Historia

Walking Dress

c. 1884-unknown (Country)

Material:
Navy silk satin and silk faille moiré; bodice and bustle-style skirt; overskirt of silk satin draped toward back and connected to large bustle; skirt trimming of pleated silk faille moiré.

The skirt of this bustle style dress extends out from the backside.
In the latter half of the 19th century, Paris, that had been reborn as a modern day city thanks to a major restructuring program, experienced the development of department stores and commercial institutions, openings of exhibitions and fairs, outfitting for highways and parks, and several other circumstances that led to the spread of taking walks outdoors. Moreover, the rapid progress of a railroad system encouraged picnics, visits to summer resorts, and vacation trips as the populace became able to enjoy leisure time. The diversification of this lifestyle brought about the creation of various fashions that were nonexistent until then.