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Kōrero: Women’s movement

Traditional wedding, 1890s

Image
Traditional wedding, 1890s

The remarkably elaborate dress that was standard Victorian wedding wear is shown in this 1890 photograph. The three women are rigidly corseted, and there was a tight inner tube within the full leg-o’-mutton sleeves. The skirts were heavy and the train made them difficult to keep clean. These restrictive clothes prompted the movement for dress reform.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Nelson Provincial Museum, Tyree Studio Collection

Reference: 179687

Permission must be sought from Nelson Provincial Museum before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Megan Cook, Women’s movement – Women’s groups, 1890s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/27897/traditional-wedding-1890s (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Megan Cook, i tāngia i te 7 April 2011.