Quiz: Name These Historical Fashion Trends

Question: What item of clothing pushes out the back portion of a skirt to emphasize the hips and rear?

Answer: A bustle pushes out the back portion of a skirt to emphasize the hips and rear. Versions of the bustle, or similar padded cushions, enjoyed sporadic popularity in the West from the 16th century to the 19th century.

Question: What is a long, narrow cloth streamer worn as an armband above the elbow?

Answer: A tippet is a long, narrow cloth streamer worn by men and women as an armband above the elbow in the 14th century. They would hang gracefully to the knee or even the ground.

Question: What is a hairpiece made of wire framework and covered in ribbon, starched linen, and lace?

Answer: The commode, or frontage, is a hairpiece made of wire framework and covered in ribbon, starched linen, and lace. It was popular in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

Question: What is a large collar that is starched or supported by a wire frame?

Answer: A ruff is a large collar that is starched or supported by a wire frame popular in 16th century Europe.

Question: What is a light metal frame worn under a skirt?

Answer: A crinoline is a light metal frame worn under a skirt to add volume to dresses and overskirts.

Question: What is a piece of clothing used to store small items, like money, and hide male genitalia?

Answer: A codpiece is a pouchlike addition to men’s long hose, located at the crotch, that was popular in Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries; it was used to both store small items and hide male genitalia.

Question: What is an outer garment worn by men over armor and by women as a large cloak?

Answer: A surcoat is an outer garment that originated in the 13th century and was worn by men over armor and by men as a large cloak. At the turn of the 14th century the large-armhole look became popular, often cut all the way down to the hips to show the garment underneath.

Question: What is a knot or bow of ribbon worn pinned to a hat?

Answer: A cockade is a knot or bow of ribbon worn pinned to a hat, originally for decorative purposes in the 18th century but later used to show affiliation with a political party or cause.