Subject: Re: [h-cost] Equestrian costuming & other period "tack"
Spreading the legs apart when they are decently covered with long skirts is perfectly okay. Ruth M. Green, in her "Wearing of Costume", mentions that keeping the legs together in long skirts is not particularly decent nor is it necessary. The eighteenth century in particular showed the 'broad lap'. Ann in CT
Not only was it ok, but in some styles it was practically impossible to sit with the legs together. I wear 1630's French clothing a lot, and with the long stomachers on the dresses, sitting with my legs apart is manditory. I've also got more than a few pictures of women riding astride from this period, including some who rode into combat during the 30 years and English Civil Wars.
Melusine
_______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
