marzipanandminutiae: thereturnofwomen:Māori women dress reformers, 1906 In the late 19th century the

marzipanandminutiae:

thereturnofwomen:

Māori women dress reformers, 1906

In the late 19th century the more restrictive elements of women’s clothing, like corsets and bustles, were abandoned by some and replaced with ‘rational dress’ comprising a jacket, blouse and knickerbockers (baggy, knee-length trousers). Knickerbockers were only for the daring and many women sympathetic to rational dress still wore skirts. These women were confirmed dress reformers and wore their rather masculine clothing with confidence.

About this item

Christchurch City Libraries 
Reference: CCL PhotoCD 11, IMG0096

a bit more info about the photo here!

(I wish they’d specified this in the caption, but the picture apparently does have a contemporary label identifying the women as dress reformers. so they’re definitely not, as I initially feared, cyclists who got misinterpreted years down the line)