Maternity clothing is worn by women to adapt to changes in body size during pregnancy. The evolution of maternity clothing began during the Middle Ages and became fashionable as women became more selective about style and comfort. The tie-waist skirt became a seminal garment for its ability to address the changing body size. Pants were also introduced as maternity clothing. The first commercial ready-to-wear clothing for pregnant women was sold in the US by Lane Bryant in the 1900s, offering shirtwaists with an adjustable drawstring waist and dresses with an adjustable wrap-around front. Page Boy, the next competitor, offered a patented skirt in 1937. The Roaring Twenties brought a welcome reprieve from restrictive clothes in decades prior. The 1860s introduced separates to aid pregnant women, while the rest of the nineteenth century offered styles that were more at-home and fashionable. The first maternity clothes were designed by Elsie, five years younger than Edna, who oversaw the details of production. In the 1900s, the first ready-to-wear maternity clothes appeared in stores across the United States, offering more variety to pregnant ladies. This book examines how maternity clothes were constructed, provides historical context, and aids readers in designing their own maternity garments.
📹 500 Years of European Maternity Clothing ft. Kass McGann of Reconstructing History
Most “women’s” historical fashion WAS maternity clothing. And throughout this video, Kass McGann explains why. Thank you so …
Which EU country has the best maternity leave?
Estonia is the country with the best paid maternity leave in terms of time off and employee salary. Other countries with great maternity leave benefits include Greece, Slovakia, Japan, and Luxembourg. There are 41 countries offering paid maternity leave and 141 offering some type of leave. Only seven countries do not require employers to offer paid maternity leave, including the United States, Papua New Guinea, and some Pacific Islands countries.
Why are maternity clothes so expensive?
Maternity clothes are generally more expensive than ordinary everyday clothing due to their specific target audience, which includes mothers who will wear them during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or both. Not all pregnant moms wear maternity clothes during their pregnancy, leading to a smaller volume of items produced. The higher the volume of one style of clothing, the lower the price per garment. Maternity wear is specialized, with not all pattern makers or CMT factories capable of producing specialized garments.
Manufacturing in South Africa is challenging for maternity wear brands due to the lack of local CMT factories capable of producing the required quality and smaller quantities. Importing maternity wear can also be costly due to high shipping costs, exchange rates, high import duties, and quantities purchased. This also applies to boutique clothing brands that don’t supply the masses.
To make the right maternity clothing purchase, consider buying items that will last longer than just a few months and look for quality items that can be worn for both pregnancy and breastfeeding or post-partum. Brands like Lonzi and Bean offer maternity dresses and tops with breastfeeding panels for discreet breastfeeding and flattering appearances. Quality and longevity are key when it comes to making the right maternity clothing purchases.
Why shouldn’t you wear tight clothes when pregnant?
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause discomfort and constrict the growing body, leading many pregnant Japanese women to choose tighter, more fashionable clothes over looser, more comfortable options. Tight clothing can increase the time taken for feces to pass through the intestines, decrease the amount of feces, worsen autonomic nervous system function, worsen food digestive function, decrease trunk musculature activity, and increase the risk of lumbar problems. Constipation is a common minor problem experienced by pregnant women, and tight clothing may further aggravate this condition.
Hiesho, or sensitivity to the cold, is a risk factor for premature delivery in pregnant women. Research has shown that pregnant women with hiesho have a 3. 4-3. 5 times higher risk for premature delivery compared to those without hiesho. Constriction from tight clothes may lead to hiesho due to restricted blood circulation, suggesting a physiological association between pressure from clothing around the trunk and premature delivery and reduced quality of life during pregnancy.
Previous studies on suitable clothing and comfortable clothing options for pregnant women have been limited, focusing on aspects such as the effectiveness of thigh-length support stockings and abdominal decompression. Currently, evidence on the effect of clothing and abdominal compression during pregnancy is inadequate.
Why do people wear maternity clothes?
Maternity-fit clothing is designed to accommodate the physical and emotional changes women experience during pregnancy. It is made from fit-for-purpose fabrics such as four-way stretch, breathable, and lightweight, ensuring comfort as the woman grows. Many mothers-to-be look to non-maternity options or feel it’s a waste of money to invest in temporary clothes. However, to fit a 9-month bump, one would need to buy clothes two or three sizes bigger, which may not be worn in the future.
Maternity-fit designers focus on making the woman and her bump look and feel as good as possible. Wearing maternity clothing is more flattering than opting for bigger sizes as the pregnancy progresses, as it considers factors such as pregnancy overheating, the size of the bump, and the limitations of practical activities like shaving. Sportswear, while technically suitable for exercise, can be different from wearing the right clothing for the right workout.
When did maternity clothes become popular?
The tie-waist skirt, popular between 1939 and 1958, was a seminal garment that addressed the concerns of polite society. Maternity clothes were meant to function as “miracles” in a 1928 Vogue editorial. In 1952, Lucy, the star of I Love Lucy, was experiencing fatigue, weight gain, and general malaise. Her friend Ethel, who was a neighbor, exclaimed, “Lucy, you’re going to have a baby!”
In this midcentury cultural moment, the word “pregnant” was considered indecent, leading to the episode being titled “Lucy Is Enceinte”, purloining from the French to add a veneer of gentility. The word “enceinte” denoted “the enclosing wall of a fortified place”, a perfect connection to Mary, the public mother figure, and her virgin conception often signified in early Christian visual art by a verdant, fecund walled garden. The episode was a perfect example of how the word “pregnant” was used to describe Lucy’s state, highlighting the importance of addressing the concerns of polite society in the early 20th century.
When did all babies wear dresses?
In the 18th and 19th centuries, infants and toddlers’ clothing primarily influenced their age rather than gender. Infants wore long, white dresses similar to today’s christening dress style until they could walk. Once they started walking, they were replaced with shorter styles that mimicked contemporary women’s fashions. The dress in question was worn by a three-year-old boy in 1856, with similar bodice, skirt, and sleeve styles to women’s styles.
