Fashion Era” around the world, named after 3 King Georges of England. Because the United States was not yet created until after the Revolutionary War, the area that would become America was called the Colonies (as they were Colonies of England, and some of North America Colonies of Spain or …

… to study “Fashion” of the Colonists.  We recall that a “Silhouette is the Recognizable Shape of Fashion as It changes”.  This was (and is) based on what people know, can get, can do, afford, and want. In the American Colonies, the fashionable Silhouette was first established by the Europeans.  …

.. different.  We seem to have lost our readers, and are going to do a total switch from 1880 bustles to the 18th century because we are working on a whole bunch of Colonial customer projects. The Buffalo Gals are also getting ready to put on shows about the evolution …

… built into the foundation of the skirt, as opposed to being a separate undergarment.  The size got bigger and bigger through the decade until 1887, when it immediately shrunk and disappeared altogether by 1889.    

… and scary contraptions.  They were made with wires, springs, mohair padding, tapes, and horsehair.  Although some had lace on them, it looked odd on these scientific inventions. While some of the early bustles and pads like the tournure were still suitable for athletic or walking events, only the extreme …

.. much like in the 18th century for “false rumps”.  The hard-edged front lines of the 1880’s made women want to soften the overall look, so the late bustles (as opposed to the 1870’s early bustles discussed already here) had to make even more visual impact than simply making the …

… were very high.  One reason was that the hair was worn high on the back of the head, leaving the neck fully exposed if left uncovered. A second reason was the warning of physicians that women would become very ill if their necks and decolletages were left uncovered. (Portraits:  …

…were all worn with the new bustles and skirts.  There were basques, pointed waists, coat bodices, and round waists with belts. Sleeves were placed very high on the shoulders making neck to shoulder seams very short, giving a narrow appearance to large women.  The problem was the look was very …

The women are leaning and not sitting directly.  This time period caused another technological innovation – the fainting couch.  Wearing the long, tightly cinching corsets that covered the hips, a woman could not sit straight up in a chair. Even in loose kimono costume, this photo of Lillie Langtry shows …

… as we seem to have “disappeared” from feeds for those who have been following the blog.. Hopefully, we haven’t been “ghosted”…