Why was the bustle invented

It was amplified in size until , then began immediately to shrink and by had disappeared altogether. Victorian Fashion. Victorian Clothing. Victorian Era. Bustle silhouette highlighted in Victorian dresses from Two Victorian costumes featuring the bustle skirts of Photograph of Victorian women in various versions of the s style.

Victorian Butles from the s. Mohair bustle and tampico bustle with small ruffles, c. Muslin bustle with removable wires and the 'Estelle' bustle, c. Two Victorian ball gowns featuring trained skirts supported by bustles. This bustle was designed to support the weight of a trained skirt.

Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Woman's dress Ensemble , ca. Dinner dress , — Gift of Mrs. Randall Creel, Bustle , s. Gift of Estate of Mary Le Boutillier, Bustle , ca. Wire, cotton.

Gift of Mr. Frank Carrington, Bustle , Steel, cotton. William R. Witherell, Woman's bustle , ca. Cotton twill, cotton-braid-covered steel, and cotton-braid cord; Figure 1 and figure 2 show the silhouette of bustle dress with different embellishments in Figure 3 is an another example of the bustle dress in s, showing a unique bustle detail at the back.

Figure 4 to Figure 6 show the variety of bustle-style supports available between s and s. Figure 7 features a full bustle made in Most bustles took the form of a belt worn around the waist. In the rear, the bustle had a cage or framework made of metal, fabric stays, wire, animal hair, wicker, or other malleable materials.

The fabric of the dress would lay over the framework to give the illusion that the lady was more endowed in the nether region than she truly was. The bustle was not a very natural-looking. Source: fiveminutehistory. Was the Bustle an Example of Patriarchy? The argument has long been made that the corset—another shape-changing fashion accessory of the s—was akin to a torture device that the male patriarchy thrust upon submissive women because it appealed to their desire for women with ample bosoms and tiny waists.

The same argument has been applied to the bustle. The silhouette that the bustle created a slim figure with a protruding patootie, opponents of the bustle argued, was gratifying to men at the expense of the comfort of women.

Source: collectorsweekly. Over The Top Bustles As with any fashion accessory, women tried to outdo each other with the size of their bustles.

At balls, galas, and other formal parties, it was not uncommon to see bustles taken to the extreme. The oversized rumps were the envy of other women and certainly caught the attention of the Victorian gentlemen.

Although they seem ridiculous today, ginormous bustles were an haute couture fashion item. A shelf bustle.