1896 Fashion Plate
1896 Fashion Plate
The silhouette in the 1890s was more of a bell form. The skirt was fitted snugly over the hips and flared out to have a wide hem. The back of the skirt was still gathered but as the bustle declined, the sleeves grew into big puffs on the shoulders.
The bodices remained tight and boned and extending downward. Collars during the 1890s were usually very stiff and high on the neck, or the bodice had more of a v-neck.
Sleeves transitioned to leg-of-mutton style which was tight at the lower arm and puffed out at the upper arm. As the decade continued the corset shortened and ended at the waistline.
The skirt length of the 1890s varied between brushing the floor or ending several inches off the floor. The skirt remained a triangle shape for the rest of the decade, although the last few years of the decade they were often gather or pleated in the back for some fullness.
