The crinoline and bustle dresses from the second half of the 19th century presented here are unique pieces. They have been realised from high-quality, partly antique materials, taking historical models into account.
The historical children's dresses are part of an exhibition in the museum. The ball gowns and Wilhelminian-style wedding dresses were made for historical weddings and other festivities.
Crinoline fashion
1850 - 1870
In the middle of the 19th century, some skirts took on enormous proportions (up to 10 metres of hemline). They therefore required a crinoline (hooped skirt with steel hoops). To increase the width even more, they are often trimmed with flounces. Some of the dresses also have a train, even the day dresses. The corset is indispensable for crinoline dresses.
Not much has changed in men's fashion. The gentleman dresses primarily for practicality, while the lady represents his wealth and success.
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Fashion of the Bustle Era
1870 - 1885
In the fashion of the Victorian era skirts are narrow and consist of several layers that are gathered together at the back over the buttocks to form a large puff, which in turn is supported by a bustle, a steel frame or several horsehair pads. This fashion has gone down in costume history under the name of bustle fashion. A brief interlude between 1878 and 1883 was the cuirass fashion, in which the skirts were cut very narrow and close-fitting up to the knees. The lacing of the corset became tighter and tighter over time.
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