Crinolette
1870-1880 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
By the 1870s the fashion for large circular crinoline frames had changed, and the crinoline was superceded by half-hooped structures supporting skirts at the back, called tournures, or crinolettes. Some were made from whalebone inserted into cotton petticoats, but the more complicated versions incorporated lacing to control the shape.
'Dress improvers', as they were also known, allowed the fashionable woman to wear extremely complicated drapery and trains extending from the back of her gown, creating an increasingly narrow and slender silhouette. Different types of tournures were available to suit various garments and pastimes - longer ones were for evening dress, shorter ones for walking or morning dress. By the early 1880s they had reached almost ridiculous proportions, and they passed out of favour by the end of the decade.
'Dress improvers', as they were also known, allowed the fashionable woman to wear extremely complicated drapery and trains extending from the back of her gown, creating an increasingly narrow and slender silhouette. Different types of tournures were available to suit various garments and pastimes - longer ones were for evening dress, shorter ones for walking or morning dress. By the early 1880s they had reached almost ridiculous proportions, and they passed out of favour by the end of the decade.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Worsted wool, with brass eyelets and covered spring steel, machine sewn and hand finished |
| Brief description | Crinolette, red wool worsted and sprung steel, British or French, 1870s |
| Physical description | Crinolette, composed of covered spring steel half-hoops attached to red worsted wool flaps, fastening (behind the wearer's legs) with lacing to create bustle shape. Extensions in red worsted wool fasten around the front of the wearer's legs with four linen covered buttons.Red worsted wool flounce at hem. |
| Dimensions |
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| Summary | By the 1870s the fashion for large circular crinoline frames had changed, and the crinoline was superceded by half-hooped structures supporting skirts at the back, called tournures, or crinolettes. Some were made from whalebone inserted into cotton petticoats, but the more complicated versions incorporated lacing to control the shape. 'Dress improvers', as they were also known, allowed the fashionable woman to wear extremely complicated drapery and trains extending from the back of her gown, creating an increasingly narrow and slender silhouette. Different types of tournures were available to suit various garments and pastimes - longer ones were for evening dress, shorter ones for walking or morning dress. By the early 1880s they had reached almost ridiculous proportions, and they passed out of favour by the end of the decade. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.44-2005 |
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| Record created | May 23, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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