I’m going to campaign for dresses like these to come back into fashion - will you help me?

[Americam]

I can’t understand why they went out of fashion in the first place.

Imagine all the things you could hide under there - so practical. I think I may have to make my own though unless TopShop get on board with my campaign.

Talking of bonnets, how should I best accessorise my dress?

@Americam

Talking of bonnets, how should I best accessorise my dress?

A large hair piece that you can hide make up/bank card/hairbrush in?

@FindingMeno

In black please with some zipped pockets so I don't have to ferret around my underskirts for lipbalm and my phone.

You wouldn’t need pockets, you could have a mobile chest of drawers under there.

@Americam

Talking of bonnets, how should I best accessorise my dress?

Giant wig with hat and giant feathers precariously balanced on top...

Make the back of the skirt a little stiffer, so you can have a little stool sewn in for when you're tired from the heaviness.

Something like this @terrywynne? It’s only £200.

I was thinking more like this...

@terrywynne

I was thinking more like this...

Do they have those on ASOS?

I believe those dresses had pockets so instantly more practical than what's available nowadays

Ooo yes please! I could use it to smuggle my children into ridiculously overpriced days out...

"Yes sir, just one adult ticket for lego land please"

If you do some silly dancing on TikTok in one, they will be become fashionable

You could keep someone under there to service your every need too. It’s just the 2 sets of footprints would give it away.

@LeanneBrownsLonelyBraincell

How am I supposed to wee when wearing one?

Not exactly the same style, but you could probably lift up the front in the same way as demonstrated in this video. (no nudity or bodily fluids involved in video!)

I'm out though. I knock over / bump into enough things as it is without wide skirts to swing around like a wrecking ball!

You wouldn't need a Christmas tree either. Just string some fairy lights and baubles from it and light up the room wherever you go.

It would hide my large bottom but not my large waist!

@Persille thank you for linking that video - the collapsible bustle cage is very clever! What a faff though, with your split drawers, chemises, underskirts etc!

@Bigtom I missed your link somehow! How fantastic. Imagine not having to bother about bedtimes - all you do is open the little inset door in your skirt and usher your dc inside.

@Americam - If it was easy, they would have been lots more children! 😂. It’s the same reason mothers put their daughters in girdles in the 50s and early 60s. It wasn’t so much to keep tummies in as keep the boys out.

I'm in so long as there's a good amount of pockets.

I've seen that dress it at least similar at the v&a and the embroidery is beautiful and so detailed

Fine until you need to go through a doorway or sit down grin and let's not mention going to the loo

One of those historcical fashion programs I saw looked at these - you go through doors sideways and they were worn pre pants era - so split draws or other pre-pants underware so you could wee into a container under your skirts.

(Though I think when they were worn at court you had to get royal permission to actually wee otherwise they'dy have been more convenient- go for a wee anywhere as built in privacy)

There are advantages to big skirts though perhaps not those style ones -

@SunSeaSurfGin

I'm in so long as there's a good amount of pockets.

I've seen that dress it at least similar at the v&a and the embroidery is beautiful and so detailed

Yes, I think it is the dress in V & A

I’ve spent hours today looking at YouTube videos on historical fashion!

Might be a problem on the tube in the rush hour

That dress looks like an almighty fail at attempting to make your waist look smaller.