Fashion & Art: Crinoline @ Fashion Museum Hasselt

What is crinoline?

In a previous post you could read all about the exhibition Haute-a-porter at the Fashion Museum in Hasselt, Belgium. Now I have a closer look at the fabulous dresses at the museum. In this post all about crinoline, a stiffened or structured petticoat to support a women's skirt.

It has often revived in historical and contemporary fashion since its appearance in the mid-19th century. One of its well-known relaunches was made by Christian Dior in the 'Golden Age of Couture' around the fifties, the new look!

The crinoline, in its most extreme form, was not designed for the masses, but exclusively for the wealthy who could afford haute couture.

Like the corset, there have been many discussions about the crinoline, ranging from gender debates to health issues.

In contemporary fashion, the crinoline is present in a variety of forms, not only in the field of haute couture but also in more mainstream pret-a-porter fashion.