1890’s Cycling Outfit

I see this outfit all the time, and so I decided to do a little research into it. This cycling outfit resides at the Kyoto Costume Institute and was created in 1895. In the 1890’s cycling was becoming a very common activity for women. Because of this, women began wearing pants or bloomers in place of skirts. Luckily, I own the book The Collection of the Kyoto Costume Institute: Fashion, A History from the 18th to 20th Century, so we can see what they say about this set.

I think the coolest thing about this outfit is how absolutely 1890’s it is. With the cycling bloomers, late Victorian boots, men’s wear inspired jacket and tie, and large gigot sleeves, knowing what era this originates from is no problem. And personally, I think the 1890s is one of the most interesting and fashionable time periods in history, so I love this outfit very much.