Highlights Archives
Hoops & Bustles: A Look at Victorian Fashion
Besides being defined by the constricting corset, Victorian fashion also seemed to be full of lumps, bumps and bulges that distorted the female figure into something not quite human. Most prominent of these disfigurements were those caused by hoops and bustles. Large hoops, usually 4 to 5 feet in diameter, set women apart in their separate spheres while bustles, elaborate contraptions that made the derriere protrude, gave women an upholstered look, firmly setting them in their domestic spheres as part of the furniture.
 Cutaway view of a crinoline Leslie Bellais, curator of costume and textiles for the Wisconsin Historical Museum, has been intrigued for years by Victorian fashion, clothing worn during Queen Victoria's reign from 1837 to 1901, and enjoys sharing her knowledge with the public. She is especially interested in the underclothes that created the unique and changing shapes of women's fashion during the Victorian era. Currently Bellais is working on a master's thesis titled "Bringing up the Rear: A History of Late Nineteenth-Century Bustles" which tries to answer the question of why Victorian women wore bustles, as well as exploring their meanings as a relic of material culture from the late 1800s.
As a way to share her expertise, Bellais has put together a popular, entertaining and educational program called "Hoops & Bustles: A Look at Victorian Fashion" that takes the audience from the leg-o'-mutton-sleeved dresses of the 1830s to the pigeon-chested gowns from the turn of the century, with hoops and bustles in between. On Thursday, August 2, 2007, the museum will present the program as part of its Taste of Wisconsin Traditions dinner series.
Attendees will enjoy a catered dinner followed by Bellais' slide-illustrated lecture. Following the lecture a few lucky audience members will be asked to model reproduction garments based on clothing in the museum's collection. The cost is $16 for members and $20 for non-members. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with dinner served at 7 p.m. Advanced registration and payment by July 28 is required. Check the Wisconsin Historical Society's event calendar to learn how to register and for more information.
:: Posted July 20, 2007
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