The practice of donning black for mourning had been long established by the beginning of the 19th century, though it would be the second half of the century when it would develop Queen Victoria wore mourning from the death of her husband, Prince Albert (1819 1861), until her own death. With these standards in place, it was considered a social requisite to don black Powerhouse Collection Mourning dress with gloves worn by Amelia Hackney, c. 1857 Historic Mourning Clothes on View at the Costume Institute Architectural Digest