Not unlike Kim Kardashian at this year’s Met Gala, women in the Victorian Era were often bound tightly in their corsets, struggling to breathe. The Rumors to Bloomers exhibition at the Center for Colorado Women’s History explores the wide range and evolution of women’s undergarments. Opened in March for the next year, the display tells the tale of women’s history from the tightly bound laced corsets through the more “progressive” era of swimsuits, riding clothes, nightgowns and more.
Tour guide Janet Dillon Duval leads visitors through the exhibit, telling the stories of the century-old historic house in which the center is located and the history of the different undergarments through the years. Starting off the tour, she highlights the restrictive nature of Victorian-Era corsets.
“She can’t breathe ever. It’s hard to watch. Actually, at the time, most women chose to wear these as they were fitted to you and it was before bras so they were supportive too. Sometimes they were also prescribed by doctors for us for spinal issues support,” she said.
Winding through the 1883 Italianate-style home, each room tells its own story. Artifacts from the preceding inhabitants—including former Gov. John Evans and his family who lived in the house for over 90 years—furnish the inside. Mannequins and dress forms display “unmentionables” like the Gibson Girl corset and dress-like frocks for swimming. Other items set out include the chest flattener used to achieve the boyish silhouette of the Roaring ‘20s and the bullet bra, popularized by Marilyn Monroe.
Many items and their creators are closely related to the suffrage movement, including the exhibit’s namesake bloomers. Invented by suffragist and journalist Amelia Bloomer in 1851, the trousers grew in popularity as more American women began to ride bikes in the late 1800s. The suffrage movement propelled women to be able to wear free, loose clothing, a representation of their newfound freedoms. The bicycle became a vital instrument for women, allowing them to venture out alone rather than traveling with their husbands, brothers or fathers. Susan Fries, deputy community museums officer and director of the Center for Colorado Women’s History, specifically curated the bike on display at the exhibit as it is such a stark symbol of independence.
“A bike becomes not just a bike,” Education Coordinator for the Center for Colorado Women’s History Cat Jensen told 5280 Magazine. “A bike is autonomy of movement. A bike is engaging in nature and the outdoors.”
Fries expanded on how the exhibit came to be, stating curators had an abundance of undergarments from women in Colorado that had never been on display.
“Here at this Center for Colorado Women’s History, we have really taken it as our mission to showcase the things that are never on exhibit, most of which are women’s objects. “The discussion then is how to put together an exhibit that is meaningful to the women of Colorado, so we decided to showcase Colorado women and some of the different experiences that women have had.”
The museum dedicated the whole house to this exhibit, giving the visitor a full view of the evolution of women’s underoos. The museum also offers different options for tours ranging from a general history tour to a hosted tea inside of the house. The exhibit will run until March 30, 2025, and tickets start at $7 for the general access pass, and $20 for the tour, although both are cheaper if you are a museum member.