Royalty around the world wore the sleeve…

… so functional, comfortable, cheap, and making women look huge.

(Photo: Princess Maria of Prussia wears engageante sleeves in this casual portrait.  By the 1860’s, portraiture was more comfortable for people, but it was still mostly the wealthy, elite, and royal who could afford it.  Beatrice, Queen Victoria’s daughter, had her own darkroom at the palace during her adult years.  We believe the many casual and captured moments of Queen Victoria must have been photographed by her daughter in private).