The History of the Farthingale

English School Portrait of a Lady, 1595 – 1606

One of the most prominent elements of 16th-century fashion for women is the farthingale.  Farthingales appear frequently, even now, in children’s stories, storybooks, and movies about royalty and fairytales. Women put farthingales, which resemble baskets, inside their skirts to give the illusion of a wide waist and a balloon-like appearance to their … Read more