Dressing the Victorian Woman  by Michelle Jean Hoppe   In a
world where jeans and t-shirts are everyday fare, it is
difficult to imagine the intricacies of dressing the Victorian
woman.  Many factors figured into the voluminous layers, among
them modesty, cleanliness and practicality.    At the beginning
of the Victorian era, all clothing was hand-made.  Because of
this, dresses were expensive, and only the wealthy could afford
a large wardrobe.  The less fortunate wore cast-offs, clothing
from second-hand shops, or sewed their own.  After the invention
of the sewing machine in 1851, the industry began to change. 
Not only was clothing less expensive to produce, it was mass-
produced, and by the end of the century, ready-made dresses were
available to the general public at department stores.  The
wealthy, however, continued to buy their dresses custom-made,
the ultimate shopping spree a trip to Paris for a Charles Worth
creation.    A Victorian woman did not simply throw on a gown
over her slip and panties, th