What is a hobble skirt?

A hobble skirt is a skirt or the skirt of a dress that is so narrow at the hemline it impedes movement. Women wearing the hobble skirt have to take very short calculated steps and are said to hobble rather than walk in a comfortable stride. It’s virtually impossible to run in hobble skirt, but at the time they were worn, running for ladies was still frowned upon. The first hobble skirt design fashions were made in the 1880s, and are sometimes credited to designer Paul Poiret. The term hobble skirt was born long after the actual design. Restrictive skirts were first called hobble skirts after 1910. Some skirt styles, though narrow, only give they illusion of being a hobble skirt. A skirt might include hidden pleats, or slits that allowed for easier walking. Most commonly the wedding dress of the early 20th century featured a true hobble skirt, since women didn’t really need a quick stride, unless they decided to make a break for it, before the ceremony! Sometimes the hobble skirt was ...  more

A hobble skirt is generally a long (below knees or longer) skirt that is narrow enough (particularly at the hem) to impede stride. The term originated from 1910 when designs by French designer Paul Poiret caught the public's eye, albeit temporarily. For a short time, the tighter the skirt, the more fashionable it was (see our HISTORY page for more details). For the obvious reason, it became known as the hobble skirt. The term was popular enough that the classic Coca Cola bottle shape is frequently referred to as a hobbleskirt style, due to its resemblance to the slim long skirts of that era. Aren't hobble skirts a symbol of women's oppression? Some people may view it that way - we do not. To us, it's just a fashion, to be worn voluntarily by those who enjoy it - men and women alike. (We do not support "traditional" gender apparel rules.) Seems a bit uncomfortable - why would anyone wear one?  more