Caption

Interpreter Susan Anthony, aka Barb Delort, provides a glimpse of her costume, which includes a pannier to emphasize the hips, pointed Louis the Fifteenth-style shoes and a low neckline. The style at the time made it acceptable for women to show forearms, ankles and the entire breast if they so desired. Corsets were not in vogue, but a triangular piece of solid whalebone called a "stomacher" was worn to flatten the tummy. The amount of material used in a dress was often an indicator of wealth, as was the number of undershirts referred to as a "chemise". The chemise often doubled as a nightgown for both men and women. Clothing was rarely laundered therefore spot cleaning was popular, as was the practice of sewing perfumed swatches of fabric to clothing to mask "funky" odours. Another popular practice was handing-down dresses to smaller women, who would cut-off the well-worn, soiled fabric of the cuffs and hem to prolong the life of the garment.