…of French court dress, because they wanted to be fashionable.
The basic shape with the low front bodice, wide hips, and large skirt was still there even for the working woman, although missing were extravagant decoration. Skirt length varied from 1770 to 1790 depending on what Marie Antoinette was doing in France.
(photos: “Working women” 1770 (Netherlands) and 1785 (America) emulating French fashion as best they could)