However, adjustments were made to accommodate children’s smaller statures, such as scaling down larger patterns and trims, a higher waist, and drawstring closures. The additional work required for these trims could be expensive, so Godey’s Lady Book recommended simpler styles for young children.
At what point did you start wearing maternity clothes?
Maternity clothes are often considered by many mothers around the end of the first trimester or beginning of the second trimester, as they are expected to feel like they are starting to “pop”. However, many mothers find their feelings on maternity clothing evolve over the course of their pregnancy. They may initially resist buying maternity clothes but change their mind once the waistband becomes painfully tight.
Alternatively, they may be pleasantly surprised to discover that looser dresses or shirts continue to fit as their pregnancy progresses. It is important to consider the unique needs and preferences of each mother during the process of pregnancy.
When did people start maternity leave?
The Massachusetts program, which commenced in 1948, was initially funded for a duration of 13 weeks. However, in 1953, this period was extended to 18 weeks.
Can I wear maternity clothes if I am not pregnant?
Wearing maternity clothes can have disadvantages, particularly if the wearer is not actually pregnant. Such attire may convey the inaccurate impression that the wearer is pregnant, when in fact, they are not.
When did maternity clothes become a thing?
In the 1900s, Lane Bryant introduced the first commercial ready-to-wear clothing for pregnant women in the US, offering shirtwaists with adjustable drawstring waist and dresses with an adjustable wrap-around front. Page Boy, a competitor, introduced a patented skirt in 1937, which was designed with a window over the expanding abdomen area, allowing the hemline to remain stable. Stretch fabric was later used to fill in the window. Their slim skirt with a wide smock top became fashionable during the 1950s, with celebrities like Jackie Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor wearing their clothing.
Slacks with adjustable waists became widely available in the 1950s, and designer blue jeans became available in the 1980s. Further developments in maternity clothing styles have led to many tops being made to enable discreet nursing, extending the usable life of maternity clothes beyond just the period while pregnant.
Is it OK to wear maternity clothes?
During pregnancy, it’s essential to switch to maternity clothes when you feel tight or uncomfortable. Most women buy maternity clothes around 12-16 weeks into the first or second trimester. However, some women may need to buy them earlier or later depending on their pregnancy. There are seven signs that suggest it’s time to buy maternity clothes: tight clothes around the waist and hips, difficulty in sitting, standing, or bending over freely, difficulty in buttoning or zipping pants, pressure on the tummy or skin, riding up tops, tight or uncomfortable shirts, tight or uncomfortable bras, straps digging into the skin, and overflowing cups.
📹 100 Years Of Maternity Fashion
Lookin’ good. Check out more awesome videos at BuzzFeedYellow! http://bit.ly/YTbuzzfeedyellow GET MORE BUZZFEED: …
Edit: I’m getting a little bit tired of having to explain why I censored the word miscarriage in this article. I do not believe miscarriage is something we need to censor, as it is a common occurrence and is a tragedy that should be openly spoken about (if an individual feels comfortable discussing their experience of course). YouTube does, however, have very unfair censorship regulations, and miscarriage is often a demonetised word. Demonitisation means a article doesn’t get recommended as much, which in turn would cause people to miss out on this valuable educational content. I think it is vital that those who feel comfortable speak out about their experiences with miscarriage and related subjects, as no one should have to feel alone in such a situation. I had to make the difficult decision to censor the word not because it reflects my belief, but because I didn’t want the article to get suppressed and thus have many miss out on this important educational content. Please don’t leave rude replies about this in the comments section, and please consider my deeper reason for “why”, which is clearly not to suppress this tragic experience, rather to make sure as many people as possible can see this article, and thus benefit from its educational value. Welcome to this website’s latest “500 Years of…” series! This week’s article is a bit of a long one, but I think it’s a well-worth-it watch as Kass McGann of Reconstructing History walks us through 500 years of maternity clothing! TW: We will be talking about the sensitive subjects of infant mortality and miscarriage, so if these are triggering topics for you in any way, please SKIP the content between time stamps 25:40-26:33.
My husband and I really enjoy going to the Renaissance Faire every year. It was even our first date. The year we went when I was pregnant with my oldest it never occurred to me that I would need a maternity dress for faire. I simply undid the side laces on my dress and only laced them to the top of my belly. It worked so well that I did it again couple years later when I was pregnant with our daughter. Over the years and various fairs, I recall seeing various women wearing their costumes over their pregnant belly. There was only one woman that ever complained about her bodice being uncomfortable. But then she was just uncomfortable in general due to the heat and the fact that her bodice was made out of entirely synthetic materiels. For some women pregnancy and the heat don’t mix combined with a bodice that doesn’t breath its no wonder it was uncomfortable. This was a fascinating topic to cover. I’m really enjoying the 500 years of fashion series.
From a slightly divergent perspective, I prefer to leave the house much less when I’m pregnant because I get tired, my feet can swell, I have to pee frequently, etc. So to some degree, this may have been less about oppression than convenience. Obviously working class women didn’t have as much of a choice. Such a fun article! I’m glad it popped up in my suggested articles!
Appreciated this article a lot. I have four children and spent all of my mid-20s to early 30s, pregnant or breastfeeding. My body was constantly changing shape, and I had a LOT of frustration with modern fashion and how many garments I had to own for my constantly expanding or shrinking breasts, belly, and thighs. While I appreciate the huge number of issues that come with assuming pregnancy and breastfeeding and post-partum bodies are obligatory for women, I appreciate a concept of fashion that makes room for these seasons and fluctuations in some of our lives.
The front/back lacing discussion at 39:00 is one of those things that seem so obvious once someone else says it. Who did up the back lacing for a working woman? Well, her husband, probably, and if she wasn’t married yet, a sibling or parent or co-worker. Almost no one lived alone in those days, especially women.
