While we're on the topic of Equestrian Costume I came across this fashion
plate
http://www.costumes.org/history/victorian/women/fashionplates/1859septharpers.jpg
from 1859. I was under the impression that women didn't wear hoops or skirt
supports (of whatever style was fashionable at the time) when they were
riding (as hoops would stand out from the horse's side giving those below a
view straight up your skirt and bustles or paniers would get in the way of
you sitting on the horse), but it seems difficult to believe there isn't a
crinoline under that skirt.
Does anybody have an explanation for why she would wear a crinoline with her
riding costume? All I can think of is that maybe it's a way to use up the
extra length in the riding habit, but the 2 big problems with that are A.
all the fullness is on one side and B. it would mean putting a crinoline on
underneath your skirts in public. And I'm pretty sure Victorian riding
habits were only worn when you planned to be actually riding, so no chance
of having one for show and one for actually getting on a horse.
I'm stumped, if anybody else can offer insights I'm really curious to know.
Elizabeth
--------------------------------------------
Elizabeth Walpole
Canberra Australia
ewalpole[at]tpg.com.au
http://au.geocities.com/e_walpole/
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