Historical information

This article of clothing is specifically an undergarment to be worn under a skirt or a dress. The petticoat is a separate garment hanging from the waist. In the late 1920s, chiffon dresses with several sheer petticoats became fashionable. With the Great Depression in the 1930s, narrow skirts returned and petticoats again were unpopular until the end of the decade when revived for some evening, prom, and wedding gowns. World War II, with its rationing and general shortage of materials, brought an end to petticoats.
Petticoats were revived by Christian Dior in his full-skirted "New Look" of 1947 and tiered, ruffled, stiffened petticoats remained extremely popular during the 1950. Most of the petticoats were netlike crinoline,
Worn by Marjorie Burton. It may have been worn underneath dresses with full skirts or may have been designed for a short style wedding dress.
Marjorie Burton ( nee Whiteman), born 12 June, in Birmingham, England came to Orbost in 1995.
In England she did office work – typing, shorthand and secretarial work - in accountants’ offices and also trained as a comptometrist with Burroughs in London. She came from a middle-class, working, church-going family. Her mother was a milliner who mademany of Marjorie’s clothes, hats and outfits.
Marjorie was married in 1938 to a salesman who later became a mechanic in the R.A.F.

Significance

This item is an example of ahome-made item of clothing and reflects the needlework skills of women in the first half of the twentieth century.

Physical description

A coarse, net, white starched petticoat. It is short and has no bodice. It is home-made, machine stitched and fastens at the waist with metal hooks and eyes. It has four panels