Cycling suit 1896

This cycling suit, by Trouville, resides within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is a tangible artifact of the late 19th century, a period when the burgeoning women's rights movement intersected with new social and physical freedoms. This suit embodies the complex negotiation between liberation and the constraints of femininity during the Victorian era. Consider the symbolism inherent in its design: the practicality of a two-piece ensemble, rendered in sturdy brown wool, speaks to women's increasing participation in public life. Yet, the nipped-in waist, decorative buttons and voluminous sleeves maintain a connection to traditional ideals of female beauty. For the woman who donned this suit, the act of cycling itself might have been a statement of independence, a claim to mobility and self-determination. The suit prompts us to reflect on how clothing shapes, and is shaped by, the societal forces of gender, class, and the ongoing quest for autonomy. It serves as a reminder of both the progress made and the persistent challenges in the pursuit of gender equality.