Feminism and Fashion 1

Dress reformists crisitcized garments that shaped the body for being dangerous and unhealthy.

Bustle and Corset

Hoops, bustles, and corsets were essential to fashionable silhouettes in the second half of the nineteenth century. Shaping undergarments made it difficult for women to walk, sit, and participate in daily activities Such underpinnings were criticized by dress reformers for being impractical and restrictive.

Hoops were becoming outdated in 1870. In a final attempt to prolong their use, manufacturers created these bustled styles that aided in achieving fullness at the back of the skirt.

Corsets were at the center of health-related debates during the dress reform movement. Royal Worcester manufactured ready-made corsets in Worcester, Massachusetts.