Bustle 1875 - 1878

"Bustle," a 19th-century garment from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies the elaborate fashion trends of the Victorian era. This cage-like structure, crafted from whalebone and fabric, was worn underneath a dress to create the exaggerated, rounded silhouette popular at the time. This particular bustle, dating from 1875-1878, demonstrates the craftsmanship and ingenuity employed to achieve the desired fashionable form. It reveals how fashion, even in seemingly simple items, can be a reflection of historical social values and aesthetics.