The Late Victorian era ( 1878 - 1901). By 1878, women had a very different look. The slim fitting dress with a cuirasse bodice was the look of the Victorian era. " The cuirasse was a corset like and dipped even deeper both in the front and the back extending way down the hips creating the look of a body encased in armour". This type of dress showed off every curve of the woman's body.