That is my thought also, 1840s or 50s before the hoop--lots and lots of starched petticoats, especially, with full corsets & chemises.
Ann in CT ________________________________ From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> I would say that the early Victorian period especially the late 1840's would be the heaviest era for undergarments. By that time the corset was re-emerging as a longer, more heavily boned object and ladies wore lots of underskirts/petticoats to achieve the bell skirted look which was in fashion. If I remember my readings correctly (at work and away from my books) a really fashionable woman might wear upwards of 15 skirts. When the crinoline was introduced in the 1850's it was hailed as a liberator becuase women could go without the weight and encumbrance of all the petticoats. Karen DezomaSeamstrix ---------- Original Message ---------- From: Chris Harrison <[email protected]> question from a friend of mine is a scout/producer for a company that makes tv shows for Discovery, TLC, etc. (see below) Can�anyone help? ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Shera Jenne <[email protected]> To: Chris Harrison <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, September 2, 2011 6:57 AM Subject: Advice Do you know anything about Victorian undergarments? Weird question, huh. I am writing up a proposal and I am trying to figure out the time period in which women wore the MOST undergarments... as in number of items and/or heaviest. I think I read somewhere that at their height women were wearing 19 pounds of undergarments under their dresses. But I can't find that definitively. I know you specialize in more middle ages stuff... (or medieval?) but since costumery is an area of interest I thought it might be something you'd know a little bit about. _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
