The picture is faithful to the Victorian era in many ways. The hair-style is correct -- Victorian unmarried women could wear their hair long in public, but it was considered better to style it. The bonnet, the rich fabric of the dress, the love for lace, the brooch on the bonnet -- it's all straight from the nineteenth century!
Do you want to know what is different, or out of time? Two things. The expression on the face and the make up! Victorian young women were constricted in the way they behaved, looked or stared at others. They were taught to be demure, and not to enjoy their own beauty.
As for make up, it was tolerated so long as it was discreet and home-made.
Gradually, though, women started to buy cosmetics in the form of powder, rouge, or even a bit of lip-paint. However, make up became acceptable and was eventually popularized in the 20th century, by Hollywood.
A common feature of the Victorian era and our own is concern with female beauty. Despite the sermonizing, Victorian women cared for their beauty.
I think that beauty is something to be enjoyed. We should enhance and love the beauty we have, and enjoy the beauty of others. For me, beauty is the greatest inspiration. Like kindness and health, beauty is a great gift!
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