REFORM IN WOMAN’S DRESS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 50, 12 December 1891, Page 676

REFORM IN WOMAN’S DRESS.

A movement was started over forty years ago to agitate reform in woman’s dress. The first attempt in the direction of reform was made during the spring of 1851, when the ‘ Bloomer costume ’ became quite common in some localities not only on the street but in the New England factories. In Boston an editor of that day states that in walking from School-street to Boy Iston-street, which is not over half a mile, he counted thirty-two young ladies dressed in the * Bloomer style.’ We have reproduced here an illustrated portrait from a fashion book of July, 1851, about wbich the editor states :— ‘ The engraving which we give herewith our artist has represented from life, it being the portrait of a lady who passed by our office up Tremontstreet, and represents her dress precisely as she wore it. It was a regular “ Bloomer,” and created not

a little surprise and excitement among the lookers on.’ He further states that ‘in anticipation of the general adoption of this mode of dress we see that a New York house has recently transmitted an order to Paris for an invoice of dress goods, with a deep border on the side. These goods are intended for ladies’ short dresses, and the width of the cloth will comprise the length of the skirts. The skirt comes a little below the knee and buttons in front; the waist is cut plain and also buttons in front. The border extends around the skirt, and in front to the button of the waist, the latter being cut to have the border form the letter “ V.” The trousers are made loose, gathered into a band at the ankle. This will prove a change of dress indeed, but we do

not look to see it generally adopted by any means. The press have encouraged it because it is so bold and laughable ; public taste will soon condemn it, however.’

We reproduce this matter at the present time because the subject of reform in dress is being agitated extensively, and an innovation is proposed dining the coming season. It makes little difference how successful it may be ; the question of reform in dress will continue to be agitated, simply because there is room for such a reform, especially among factory girls. The long skirts are dangerous, besides being no ornament to the wearer; and it is surprising that some genius has not long before this devised a factory dress for girls, as most factories are now supplied with good dressingrooms, it would be a very easy matter to don such a dress, and remove it when leaving work. A dress could be devised that would be much more comfortable to the wearer than the one now worn, and much less dangerous when working around gearing and shafting. We are living in a progressive age when sentimental notions are being buried without regret, and some one should take hold of the matter of the factory girl’s dress and devise something that w ill be more appropriate for their work. The • Bloomer costume ’ was ridiculed out of existence. If a lady had appeared on the public street on a bicycle, riding the same as a man, at that time, she would no doubt have been mobbed. Yet the editor of this paper can sit on the piazza any summer evening, and even on Sundays, and perhaps count one hundred ladies riding bicycles precisely the same as a man, and no one now notices them, for such is the age we live in, and such is the condition of progress in the human mind. I can remember back to the year 1845, when a child, that a genius devised a wooden bicycle, perhaps it had four wheels, perhaps three ; but strange as it may seem, it was not safe for him to appear on the public street with this machine. He had to wait until dark and steal away into the country, otherwise his machine would have been broken and the rider probably injured.— American Exchange,