Punch LII (August 1867): 56
Punch LII (August 1867): 56
he Last of the Long Skirts" also pokes fun at the Victorian
lady's addiction to fashion. Here, Mr. Brown is befuddled by the
length of his Hostess' gown, which has extended all the way
downstairs. The rational gentlemen cannot conceive of a garment
so impractical (it is certainly hampering her movement), but the lady
clearly has no qualms about following the dictates of style to a
ridiculous end. Like the young women of "Genuine Sentiment,"
however, she is portrayed as a frivolous but charming thing. Her
silly predicament is not unexpected, apparently, and does not
damage her attractiveness. The duality speaks to the
complexities of social perceptions of Victorian gentlewomen.
[Victorian initial "T" by Harlan Wallach ©copyright 1994.]