I would love to see a article where historical clothing wearer brings in a friend who is pregnant and shows “this is how this outfit fits non-maternity, and then this is how this same outfit fits maternity” if that makes sense. Just to see how those same pieces can shift and change and to see how it would move and look in real life in both contrasting circumstances. Heck I’m pregnant now, I’ll volunteer if someone has a historical wardrobe to share for a article😅
Thank you a very thoughtful discussion. I feel like so many people infantilize people in the past, especially women, when on the contrary they were wonderfully practical and inventive in their approach to everyday problems. While today’s fashions offer more freedom in some way, we have lost a lot of knowledge in how to make adaptable and longer lasting clothing and there is a cost to that.
Despite having a generally healthy pregnancy, I had a very restrictive one. I lived at a pregnant women and children’s shelter where they had rules for the women who stayed there. I could not stay in bed, even if I was tired and wanted to, and I had to be working or schooling. It was also hard for me to get maternity clothes because I was a small girl and many of the clothes were large sized. Clothes felt extremely tight, to the point where sometimes I felt choked and had to unbutton and lower my pants. When I got large later on, the maternity pants I had were too loose and kept sliding off my hips and stomach. I would have loved some adjusters on my waistline/hip line or to be able to wear heavy skirts or dresses in cold weather. And most of all, I would’ve given anything to be allowed to lounge whenever I felt tired. Women have never had more rights in history than today, but our clothes and expectations of women are still restrictive, just in different ways. I wish we could look at women’s clothing in history with a bit more positive light and make clothes more diverse and accessible for larger women, pregnant women, and nursing women.
I wasn’t planning on perusal this whole thing, but it was so well done! And fascinating. I can sleep tomorrow… If my 2 year old will let me… But thank you for taking such care to find examples in art, and zooming in on the details being discussed. I think this is the first YouTube article I’ve seen that does such an amazing job at this. Thank you for taking the time to do that.
This is SO interesting! This is how I ended up wearing a herjolfsnes as my normal clothes. I originally made them when I was pregnant. Six children later, I considered taking them in so that the dress was fitted in through the bodice and gored from the waist down, and I thought (whew) what a lot of work — so I didn’t change them. Now, I swoosh around in these big multi-gored dresses, people tell me they’re pretty, and I could easily wear any of them while carrying twins.
I realize that you chose to only cover 500 years, but I remember stories from my mom and her sister (and sisters-in-law) about how, until the 1970s, it was rare to see a woman in late stages of pregnancy as it was still considered improper to advertise fecundity (as if it were something dirty). In fact, my mom and her sister were scolded as children in the late 50’s/early 60’s for mentioning that one of their aunts was pregnant! (My mom reportedly exclaimed, “Aunt Betty’s pregnant again?!!!!”)
The hardest part of pregnancy as a reenactor was never the clothes for sure, it was the heat outside! I’ve met so many other preggo reenactors wearing clothing from all over the world and covering most time periods; nearly all of it is bump-adaptable unless for exceedingly rich women or women who did a victorian-style confinement.
Totally enjoyable article, answering a few questions of my own. As someone who spins, I often have wondered about the turnaround time to produce a garment of linen or wool. 4 years for linen, and probably 2-3 for wool. And this labor to produce fabric means fabric is costly. Also, in reference to ministers, etc., of the Puritan days complaining of women’s riding clothing, it is actually a Biblical injunction about cross-dressing: Deuteronomy 22:5, we read, “A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.” Depending on your beliefs, there you go for many reasons clothing was relegated to sexes in the west. In Asia, and other parts of the world, women did wear pants. So, part of western dress and dressing mandates are also founded on religious mandates.
I do 12th C reenactment. When I was pregnant I did make a pregnancy tunic dress because I get big! But I was able to wear my regular garb for most of it. I did build a nursing chemise (used a nursing nightgown pattern) to wear under front laced gowns. I also made a tunic with slits and put Byzantine trim to cover the slits which closed with hook and eye.
I am doing some family history research and read that my female German forebears probably wore skirts made with deep openings from waist downwards. So the back tied around the waist at the front while the front of the skirt tied at the back. Very adjustable and the slits at each side allowed access to a sort of purse worn underneath. Sounded very practical
This was a really fascinating article! I’d never actually thought about maternity wear, having not had any children, but would have simply assumed that with all that fabric there was plenty of room to hide the bulge! I honestly hadn’t thought of the Victorian era issues. Really enjoyed the bit about the woman hours required to sew one man’s tunic, and also the bits about the Victorians height being stunted by the industrial revolution. I actually watched this one twice because there were so many fascinating details that I’d not heard before. Thanks! I quite look forward to seeing your future collaborations. Will check out Cass’s website too!
I fell in love with fashion history when I was 12 and my parents bought a set of World Book encyclopedias. When I discovered the entry about fashion history I would pour over the the illustrations of the various kinds of women’s and men’s throughout history and then invent and draw my own takes on the prevailing fashions at any given time. This visit with your excellent fashion historian was so informative. When I think of pregnancy clothing from around 1830 until the 1980’s I think of the smocks and Mother Hubbard dresses that my mom and many other ladies that I knew wore. When I got pregnant with my son in 1988 fashion was turning away from tent like fashions to more fitted maternity clothes. It was definitely a welcome change because wearing the equivalent of a circus tent was not a flattering look on any woman. I and most of my friends who were pregnant during this transitional period of time were already dealing with a rapidly changing silhouette, and the last thing we needed was to feel frumpy on top of being pregnant. Thank goodness that the sky’s the limit in terms of pregnancy fashions now rather than there being only one way to dress AND be comfortable during those nine months!
