Dress

Much of the complexity of fashion from1870 through 1885 can be reduced to acombination of two elements: a tightlyfitted machine-stitched bodice and atightly fitted skirt shell upon which was tacked a collage of fabrics, trims, and ruffles.In the early stages of the fashion for the bustle, the fullness to the back of the skirts was carried quite low and often fanned out to create a train. The bustle reached its greatest proportions during ca. 1886–1888, extending almost straight out from the back waist to support a profusion of drapery, frills,swags, and ribbons.