1890s in fashion

Fashion in the 1890's finally got rid of the bustle which had haunted women's fashion for 25 years. Early 1890's dresses consisted of a tight bodice with the skirt gathered at the waist and falling more naturally over the hips and undergarments than in previous years. 1890's Dress The mid 90's introduced leg o' mutton sleeves, which grew in size each year until they disappeared in about 1896. Dress with Leg o' Mutton sleeves During the same period of the mid 90's, skirts took on an A-line sillouette that was almost bell-like. Bell-shaped skirt Changing attitudes about acceptable activities for women also made sportswear popular for women, with such notable examples as the bicycling dress and the tennis dress. Tennis Dress The late 1890's returned to the tighter sleeves often with small puffs or ruffles capping the shoulder but fitted to the wrist. Fitted Sleeves Skirts took on a trumpet shape, fitting more closely over the hip and flaring just above the knee. Trumpet-shaped skirts Corsets in the 1890's helped define the hourglass figure as immortalized by the Artist Charles Dana Gibson. Hourglass Corset In the very late 1890's the corset elongated, giving the women a slight S-curve sillouette that would be popular well into the Edwardian era. S Bend Corset

References

Fashion-era La Couturière Parisienne Corsets and Crinolines