I’m pregnant and don’t want to spend money on a maternity wardrobe. So I have muslin on the way to make a shift, possibly 2 or 3, for everyday wear, and an over dress that will wind break well in the winter. I decided on regency dresses because I KNEW those would fit (and got a great deal on an authentic pattern) but was curious so I found you! It’s fascinating. Mind I hate modern conventional fashion but I apparently ADORE historical fashion.
As a person who has had two children and cannot afford to get a new wardrobe every time my body changes (plus the environmental and human labor costs of fast fashion are just devastating), I really appreciate the practicality, inventiveness, and durability of women in the past. The pleasure in objects that are also highly functional. Yes, of course, there are moralistic and social status concerns, but there’s a lot of maneuvering within those confines. Love to see it. Thank you and Kass for sharing!
I learned a song that is very very old, and refers to pregnancy. It’s called Tarrytown … Or Wild Goose Grasses: In Tarrytown there did dwell A lovely youth, I knew him well. He courted me my life away And now with me he will no longer stay Wide and deep, my grave will be With the wild goose grasses growing over me. When I wore my apron low He followed me through ice and snow Now that I wear my apron high He goes right down my street and passes by Wide and deep my grave will be With the wild goose grasses growing over me. Pregnancy. Always serious. Wonderful episode, and even to remind me of this song!
My grandmother, a life long seamstress (specifically was known for her historically accurate costumes for our theater) would’ve appreciated this type of content had it been around earlier so thank you for these educational articles. I do have to say comparing our modern perceptions of life (what we deem right and wrong) to early times is unfair if not ignorant. We have so many more luxuries and conveniences today than women ever have had so of course it seems horrific if not barbaric to imagine a pregnant woman in the Victorian era forced to stay home but I love that the expert on here quickly reminds us of the differences of then to today and why. It’s easy to criticize history or what was practiced during a point in time. There are parts of history that will always remain egregious and inhumane but we weren’t there, our ancestors were and I appreciate this expert and the facts and points she brings. Especially with the point made on how long it took to sew a man’s garment/shirt and why women often wore the style of dress they wore with the waist and that was to accommodate pregnancy. Absolutely makes sense
I’m juuuust old enough to have heard as a child that you should never show off your pregnancy. My mother was dressed in these insanely shaped garments to hide her belly but of course, that didn’t really work by the end lmao. By the time I was considering children for myself that had shifted. Now we are delightfully proud of that life stage and generally don’t hide. I chose to not have children, but if I had, I would not have hidden. I like the change, though being able to stay home and not have to go out in the later stages certainly sounds like a pro, not a con!!!
My great grandmother stayed confined at home throughout her pregnancies. My grandma, her daughter, didn’t know her mother was going to have a baby ahead of time, when as a teen. The kids would go visit a family member for a day or two, and come back to a surprise baby sibling. She wrote a voluminous apron, all the time, and it apparently hid the pregnancy for the whole nine months.
That was utterly fascinating, thank you for the article! It totally makes sense that all women’s clothing was maternity clothing in the times when a) women were pregnant for much of their lives and b) clothing wasn’t mass produced so it wasn’t affordable or practical to get entirely new garmets for your changing body. Your run through different eras not only made me look at historical clothing from a new perspective, but also organize my patchy knowledge about the evolution of European female fashion. I’ve been perusal fashion history YouTube for some time, but still have limited understanding of where different styles fit chronologically. This article helps 🙂
Thank you! I loved this article! Your guest is very knowledgeable and entertaining, and I learned a lot. (I have some Reconstructing History patterns and the one I’ve made turned out really well.) I’ve always suspected that women’s clothing had lacing because of pregnancy (and monthly bloating and such) so I’m glad to have it confirmed. I’m beginning to think a lot of our modern social problems were inherited from the Victorians – not that the problems didn’t exist before that, but the particular form they take now was heavily influenced by Victorian thinking. That was a weird time in history. It seems like the development of technology makes people believe they can transcend humanity, and that transcending humanity is desirable, which is a very strange and harmful concept. It’s like we are supposed to be ashamed of being animals (because that’s somehow “lower”) and hide that from everyone around us. It’s interesting to consider how clothing reflects our attitudes and values.
My Aunt who was born in 1925 was totally disapproving of anything resembling a SMOCK in the 1970s on up because they looked like Maternity Smocks from the 50’s. I have an actual Maternity Smock that was my mom’s (from the mid 50’s) made by HANES. Yes, HANES produced a specific Maternity line. My jaw dropped and my eyes bugged open when I saw the label 😮
I want to hit on how new the idea of showing off your pregnant belly with your maternity clothing is. My grandma doesn’t understand the straight/tighter dresses and shirts cut to fit and emphasize a belly because when she was pregnant with my aunt, uncles, and mom in the 50s and 60s you hid your belly as much as possible (even though at least imo maternity wear was pretty specific and easy to pick out). I love that we show off our pregnant bellies more now! What’s happening in our bodies is amazing and I love emphasizing what my body is doing!
Something I definitely would recommend looking at because it’s just Fantastic. Is princess buttercups red dress from Princess Bride. The bare bones of the pattern is almost exactly like my grandmother’s summer house dress that’s probably 50 years old. With minor changes it can work for nearly any century, including the modern day.
Fascinating article, thanks so much for sharing this wealth of information. I’m not a historical clothing buff or someone who dresses in period costume, but I do love to hear about women’s lives and how they were shaped by the time by the materials, technologies, and cultural norms of the time. I think a lot can be learned from knowing the root of how we got to where we are now, whether that’s a waistline or the way society treated women. I’d especially like to thank you for not hamming it up with a bunch of cut scenes, loud talk, and clickbait. Just real history, relayed by real women. As of right now, I’m a fan of your work!
This was great, thank you! I have made an early medieval dress for Viking age living history. The gores pretty much start under my armpits and it is huge around the waist. I have had two kids and I made the dress this way without another pregnancy in mind. Just because it would accommodate every stage of a women’s changing body and that is great to show to the visitors at the museums.
