I’m sure we’ve all felt the urge to run around in a large, ornately decorated ball gown. Or wear an elven dress with hair flowing down to the waist. But what historical styles should we actually bring back? Well, I’m here to provide a definitive ranking of which trends need to make their 2025 comeback. To provide some sort of objective basis, I will use a scale of comfort, style, and practicality. Fair warning: the higher the style the less I will care about the practicality. 

1860s Bouffant Evening Gowns

Practicality: 6/10

Style: 15/10

Comfort: 6/10

Need I even explain this? It is stunning. You can dress it up for evening, but the crinoline keeps it from being too heavy. Are crinolines responsible for many fires in factories? Yes. Just don’t wear it in flammable areas, and you’ll be fine. The drop waist looks beautiful on any body type and the sleeves are perfectly positioned. They are big, which means they require you to be cognizant of where you’re stepping and sitting, but it is a small price to pay for beauty. I will hear nothing against the majesty that is the Victorian ball gown.

Spencers

Practicality: 8/10

Style: 9/10

Comfort: 7/10A Spencer is the little jacket that women in the Regency Era would wear over their dresses. It’s short to maintain the empire waistline. They’re incredibly practical, being easy to slip over a dress and keep you warm without being a full blown coat. They’re cute and they match the silhouette of the Regency dress if you prefer the Empire waistline look. The perfect season transition piece. 

Jumps

Practicality: 6/10

Style: 7/10

Comfort: 7/10

Disclaimer: I only recommend these when using the proper techniques for wearing and lacing. Jumps and corsets, contrary to popular media, were never ever ever ever ever worn on bare skin. Women would often wear a sort of slip underneath them so they did not rub. Furthermore, while tight lacing was a practice, it was not common. Most women did not tight lace because of the health and comfort implications. When wearing a corset, lace it to wear it fits snugly, but not tightly as it can be dangerous. Lastly, it is not healthy to wear a jump/corset/stay everyday as it can cause the muscles in the back to atrophy. However, when worn correctly and sparingly, they can help improve posture. With that said, let’s get into the style of jumps. 

Jumps are the better cousin to corsets. They don’t really have any boning, so they are not rigid. They do, however, provide plenty of support for your back. They were traditionally used as undergarments, so original jumps are not particularly stylish. However, when they are worn over clothes, they can be super cute. They are more comfortable than corsets and are more versalite. Great piece of clothing. 

Hair Snoods

Practicality: 7/10

Style: 9/10

Comfort: 6/10

These 100% need to make a comeback. They keep your hair out of your face without pulling like a ponytail. The only downside is that it does rub up against your neck. But for a stylish alternative to an updo, the hair snood is perfect. It can be decorated however you like to match your outfit or hair. I don’t know why these ever went out of style. 

French Hoods

Practicality: 7/10

Style: 10/10

Comfort: 6/10

These make the morning hair routine so much easier. It’s essentially a headband that has a veil to cover the back of your hair as well. Nevertheless, they are lower on the practical side because they are rather large and they would probably start to get heavy by the end of the day. The style, however, is so perfect. They are elegant, classy, and don’t require actually doing your hair which is always an advantage.