The Great Rearrangement: From Crinoline to Bustle 1860-1890

Victorian fashion did not simply grow bigger or smaller — it rearranged itself.

The Great Rearrangement is a lively, visually engaging program that traces the dramatic evolution of women’s dress as skirt volume shifted from the wide, all-around crinoline hoop to the concentrated drama of the bustle. Through live demonstration, historically accurate garments, and reproduction understructures, audiences discover how fashion, function, and social expectations reshaped the Victorian silhouette between 1860 and 1890.

This program combines scholarship, storytelling, and hands-on interpretation to make fashion history accessible, memorable, and fun.

What Was a Bustle—and Why Did Women Wear One?

Through hands-on demonstration and authentic garments, audiences learn:

  • What a bustle actually was (and what it was not)
  • How bustle styles changed between the 1860s and 1890s
  • The difference between cages, pads, and layered construction
  • How fashion reflected social expectations of women
  • Why these silhouettes mattered in daily Victorian life

This program brings history off the page and into three dimensions.

See Fashion History Come Alive

Audiences don’t just hear about Victorian fashion—they see it transform.

This presentation includes:

  • Period-correct undergarments and bustle supports
  • Fully constructed Victorian gowns
  • Step-by-step layering demonstrations
  • Visual comparisons of early, mid, and late Victorian styles

  • An audience member will have the unique opportunity to come on stage and be dressed in a stunning bustle gown, complete with all the necessary underpinnings.

Participants gain a clear understanding of how women dressed—and moved—through their world.

Educational, Entertaining, and Surprisingly Relatable

While visually striking, the program also invites thoughtful discussion:

  • Body image and beauty standards
  • Clothing as social messaging
  • Women’s mobility and restriction
  • Parallels between Victorian fashion and modern trends

Audiences often leave laughing—but also thinking.

Perfect for Museums, Historic Homes & Community Events

This living history program is ideal for:

  • Museums and historical societies
  • Historic homes and heritage sites
  • Libraries and cultural programs
  • Women’s history events
  • America’s Semiquincentennial (250th Anniversary) celebrations

Programs can be adapted for:

  • Lecture-style presentations
  • Fashion shows
  • Interactive demonstrations

Educational Connections

Supports learning in:

  • Social history
  • Women’s history
  • Art and design
  • Material culture
  • Cultural studies

Presented by Indian Creek Historical Fashions

Indian Creek Historical Fashions specializes in immersive 19th-century living history programs using authentic clothing, expert research, and engaging storytelling.

Our mission:
Bringing History to Life.

Now Booking 2026–2027 Programs

This program is especially popular for America’s Semiquincentennial (2026) programming and heritage celebrations.

📞 402-223-3309

📧 Email: victoriangal1971@gmail.com 
🌐 www.indiancreekhistoricalfashions.com