25:00 In fairness, horseback riding is still one of the things they specifically tell you not to do during pregnancy, because pregnancy messes up your balance some, and a fall is dangerous to both mother and baby. (And I imagine that jouncing up and down with a full bump would be just plain uncomfortable.) The other arguments wouldn’t fly today, but there’s some truth to that one.
5:25 I wonder if the clothes that had a smaller waist were for teens. At what age did women consider having children? I wonder if they could modify their teen garments for their “child bearing” years or if they worked on making new garments while they were young and just gave their old clothes to their younger siblings. Those garments with the small waist are so interesting! They make me think about family dynamics and how a young woman might make her new big girl shift and kirtle with her mom. The finger pricks, the laughs, getting annoyed at her mom for demonstrating a stitch too fast.
I enjoyed this article very much. Talking about women not going in public. If you were Pregnant. When Queen Elizabeth II had her 25th anniversary on the thrown. Princess Anne was pregnant. All the reports on tv. We’re wondering out loud. If we would see Princess Anne. Would she would come out in public. Because she was pregnant. The reports were so excited when she did come out with the rest of the royal family.
There are mixed interpretations of the painting shown at 4:00. It has been asserted that this portrait was supposed to be a “wedding portrait”, but was not able to be commissioned until quite a while after the couple had been married. I do love the reflection in the mirror. This piece has amazing details.
This was very fun and informative ! I always LOVE these long retrospectives on one particular aspect of fashion, like Abby’s 500 years of necklines article. That article made me realize I loved some of the 17th century fashions, and this one definitely confirmed it. Let’s bring them back !! Let’s historybound the 1600s ! Also, the whole outfit at 15:02 looks surprisingly 1840s. I have to say that Kass is kinda contradicting herself when she says ‘the idea that having your pregnant belly out there is ok is a very new one’. It hasn’t been a long time since it resurfaced in western fashion, sure. (1980s or 90s maybe?) But as she points out earlier in the article, no effort was made to hide the bump in some decades, and it was even a desirable silhouette. Late medieval and early 1600s fashion, with their high-ish waist and loose folds, would definitely have the bump ‘out there’, wouldn’t they ?
Hello: Sorry I am so late to the party…lol. I just discovered this article. It was very interesting a well done. Thank you. I had hoped that the time period would go to the end of the 1900’s . My own pregnancies were in the 1980’s and 90.s It always made me laugh at that time that for some reason society felt that women carrying a baby should also dress like a baby. For reference, refer to Princess Diana and Sarah, Duchess of York. Everything I owned had ducky buttons or cotton candy stripes, big lacy collars, sailor styles or pastel overalls. All of which would have looked delightful on a 2 year old. Anyone else remember this or have any explanation for it?
I wear 18th C back-lacing stays. I dress myself. If you can clasp your hands behind your waist, It is not a big deal to pull cord any more than it is to tie an apron behind your waist. Modern corset wearers do not need servants to get dressed either. Leave the stays laced but LOOOSE. Put it on over your head, pull cord. Tie bow. Done. I live alone in 21st and 18th Centuries.
Very very interesting… not only do I study history… like abvient world history… here in my old age… but my original profession is textile designer…and where I studied in the silkstat Krefeld they had a marvelous museum with fabrics going wayway back… thanks for this article…looking forward to more…
I just watched a article about the Chinese tradition of seclusion post pregnancy. Included was the tradition of wrapping the abdomen post vaginal birth to help support the body shrinking back into position. Anything from probably all the way back to stays, offered that same support post delivery. I wonder at the long term health problems modern birth parents have over time because of this lack of support.
At around 32:00, Ms McGann mentions how a pregnant woman as compared often to a pregnant horse and it was scandalous if they went outdoors whilst pregnant and you reply ‘how sad’ made me think of what I often say. One can’t judge other people’s actions with today’s mentality. Today we would think it’s sad, however, back then, it was normal thinking. Just like in 100 years from now, the people living might think of us as weird or even nuts, in the way we think. I absolutely loved this article and learned so much. Thank you for creating it and all the information you gave us. Thanks from Canada
The discussion about women being confined for the end of pregnancy should be clearer that it is limited to only women of wealth, even before the Victorian period. Women who didn’t have wealth continued to work in a normal way until their baby was born. And the idea of the ‘Perfect Lady’ is mostly a myth. It’s something the media of the time talked about and people would aspire to but wasn’t real.
Kass is such a great mentor. I’d love to meet her some day. Such a pity that the word m’carriage is a trigger word for You Tube. Unfortunately USA’s mores is often a decade behind that of the Old World. Considering that the education system in the States is generally fantastic and very comprehensive (taking into account an individual’s ability to access it affordably) it can still suffer from puritanical (using the term very loosely) overtones. My wife (of the time) was still wearing a 17th C dress until a week before the due date of our first child. She simply removed the stiffening from the stomacher. We did however have a trained nurse on site just incase of emergencies and a plan to get to the nearest maternity unit.
Even today, horseback riding during pregnancy is advised against. I had a professor in college who said the only time in her life she’s gone more than a few weeks without being on a horse was during her pregnancies, because she’d known someone when she was younger who’d had a miscarriage due to falling from a horse! So I do think it actually makes practical sense that the one exception to “all women’s clothing was (potentially) maternity wear” would and should have been riding wear.
38:00 this made me so happy that you acknowledged that not everyone in history was thin. My ancestors are examples of this. As far back as we have pictures, on both sides, in Great Britain, Wales, USA, and the Middle East…. they all looked like me. ….. short, round face, double chin, belly, wide hips, large thighs, and large breasts.
A great informative article. Also a very informative (if infuriating) pinned comment – why the heck does YT demonetize such an important topic? I’m a medium sized woman but when pregnant, I had a disproportionately big belly and almost no weight gain elsewhere. All maternity clothing were uncomfortable or too small for the belly or too big for the rest of my body. I’d gladly welcome real one-size-fits-all clothing, not the crap being sold today.
