CRINOLINES
For most of the latter half of the nineteenth century, the crineline defined the shape of a woman's body. In the 1850's, the crinoline spread all the way around the woman in a wide 360 degree circle, preventing her from touching (or being touched by) any man, and all significantly restricting her social sphere. (It would have been quite literally impossible to slip out the backdoor in a four foot wide dress.) By the 1860's, the crinoline had flattened in the front and pushed large amounts of the fabric behind the woman in a train.
Crinolines: 1855
Crinoline: 1865
"Crinoline Made of the Best Watchspring Steel" 1858
Crinoline and Corset Body, 1869.
Hand Coloured Fashion Plate, late 1850's.
As with many other large frame costumes, the crinolines make even the simple act of sitting down an ordeal. The lady has to rest on the very lip of the chair, and sit parallel to the back in order to balance the enormous weight of the fabric and frame.
"Queen Victoria" artist unknown, 1861
National Portrait Gallery, London.
Victoria is pictured here in an enormous early-style crinoline forming an enormous dome around her lower body to distance her majesty from her humble subjects.
"Mrs. Guthrie" Frederick Leighton
late 1860's
Mrs. Guthrie's crinoline is in a much later style with a flat front and sides and enormous amounts of cloth trailing behind her.
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