Mary J. Gardiner

[BettyO]

Maddie -

Dancing girls (or dance hall girls such as Mary Gardiner) wore pretty risque costumes in which a great deal of leg was shown for the time - low cut dresses up to or just over the knee, with small crinolines underneath, flesh colored tights (extremely scandalous!) and either small boots or ballet slippers.

These outfits were pretty much like a ballet costume or tutu and were usually made of muslin, tulle or silk; any light, airy material. They also sometimes had "spangles"; i.e. small metal "sequins." "Dance hall" or similar theatrical costumes in the 1840s, 1850s and 1860s were considered extremely scandalous and were pretty much popularized by Lola Montez, an 1840s courtesan and dancer who was popular in American dance halls of that time period. She had been extremely famous in Europe and went "on tour" in the US - needless to say, most Dance Hall girls had a pretty rough reputation.

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