A bit tangential, but the high labor cost of clothes was why young kids, male and female, often wore simple “dresses” until toilet trained….a tiny shirt and pants were harder to make and before modern diapers….the pants would often be wet. Kids were also potty-trained earlier, as hand-washing cloth diapers and soiled clothes was an additional chore.
In Europe (continental at least), clothes from the rack only became available to all people after WWII. Big stores began to appear at the end of the XIXth century, but only in large towns like Paris or Berlin; in most working class families, there was at least one woman who knew how to sew clothes (sewing machines were quite popular), they would buy fabric and sew their own clothes, and transform what they already had. They would even dye clothes, shoes, purses etc. in different colors.
The real reason why modern women say things like “I don’t have the right body for 1920s clothing” isn’t because they believe that only ideal body shapes existed at the time, but that some historical fashions only appeal to modern sensibilities if worn on a very specific body type. No matter how much someone is into historical fashion, they are still being influenced by modern beauty standards.
I almost didn’t want to click on this to watch because other such articles spanning such large chunks of time have been…tedious. V. and Kass…y’all did a fantastic job with this topic over such a span of time! I’m very much looking forward to any next installment! I also had some “dots connect” on the idea that the more fabric in one’s ensemble symbolized one’s wealth. The next time I see a scantily clad female I might charitibly comment, “Well, bless your heart, honey. I’m so sorry about your financial misfortunes.” …and hand her a dollar or two. 😂
I have been looking for this information for the last year while pregnant and breastfeeding and I can’t believe I’m only now finding this article. Such good info, thank you! My only questions are 1) surely undoing and redoing laces wasn’t actually common for nursing? The pop out the top or separate folds of fabric methods seem far more practical for how often a baby needs to nurse. I’ve only seen the folds of fabric in paintings though and would love to see a recreation. And 2) For pinning your robes or stays, how do you pin so that you don’t poke yourself when bending over or poke your breastfeeding infant on your lap? I don’t know if I’m missing something obvious about how to use dress pins but it seems hazardous to have sharp metal around an infant who wants to use you as a jungle gym.
Sorry to keep harping on the Victorians, but speaking of sewage in the streets, the “Great Stink” of 1858 was a catalyst for radical change, and parlament legislated funds for a sewer system. Sir Joseph Bazalgette was the Victorian engineering mastermind and public health visionary behind the vast sewage system that Londoners still rely on today.
I have enjoyed this tutorial so much! It does seem that even in our time many elegant gowns such as wedding gowns, often include those things that are no longer used except to adorn a gown to mark a special occasion. Why is this now considered a sign of elegance as they are misery to wear for the most part but are just beautiful in pictures and make the occasion feel that much more precious! I guess that old saying a women must suffer to be beautiful is still true today!
thanks so much for this article! your breadth of knowledge is inspiring. i have definitely thought about this when making my handsewn wardrobe. i don’t have kids, but i want to, and i’m studying birth work so it’s on the forefront of my mind. things like ties and lacing closures are also a lot easier to deal with when my hand grip strength is having a hard time with buttons for anyone looking to learn more about pregnancy and specifically historical gestational care in american british folks, i highly recommend reading the diary of martha ballard who was a midwife in the late 18th cent., early 19th cent. the author does an amazing job of interpreting the brief entries with context from historiography of the town martha lived in. she kept track of her daily chores, what she was paid or traded in exchange for her services, who attended each birth, and any complications or mortalities. there’s some very illuminating data in there. out of 814 births she attended in rural maine, most had at least two companions from the village attending. five women died. very few infants died in birth unless it was due to physical incompatibility with life. she gave breathing assistance to the newborn if necessary. there were several waves of deadly illness that contributed to the mortality rate. twenty births were totally out of wedlock and midwives would have a legal role in making sure the father was on public records. however, up to 1/3rd of the births had been conceived out of wedlock by couples who were later married according to contemporary court documents!
Incredibly fascinating. Thank you so much for all the information. The only thing I would add is that it should be made clear in the descriptions that you are only referring to European/European based fashion history as of course other cultures are very different and we must ensure that European is not the default when we discuss these and any number of other topics.
Hi! Such an educational article, thank you both so much for that! You did mention nursing for a few seconds in the 1770s, but I was wondering if you could explain it a bit more for me. How would the clothing work to nurse the child in the 1770-1780s? I would think that the corset would make it a bit hard even with the different lacing ways. Thank you!
What an excellent article. Well presented without a lot of extraneous faff. I learned a lot. I will subscribe to this website. I’ve done a lot of research (writing a novel set in 1886 in rural USA) and discovered the ‘mother hubbard’ kind of garment. As a workaday garment, this seemed to serve the pregnancy purpose well. It could be tied at the waist when not pregnant, or above the waist during early pregnancy, or just left hanging loose, which meant a woman could go through the entire period of pregnancy in this one garment. It was usually gathered above the bust, so everything was accomodated, including enlarged breasts. However, it was not usually a style that was worn outside the home. I have an excellent copy of Dover’s reprint of Metropolitan Fashions of the 1880s (from the 1885 Butterick Catalog) that clearly illustrates several types of dresses that could easily be used as maternity garments, including a couple of very obvious ‘blouse dresses’ with separate bodice and skirt. It also shows long one-piece ‘wrappers’ and other pleated garments shown with sashes—often claimed to be ‘house dresses’ as well. This catalog was intended for women to order patterns from, for home sewing, I assume these kinds of designs would have been quite popular. Another Dover reprint, Bloomingdale’s Illustrated 1886 Catalog (Fashions, Dry Goods and Housewares) is useful for research and also shows many patterns, including Mother Hubbards, that could be used for pregancy.
