The well-dressed American woman of the 1890s wore up to 12 layers of clothing.
She needed someone to tighten her corset laces: the rich had maids; the others, husbands. Magazines from that era show cartoons depicting spouses complaining about that chore.
Women's fashions have attracted commentary throughout history. From a 1600s book deploring Royal Court dresses that fully exposed the breasts, to more recent medical articles on the negative health effects of tight corsets or shoes.
That did not stop women from wearing such clothing, or manufacturers from advertising the superior quality of their particular brand.
If you are interested in historical fashion, click here.
She needed someone to tighten her corset laces: the rich had maids; the others, husbands. Magazines from that era show cartoons depicting spouses complaining about that chore.
Women's fashions have attracted commentary throughout history. From a 1600s book deploring Royal Court dresses that fully exposed the breasts, to more recent medical articles on the negative health effects of tight corsets or shoes.
That did not stop women from wearing such clothing, or manufacturers from advertising the superior quality of their particular brand.
If you are interested in historical fashion, click here.