Although this is probably totally irrelevant to anything but social history, a few of you have asked how ladies sat in hoop skirts. This sketch I found the other day says it all....


   

That's why I love to add illustrations - thanks, Betty, it does say it all!!!
As nice as the hoop skirts and dresses look, especially at festive occasions, I am glad I live nowadays and can wear simple skirts and have (at least in casual situations) some more convenient options as for how to sit! I guess a Victorian lady was always expected to sit ladylike rather than in a casual manner...

Love her smile

I thought the same thing, Gene! What a nasty look; I think we know how that lady (despite being a sketch) felt about sitting in a hoop skirt.

(04-16-2015 02:53 PM)L Verge Wrote:  I thought the same thing, Gene! What a nasty look; I think we know how that lady (despite being a sketch) felt about sitting in a hoop skirt.

That looks like an Edward Gorey drawing.

--Jim

Thanks Betty for posting this. When viewing the Lincoln carriage at the Museum of American History, Eva and I were trying to figure out how two women with hoop skirts (along with their male companions) could sit and fit in that thing. This illustration helps.

I have always thought that ladies sat in a hoop skirt very carefully!

(04-16-2015 05:10 AM)BettyO Wrote:  Although this is probably totally irrelevant to anything but social history, a few of you have asked how ladies sat in hoop skirts. This sketch I found the other day says it all....

Betty, This brings back memories for both myself and my wife. Two years ago we went to Gettysburg with the Philadelphia Brigade band to attend a ball with our friends from the band. Me and my wife were dressed in the time period which was so much fun. For me it was easy to dress as a union soldier but my wife had her dress which had a hoop skirt. Well to say the least we laughed all the way to the ball because she was trying to sit in our car with this hoop skirt. What a time we had once we got to the ball.

Hi Gary. Do you possibly have a photo of your wife and yourself dressed for the occasion? I would love to post if you would not mind.

Also totally unrelated, but some neat old photos from NY City in 1896.

http://mashable.com/2015/04/15/humans-of-old-new-york/

(04-21-2015 06:53 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Hi Gary. Do you possibly have a photo of your wife and yourself dressed for the occasion? I would love to post if you would not mind.

Hello Roger, I will have to look for the picture. I know my brother in-law took pictures of each of us. I will try my best to find and post them. Thanks