Could we get a article on clothing and breastfeeding? I’ve tried doing some research on my own but any worthy information that I found ( for the record and for applying to at home sewing) was scarce. I am hoping that you and your associates would have better success with this than I have and could compile your findings into a article that would not only shed light on how our historical sisters dressed for this task but also talk about the societal opinions surrounding it if you feel up to it. Thank you!
🤯🤯🤯This filled in so many blanks for me, THANK YOU! What an awesome article! I wonder if there is a connection at all between the stomacher/Mantua and certain Norwegian folk costume? I know that upper class fashion trickled down into the common folk slowly, and I know that the upper classes throughout Europe were more connected and aware of foreign trends…but I wonder if continental Europe had that much possible influence on Scandinavian fashions.
I once sat on a sidesaddle on a sawhorse not a real horse and was surprised by how comfortable it was. I don’t think it would be comfortable for very long but the tack could have been adjusted. I felt secure on the sawhorse but a horse that skittered or shied or bucked a little would have unseated me. English saddles don’t have a saddle horn so there’s nothing to hold onto but the reins. How women rode on fox hunts is a mystery. That’s my side saddle experience and they’re not as safe or natural as Western saddles.
Most women’s clothing WAS maternity clothing. My dear mother in law comes from a southern Italian village that still wore traditional dress while she was growing up in the 40s and 50s. When she described what the women wore to me she said there was a drawstring skirt that was very large and “had a hole in the side” that she never understood. I knew what it was for when I myself became pregnant and realized that the hole was to accommodate a growing belly and waist when expecting! Who could afford a new wardobe especially when the clothing was handmade and expected to conform to a VERY specific regional look. I keep forgetting to talk this over with her….
Thanks for your explanation about the Arnolfini portrait. I have seen it discussed on many art history websites and kept wondering why no one mentioned that the young lady was pregnant. Now I know that she is not but that the way she is holding her dress’s folds symbolises a hope or promise of fertility. Actually, a few centuries back, it was totally acceptable to only marry a woman once she was pregnant (especially in the countryside). It was a sure way to know she could produce children.
So we’re the empire waists the ones that started just under the breast? Which years was that style for someone looking for patterns or to recreate? Also if corsets weren’t being worn then what was being used during that time for breast support? Thank you so much I found this article quite enjoyable. Though my manner of dress doesn’t fit one specific time period this aspect is something I try to incorporate in my clothing. The ability to gain or lose weight an not require a whole new wardrobe. I’d also be interested in learning more about how they created or adapted clothing specifically for nursing a baby. Also interested in the style of dresses at 29:00 are these wrapper dresses? Thank you for sharing with us.
This is such an interesting discussion. I think it is hard to imagine how much your body changes when you have never been pregnant. I totally underestimated it. Personal anecdote : I am currently working on my history bounding wedding dress while in my 2rd trimester of pregnancy. Lightly boned “1880s stays” inspired bodice. 1890-1900 gored skirt, modern boho lace overdress : that was my design before I learned I was pregnant. will be 30 weeks at the wedding. I thought I could get away with making skirt pattern in a bigger size and unlacing the stays. I was SO wrong. The shape of your rib cage changes so much from 2nd trimester onwards, not just bigger but radically different proportions. My lightly boned bodice based on pre-pregnancy measurements was really uncomfortable and unflattering by 23 weeks, even with lacing both front and back. It still fit me but was super awkward. I am now making regency short stays and even then having to alter pattern to accommodate ribcage shape. Obviously people did not have that luxury in those days (ample fabric and sewing machine) but really I would challenge the fact that lacing makes everything compatible and comfortable with a changing pregnant body. I will use the 18c inspired coquelicot skirt pattern now, and I can see how that would be helpful for pregnancy. But really when your waist goes from 30″ to 38″ you would probably end up re-pleating your petticoat later in pregnancy so you would not have gaps on the side.
Listening to this made me come to a strange realization, womens clothing only really changed to fit the not pregnant body. It reminds me of how All Might goes from wearing ginormous clothing to fit his hero form to wearing clothes that fit after he can’t transform anymore idk that was the conclusion I came too but I found it hilarious 😂😂😂
There is still something I don’t understand about the whole gaining weight/losing weight dresses, and this is – the sleeves! For example, in 18th century gowns they all look very fitted, but when you gain weight, it’s not only the torso and the butt, it is also the arms! I personally don’t fit into some of my pre-quarantine garments (as many of us do, I’m sure), and in some case the issue is the sleeves being too tight. How did they get around this? As far as I remember, there are not many laced (and thus adjustable) sleeves after the 1500s.
Clothing styles in the 20s, and the whole idea of not showing that you were pregnant.. when Maria von Trapp was pregnant, and trying to go on a concert tour, she wore bust enhancers that covered up the difference between her bust and her belly. Do you have any other examples of such garments in your research?
What about the eduardian. Where they still had to wear corsets and that even during pregnancy cuz I like the accordion. Myself which is kind of unique with a pregnancy if you’ve ever seen Downton Abbey you can see their clothing and that like Mary and her sisters as I should say how their outfits have changed
I remember, probably in the 1950s or maybe the ’40s, my mother was furious because columnist Dorothy Kilgallen flung her nose in the air and asserted that those ugly maternity clothes were unnecessary; just keep buying bigger clothes! As if anyone could buy three or four entire wardrobes. She was right about one thing though; those shapeless smocks and voluminous skirts were ugly!
Whats wrong with word miscarriage? And apologising for using word women? That pooled me so much from your research and your credibility . made whole thing childish and politically correct. While all world is looking you tube, that mean. You guys dont even have clue how insane all of that sound. 💔 . i see your answer up! Still that cant be reason .now soon If I say I’m woman from birth I will be arrested, and you will be censored to quote me, or any such similar nonsense.. 💔
Thinking of the Victorians, I thought they were obsessed with gardens and parks, and that was a real contribution they made to urban life. Once only enjoyed by the upper-middle class Victorian society, by the early 1860s the parks had become popular with the lower classes because of their proximity to the major urban centres.
