1890

 FASHION DURING THE 1890s

At the beginning of the 1890s, the style was a continuation of the one in the 1880s, with the continuous development of a shoulder puff. Eventually, it became the distinctive remark of the decade’s fashion, as they grew greatly in size, reaching its peak in 1895. In terms of lower body, the dramatic protruding bustle gradually disappeared and the skirts became bell-shaped, fitting smoothly over the hips.

In order to balance out the volume at the upper and lower part of the silhouette, a nipped waist was often used to create an hourglass effect. However, around 1897, it began to shift with the introduction of the straight-front corset as an allegedly healthier alternative that forced a woman’s chest forward and hips backward into an “S”-like figure. Furthermore, 1890s hats stood out for their heavy trimms, along with ornaments such as feathers, ribbons, flowers and sometimes even an entire stuffed bird.

As a result of the increasing influence of art nouveau, floral and geometric designs started covering the dresses, jackets and coats from the era.