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About Crinoline

Crinoline is a type of stiff fabric that was often made from horse hair, cotton or linen to create petticoats. Petticoats are stiff undergarments that were meant to support the skirt giving it more of a shape. Petticoats were in style for at least two centuries as a way for woman to have more fashion. The Crinoline design was not the first of its type. In fact a farthingale existed in the late 15th century to provide shape. It was during the early 17th century that Crinoline was used for the petticoat design. They were used for the Royal Courts and most importantly for women like Marie Antoinette. After the French Revolution the design of the crinoline petticoat was changed again. It was this design that lasted through the 18th century and 19th centuries. Ladies of the Civil War era were still wearing petticoats, and in some cases they were used for bandages of injured men in the south when supplies became tougher to get. Before and after the Civil War era supplied silk petticoats to those who could afford them.

Dressing up as Crinoline

Though the history of Crinoline is long we generally only see the idea recreated for costumes. There are a variety of costumes crinoline petticoats can be used for. We mentioned above that Marie Antoinette costumes would have petticoats made of crinoline. {Scarlett O’Hara} would be another option for the use of crinoline petticoats. The petticoat is meant to go underneath the dress of your choice from the appropriate era. The material can be red, black, pink, white, or any other color, though traditional petticoats were white. Some individuals have adapted a style in the 21st century of wearing a petticoat like object as a skirt over leggings. This style can be used for a Madonna costume.