… Silhouette, and so image and social presentation. The Reform movement in the Victorian era represented a small number of women, but its influence was significant later – as in today – when corsets disappeared.
It only took them about 150 years to accomplish their goal of getting women into comfortable, sanitary, yet also attractive clothing.
(Early 1900’s extant gowns: Left Reform’s evening gown vs right “La Belle Epoque” (high style Parisienne))