charlestonmuseum:It’s April Fools Day – so let’s look at what many thought was a
charlestonmuseum: It’s April Fools Day – so let’s look at what many thought was a foolish fashion. The hoop crinoline and huge skirt of the mid 19th century was the source of much satire and derision. But the fashion-setters remained undeterred for almost a decade. Yes, the new, lightweight hoop replaced the heavy layers of petticoats to extend the skirt to a circumference of six to eight feet, but at what cost? As the cartoons of the day show, any number of mishaps could occur – from brushing too close to the fire and going up in flames, to getting tangled in the carriage hardware resulting in an embarrassing tumble. Getting close enough to a fashionable lady could prove difficult for a gentleman dancing partner or a server delivering a party treat. These cartoons suggested the wearer could become airborne in a strong breeze or could hide all sorts of mischief beneath the wide berth. Indeed, more than one Confederate lady was said to have smuggled supplies and information hidden in special pockets under their voluminous skirts. Emeline Pigott of North Carolina reputedly carried up to 30 pounds of goods to aid Confederate soldiers, as did Mary Kate Patterson of Tennessee and others. Nevertheless, the lilting motion of the almost floating skirt was appealing for many and was again seen in 1950s party-wear and for many wedding gowns. The wide skirt makes the waist appear even smaller, a truly desirable trait in the mid 19th century. Our museum collection dress today is a beautiful figured cream moiré silk taffeta, trimmed with black lace. The dropped shoulders and v-bodice focuses on that tiny waist. Ours even has a hidden pocket (though this one is quite small) in the right front seam. It is currently on exhibit in Fashion in Fiction, up until April 22, 2014. TEXTILE TUESDAYS: Each Tuesday we post a piece from the Charleston Museum’s textile collection. Some items have been on exhibit, some will eventually be shown in our Historic Textiles Gallery and some may be just too fragile to display. We hope you enjoy our selection each week – do let us know if there’s something in particular you’d like to see on TEXTILE TUESDAY! #TextileTuesday -- source link