those victorians, man

[cimorene]

"Ladies' Winter Wrappings" (10.31.1885, pp.704-705). Victorian Fashions & Costumes from Harper's Bazar 1867-1898: 1000 Illustrations, ed. Stella Blum, Dover, 1974: p. 184

I was saying that Victorian Fashions & Costumes from Harper's Bazar 1867-1898: 1000 Illustrations is possibly my favorite book for comfort reading, even though it is mostly pictures, which prompted isilya to wonder how anyone could even sit down in a bustle. As this picture shows, her back is pretty distant from the back of the chair...

Comments

[lazulisong]

there were also patent bustles that collapsed as you sat down.


.... I don't think they were worn by high-fashion ladies, though.

[damned_colonial]

I was going to add that :) Instead, I will mention that she doesn't need a chairback for support since her corset should do the trick.

[lazulisong]

I know some re-enactor people who solemnly swear well-fitted corsets are super comfortable!

[damned_colonial]

I'm one of them. I'd say that the moderately boned bodies I wear with my Elizabethan are definitely more comfortable than a bra, and I'll go so far as to say that the heavily boned, tightly laced leather corsets I wear for fetish-wear are no less comfortable than, say, tight jeans.

[cimorene]

My comment didn't have to do with support to sit upright, but was merely meant to highlight that the bustle is behind her when seated and not necessarily under her.

[basingstoke]

Man, bustles I get. Hoops I just cannot imagine.

And I remember Laura Ingalls spinning around, trying to get them to settle properly as she walked. :D