The 1790s Fashion Revolution Freaked Men Out

Ok, we all know the 1790s for the absolute chaos it brought: the French Revolution and the super relatable guillotine jewelry, etc. But we totally overlook the absolutely ridiculous "OMG WOMEN AND GIRLS ALL WANNA LOOK PREGNANT" Trend that kicked off in the spring of 1793 (and the shift in women's fashion that would last until the mid- 1820s!) Newspapers, magazines, and [male] artists were so bothered about how women were wearing belly pads under their skirts to look pregnant...but is it true? Did women *actually* wear padding to appear pregnant or is something else happening (like full skirts under the bust + shorter stays that gave the appearance of a fuller abdomen...you know...logical things...)

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📪 Abby Cox
642 N. Madison Street
Bloomington, IN 47404

[labhrais]

I love you saying "This version of my body" I'll have to use that instead of all the things I say relating to my younger pre baby self.

[sianthesheep]

Can it even be a fashion trend if there isn’t a bitchy letter to the editor from some dude pissed that the style of garments they make aren’t the height of fashion anymore? It’s really interesting seeing you remake a garment for updated fashion - I know it was super common for almost every class apart from the really wealthy but its not something I have seen in practise before.

[makeminemonsters]

Ooh, I love the idea that the "looking pregnant" aspect of 1790s fashion had a transgressive, obliquely suggestive "I'm sexually active" coding that was a feature not a bug.

[JustSaralius]

Remember in like 2008-ish when empire waist dresses and tops were trendy? As a skinny, flat-bellied teen, I was told I looked pregnant and "why do you want to look like you're pregnant?" and it wasn't girls or women saying those things...

[megleland]

I'm betting many women in the 18thC were just as nervous as Abby was cutting into a handmade dress to re-work it. The stakes were very high.

[bilh]

Alternate theory for the belly pad trend: sneaking snacks into theaters.

[DarcyCarmen]

What I love the most about this, especially the part where Abby is talking about the stakes of cutting up the gown, is that literally EVERY sewer going back before the 1790s had this exact same conversation with themself (or their sister). “OMG, what if I screw it up and ruin it?” Also, every single sewer, regardless of the age, sewed it wrong and had a mini fit over the mistake. It’s such a common human thread (no pun).

[quokkakola]

So the belly pad was 1794’s version of the “tide pod challenge” which no one actually did but an entire generation was accused of doing.

[FlagCutie]

"When the teasing stopped." makes me think of all the boomers going after the teens in the 90s and their ratty jeans and inevitably making the "did you pay full price for those" joke.

[jennifercourtemanche]

Thank you for showing that "first cut paralysis" is a thing across all skill and experience levels!

[Miss_Kisa]

On this episode of "men complaining about women having fun" we have example 37289

[BlinkiesNoGood]

Can I just appreciate the phrasing "this (new) version of my body"? As someone whose body has changed a lot in the last decade and a half for many reasons, I'm gonna try to reword my thinking like this to reduce self-shaming

[Sweetthang]

My own flawed reaction to seeing a video like this in my feed:

- "how interesting could watching someone sew be?"

- *watches*

- *is enthralled by both the relaxing visuals of someone sewing and the incredible story behind a trend that just shows that we never really change as society*

[clueless_cutie]

It's really interesting how the "don't look pregnant" thing is back in full swing. I love the comfort of baby doll style dresses yet I avoid them because of the belly effect

[michaeldomeier]

“I’m not procrastinating I’m being efficient.” Abby cox I need this as a sticker. 😂

[OwnYourDance]

Honestly, I think a lot of women are complimented throughout their pregnancy. The pregnant belly is celebrated! The problem is societies expectation of that same body after the pregnancy, since people expect it to time travel to 'before'.

[PokhrajRoy.]

0:33 I mean, looking like you had tuberculosis used to be considered fashionable once upon a time and now people have specialised pens to draw freckles on their faces. ‘Distressed’ is the new aesthetic. Anything is possible.

[Ciara_Turner]

Never thought I'd hear the phrase skibbidi toilet during a discussion of 1790s fashion lol

[LondonLite]

It's wild to think of people gossiping about these crazy fashions while the events of the revolution are just happening in the background!

[spooniesarah]

From the start of your video I was like I'll bet the prego belly trend was just the awkward time when dress waistlines were ascending and ladies had to remake their existing clothes. Like how gathering fabric at the garment's waist adds bulk? But also, any garment which is fitted under the bust, but otherwise flowy.... any belly that's not completely flat will be on display.