jewelry, intricate art and accessories were crafted entirely from human hair, from lockets to elaborate wreaths under glass domes. This delicate, personal, and slightly strange form of remembrance and decoration would be a massive hit on craft TikTok and oddly satisfying content channels.

Oddball Public Health Advice

Victorian health advice was a mix of forward-thinking and hilariously bizarre. Think cures involving leeches, arsenic wafers for beauty, or doctors endorsing specific, strange tonics. Screenshots of these alarming or absurd historical tips would go viral instantly, sparking outrage, humor, and endless discussions.

The Rise of Freak Shows and Curiosity Cabinets

While problematic by modern standards, Victorian freak shows and private “cabinets of curiosities” featuring oddities, specimens, and unique individuals captivated the public.

Today, the fascination with the unusual would translate into viral content: “Unboxing my latest Victorian curiosity!” or “Tour my bizarre collection!”

Victorian Viral Gold

It’s fascinating how many Victorian trends, despite being over a century old, would break the internet today.