What a fascinating article! It is so interesting and educational, thank you. I love seeing a fellow equestrian. (You are a very beautiful woman, but the large amount of cheek rouge you wear is very off — putting. This is the first article of yours I’ve seen, so maybe there is a reason you wear so much. This probably sounds really bitchy and judgemental, but I don’t mean it that way. I’m 50 pounds overweight, I still love to ride, with little eyes and thinning hair so I know what it’s like to be judged on appearance alone. ) I intend to watch the rest of your articles and I’m pretty sure I’ll like them as much as I have this one.
Well, this article had nothing in it to worry about. I was to trying to get myself prepared for the shocking info about babies and miscarriage. It was a bit of a let down to find out it was just fashion for women through the centuries. Interesting things for sure, but kind of boring near thr end dates.
We were expecting during 1960’s and enjoyed specific modest outfits sold in department stores while you were in the “blessed state”. Now we see very pregnant young women with stretch shorts and tee shirts with the whole belly bare hanging out. Looking like regular size clothes and no special clothes. It just seems immodest, especially in front of men. It was special having maternity clothes and sorry to see that go out of fashion.
I’d like to understand why the English royalty during the mid 1600s wore those awful looking head helmets. Examples being during the Tudor period. Catherine of Aragon, Mary, Anne Bolyn, etc.. They looked heavy, uncomfortable and did not add beauty. Anyone know how this headdress originated and why it was shaped as such?
Your visiting expert seems not to understand that though there was extreem poverty in Victorian time, just as now where infant mortality in London is rising due to smog and poverty, but if one is not right at the bottom of the heap, one is a servant for instance life could be healthier than in the Georgian countryside . There is and always has been a spectrum. Unfortunately you are discuusing the mores of the top 5% as though they applied to a much larger percentage. Read some Trollope to learn how respectable clerical wives socialised regardless of pregnancy.
BuzzFeed should do a article on women who DONT ever want to have children. We are the ones who are told we don’t know what we’re talking about and are patronized by others. I have no interest in children or having a child and just get talked down at by people saying ‘oh you will’ or ‘whats wrong with you?’
The 50’s one is accurate according to what my mom mom used to say. She talked about how the pants were cut out on the front. She said how uncomfortable it was. The 70’s one is wrong AF, my mother never looked like that in her pics with me. The maternity fashions in the late 70’s were super cute, embroidered tops with flowers or saying on them like: Growing together…or, baby…
My grandmother told me how women used to be ashamed of their baby bump and tried to hide it as well as possible. Most even tried to get pregnant in the summer, so they could carry out their babies during the winter and hide everything under big fur coats!! I was quite young when she told me this, yet it totally shocked me!! My mum mostly educated my younger brothers and me about reproduction during her pregnancies and after that; with children’s picture books and all. Like her, I think it’s best to teach kids about the basics at a young age, before they learn from society that it’s a taboo topic and start feeling ashamed and embarrased to talk about it.
To the people saying crap about her rubbing her belly… I was told by a nurse that constantly rubbing your belly when you are pregnant helps prevent stretch marks! Lotions, oils, etc help prevent stretch marks caused by dry skin, but rubbing the belly helps prevent stretch marks by slightly pulling/stretching the skin if you have bad elasticity in your skin.
I’m so happy that women are finally embracing their pregnancy bodies. It’s so sad that women back then hid their baby bumps, it’s like are you embarrassed of your child or something ? Again such a joy to see so many women showing of their bellies, not hiding them. I love seeing women on social media taking mirror selfies/pics of their bumps. So cute 👩🏻👶🏻👩🏼👶🏼👩🏽👶🏽👩🏾👶🏾👩🏿👶🏿💞💞💞💞
I am so proud to be a German woman, we can make familys and the state helped us so well. We get child benefit up to 25 years of age from the state, We have paid parental allowance for both parents and so much more for the familys. Our health system and social system Allows us so much. It is sad to see that it is not the case in the usa, with us it would be unthinkable and a scandal!
The thing with me is, I think that pregnant women are gorgeous, like my parents brought me up with the saying “a pregnant lady is like a ship in full sail” and I am all for women wearing whatever the heck they like. However, I personally don’t like seeing bits of belly hanging out (at home sure, on the street, not for me) and sometimes the whole belly out. I personally prefer, if a woman wants to accentuate her bump, something figure hugging. I don’t think you can beat the look of a lovely maternity dress. Then again, a well fitted pair of pants a nice top can look good too. Just for me personally, my individual taste is to not see a belly out on show in the street. But hey, all power to whoever wants to do that.
pregnant women make sure to wear a girdle or corset-like item. my whole family has used them and nobody and i mean nobody has that post pregnancy belly, (not sure how to refer to it) ACCEPT my sister. she decided she wasnt going to use one and she didnt exersize or eat healthy. thats how i know it works.
I remember the Demi Moore pregnancy photos..and hated it. I think pregnancy and child birth is a wonderful and fascinating condition, but I DO NOT like to see large awkward pregnant bodies exposed, to me it just doesn’t look right, or attractive. (Remember folks, I’m stating my own opinion here, I’m not saying everyone has to agree.)
I touched my belly/rested my hands on it/etc a lot when I was pregnant, and had people criticize me for it since I blog, but perusal every single clip and having her rub her stomach in all of them seemed excessive. Sure, it’s hard when you’re pregnant NOT to interact with your most prominent feature (hey belly) and I know this. But editors could have cut together more varied clips. I’m sure during the shoot there were other clips where she wasn’t JUST rubbing her stomach and it would have been nice to break up the belly rubs with other things. The editing on this was just weird overall, and it wasn’t super well done costume wise either. (Like uh, the zoom in on her chest for no reason…?) She’s super cute, though!