.. as the decade of 1870 progressed, and then the ornament went to the front of the skirt. (1870’s garment in museum and fashion magazine sketch from the same time)

… well that was invented in 1871 (haha) – BUT – back and forth between our fashion history blog where we are currently discussing the features of late-mid-Victorian fashion and the reasons there was a change or transition – AND – announcements regarding our historical interpreter’s division “The Buffalo Gals” …

.. new intense hues of magenta, purples, blues, and greens.  The early 1870’s with a sudden interest by the public in science led to many new inventions at the time. (Photo: extant dress estimated to be 1873 in the new synthetic purple previously reserved for royalty as purple was expensive …

.. for the copious amounts of detail and trimming.  Trim was cheap and readymade and easily available to most women across America in the early 1870’s, as the design of the machine was improving constantly from the original Singer models of 1861. (Photo: Lecturer on women’s rights, Sojourner Truth in …

Tuesday, June 25th – starting and ending at this Irma Hotel in Historic downtown Cody, Wyoming.  The Buffalo Gals will be there in “authentic from the bum up” reproduction ensembles. This is the Irma, and THAT is The Irma (Buffalo Bill’s daughter for whom the hotel is named).  We place …

… because the skirt and draping had lost the look of an oval shaped crinoline, in favor of a tiered draped and frilled train.  The front became plainer, with the entire skirt silhouette much less symmetrical.  The trains got more and more ornamented with frills, pleats, ruffles, braids, and fringing …

.. this authentic 1875 ballgown in perfect condition.  It has REAL whale baleen stays in the bodice with original construction methods to study – plus modifications made later when women would wear their old clothes to costume parties.  Even better yet, this fits 3 of the Gals, so it will …

.. train, and the front of the skirt became less ornamented, flatter, and the crinoline was gone.

.. a train in back, dragging on the floor.  By 1873, every day dresses would also have a train. (1870 ballgown with characteristic contrasting colors, back draping “flipped” over itself to reveal the underside, train, rounded somewhat high waistband, and the new synthetic purple dyes! See last 3 months about …

..top of the draped fabric in the back over the rear end.  They made the woman look like a piece of upholstery. Other top skirts were called aprons and they were also draped making the wearer look like a piece of elaborate upholstery. (The 1868 gown had elaborate trimming front …