Petticoat

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

During the nineteenth century, petticoats served more than one purpose. In addition to supporting the outer skirt, they provided warmth as an extra layer and modesty by disguising the shape of the leg. Not only is the flannel petticoat featured here functional, constructed out of a heavier fabric for the winter months, it is also decorative. The pink color is unusual for petticoats at this time and gives the piece a sense of lingerie. It is also interesting to note that the crenellation at the borders follow the hemlines of the dresses popular during this period.

The Costume Institute

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Costume Institute's collection of more than thirty-three thousand objects represents seven centuries of fashionable dress and accessories for men, women, and children, from the fifteenth century to the present.

Metropolitan Museum of Art