Dress

By 1866 the extreme fullness of the wide skirt began to be distributed to the center back and arranged in a variety of decorative configurations. In some instances a separate overskirt was added for a similar draped effect. Over the next few years, the great expanse of the the horsehair or cotton crinoline hoop that supported the skirt narrowed considerably at the sides, giving a straighter silhouette when viewed from the front. This dress retains the silhouette of the 1860s while introducing a back detail that anticipates the bustles of the next two decades.