Catalog > Late Bustle Era
The Late Bustle Era is once again characterized by a silouhette with a full posterior, only this time they did it on a grand scale. The Grand bustle was much more pronounced that its cousin in the Early Bustle period. In some images that I have come across, the bustle portion of the skirt sticks out a full 18" from the ladies waist. Yes, you could put a whole tea service back there and still have room! Another fashion tidbit that sets the Late Bustle Era apart from any other is the Flower Pot hats that they ladies wore on their heads. They were formed, literally, by placing a soaked straw or felt hat frame over a flower pot with another pot placed on top to sandwich the frame in between. Let's face it, if you were going to wear a BOA bustle, then you needed a BOA hat to match! As yet, I do not have a Late Bustle Era dress but that will be rectified this year. So instead, I get to torture two of my best friends with their contributions to this fabulous fashion decade. Pictured here is none other than Greeneyed Gypsy, my partner in crime and co-founder of the LaSalle Library. She is wearing an exact replica of a dress from Godey's Lady's Book 1886. The fabric is teal and white silk check with a faux vested front of white corded silk taffeta. All of the buttons are covered with the same fabric to match. In addition, she is wearing a lapel watch that just happens to be enamelled in the same color teal. Ask her how she managed that, and then ask her who the Queen of Acquisitions is! To top of the ensemble, she is wearing a Sweet Violet "One of One" creation. Sweet Violet is also one of my dearest friends who we are slowly but surely corrupting! The tall flower pot hat is custom made and covered with fabric to match the dress. It is fully lined and underneath the brim, the fabric is ruched. She makes her own bows, and somehow manages to find just the right feathers and flowers to make the hat look authentic.
p.s. You know I had to stick the two of you in here somewhere!!
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